Life and Existence

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me, And what can be the use of him is more than I can see. He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head; And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.

A child should always say what’s true And speak when he is spoken to, And behave mannerly at table; At least as far as he is able.

Oh! the old swimmin’ hole! When I last saw the place, The scenes was all changed, like the change in my face.

Oh! the old swimmin’ hole! When I last saw the place, The scenes was all changed, like the change in my face.

That old sweetheart of mine.

An’ all us other children, when the supper things is done, We set around the kitchen fire an’ has the mostest fun A-list’nin’ to the witch-tales ’at Annie tells about, An’ the Gobble-uns ’at gits you Ef you Watch Out!

Or ever the knightly years were gone With the old world to the grave, I was a King in Babylon And you were a Christian Slave.

The ripest peach is highest on the tree.

I am the master of my fate; I am the captain of my soul.

Out of the night that covers me, Black as the Pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever gods may be For my unconquerable soul. In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor cried aloud; Under the bludgeonings of chance My head is bloody, but unbowed.

As dust that drives, as straws that blow, Into the night go one and all.

What have you done, you there Weeping without cease, Tell me, yes you, what have you done With all your youth? 3

I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, patch, matchwood, immortal diamond, Is immortal diamond.

I am all at once what Christ is, since he was what I am, and This Jack, joke, poor potsherd, patch, matchwood, immortal diamond, Is immortal diamond.

O the mind, mind has mountains; cliffs of fall Frightful, sheer, no-man-fathomed.

World-mothering air, air wild, Wound with thee, in thee isled, Fold home, fast fold thy child.

I say that we are wound With mercy round and round As if with air.

How to keep—is there any any, is there none such, nowhere known some, bow or brooch or braid or brace, lace, latch or catch or key to keep Back beauty, keep it, beauty, beauty, beauty… from vanishing away?

It is the blight man was born for, It is Margaret you mourn for.

Margaret, are you grieving Over Goldengrove unleaving?

Felix Randal the farrier, O he is dead then? My duty all ended, Who have watched his mold of man, big-boned and hardy-handsome, Pining, pining.

Glory be to God for dappled things.

All things counter, original, spare, strange; Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?) With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim; He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change: Praise him.