| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Mirror of the Sea by Joseph Conrad: serving, those were impressive scenes. Captain S- had a great name
for sailor-like qualities - the sort of name that compelled my
youthful admiration. To this day I preserve his memory, for,
indeed, it was he in a sense who completed my training. It was
often a stormy process, but let that pass. I am sure he meant
well, and I am certain that never, not even at the time, could I
bear him malice for his extraordinary gift of incisive criticism.
And to hear HIM make a fuss about too much sail on the ship seemed
one of those incredible experiences that take place only in one's
dreams.
It generally happened in this way: Night, clouds racing overhead,
The Mirror of the Sea |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Koran: steadfast in prayer; verily, prayer is for the believers prescribed
and timed!
And do not give way in pursuit of the people; if ye suffer they
shall surely suffer too, even. as ye suffer; and ye hope from God, but
they hope not! and God is knowing, wise.
Verily, we have revealed to thee the Book in truth that thou
mayest judge between men of what God has shown thee; so be not with
the treacherous a disputant; but ask God's pardon: verily, God is
forgiving, merciful.
And wrangle not for those who defraud themselves; for God loves
not him who is a fraudulent sinner. They hide themselves from men; but
The Koran |
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Almayer's Folly by Joseph Conrad: might have been the beginning of a path. As he bent down to look
through he heard angry grunting, and a sounder of wild pig
crashed away in the undergrowth. An acrid smell of damp earth
and of decaying leaves took him by the throat, and he drew back
with a scared face, as if he had been touched by the breath of
Death itself. The very air seemed dead in there--heavy and
stagnating, poisoned with the corruption of countless ages. He
went on, staggering on his way, urged by the nervous restlessness
that made him feel tired yet caused him to loathe the very idea
of immobility and repose. Was he a wild man to hide in the woods
and perhaps be killed there--in the darkness--where there was no
Almayer's Folly |
