| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad: "Square the yards by lifts and braces before the hands go to breakfast."
It was the first particular order I had given on board that ship;
and I stayed on deck to see it executed, too. I had felt the need
of asserting myself without loss of time. That sneering young cub
got taken down a peg or two on that occasion, and I also seized
the opportunity of having a good look at the face of every
foremast man as they filed past me to go to the after braces.
At breakfast time, eating nothing myself, I presided with such
frigid dignity that the two mates were only too glad to escape from
the cabin as soon as decency permitted; and all the time the dual
working of my mind distracted me almost to the point of insanity.
The Secret Sharer |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Coxon Fund by Henry James: me about that time with a rush that I was simply ashamed of Frank
Saltram. There were limits after all, and my mark at last had been
reached.
I had had my disgusts, if I may allow myself to-day such an
expression; but this was a supreme revolt. Certain things cleared
up in my mind, certain values stood out. It was all very well to
have an unfortunate temperament; there was nothing so unfortunate
as to have, for practical purposes, nothing else. I avoided George
Gravener at this moment and reflected that at such a time I should
do so most effectually by leaving England. I wanted to forget
Frank Saltram--that was all. I didn't want to do anything in the
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Poems of William Blake by William Blake: Hovering and glittering on the air before the face of Thel.
O virgin know'st thou not our steeds drink of the golden springs
Where Luvah doth renew his horses: lookst thou on my youth.
And fearest thou because I vanish and am seen no more.
Nothing remains; O maid I tell thee, when I pass away.
It is to tenfold life, to love, to peace, and raptures holy:
Unseen descending, weigh my light wings upon balmy flowers:
And court the fair eyed dew, to take me to her shining tent
The weeping virgin, trembling kneels before the risen sun.
Till we arise link'd in a golden band and never part:
But walk united bearing food to all our tender flowers.
Poems of William Blake |
