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8.4.95 15.30 Philip's cafe (Wie Katoen)

The world is the self

We are autonomous beings, and yet plural.


Milton! thou shouldst be living at this hour:
England hath need of thee; she is a fen
Of stagnant waters; altar, sword and pen,
Fireside, the heroic wealth of hall and bower,
Have forfeited their ancient English dower
Of inward happiness. We are selfish men; 
Oh! raise us up, return to us again;
And give us manners, virtue, freedom, power.
Thy soul was like a Star and dwelt apart:
Thou hadst a voice whose sound was like the sea;
Pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free,
So didst thou travel on life's common way,
In chearful godliness; and yet they heart
The lowliest duties on itself did lay.
And the more I read the whole of it the less could I omit any.


(c) john chris jones 1995