B. Royce

I hope you do. It'll be something to look forward to.

Pretty powerful stuff. There is strength in the steady, onward progress. It might be a walk through Hell, but the walker is not afraid.

Only if you can prove that those light rays bouncing off the moon into your eyes are somehow bouncing back at the moon.

Well, I just don't like the idea of an actual guilty man getting away with it. But I am really thinking that DNA evidence seems such a sure thing (which, perhaps, it may not be), as it is regarded so in cases alledgedly proving a man's innocense.

Thank you. That makes sense.

One thing I don't understand. If a man is found innocent and can't be tried again for the same crime, even if new evidence is found, why can new evidence free a man who has been found guilty? Or, if there can't be two chances against a man, why can there be two chances for him?

Exactly. What we are "justified in" is further investigation.

I wrote this today. Independence Independent in the morning, Independent at your rising, Independent when you look around and see--- For yourself and your own thinking, For the facts that you'll be linking Into action that will get you mastery--- O'er your independent progress, O'er your independent climbing, O'er your independent striving for the height--- Of your life that's independent, Of your joy so independent, Of your mind in independence, proud and free!--- That, that is your meaning; That, that is your glory, That grand and single self that does not bow, But with gladdest independence, But with laughing independence, But with standing independence stands up now! ______________________________________________ Brian Faulkner

Wow. That was just great. Thank you, Gus and Dan.

You could state the above differently: Everybody who is living is going to keep on living until they stop living. Every decision I make effects me while I am living and that matters. The "long term" refers the long term of MY life while I am living. It does not refer to the time after I stop living. A few extra years of my life is meaningful; while I am living them they will not come to an end, but will be full of the life I give them. How important to me is living my life to the full?

The End Of The Road Damn it, my car broke down; damn it! Oh, I'm not head'n to a distant star And not even goin' to the local bar, But I can't slowly spin around This little country ten-block town. Damn it, my car broke down; damn it! Motor won't run, motor won't start; Sittin' real still, I'm doin' my part. Ha ha ha and ho ho ho, Giddee-up feet, it's time to go! Damn it, my car broke down; damn it! Hee hee hee, yeee-ha! Come on, shoes, now lead the way; I'm gonna make these pavements pay! Giddy up, giddy up, giddy up! _____________________________________-- My gosh! Was that immoral, or what?

Something is everything and everything else is nothing.

I 've always thought this was a great poem----except for the last word. It too strongly suggests a passive action, and not a determined aim, or attack, as I think Tennyson intended.

Happy Birthday! Ifat. May your one only separate individual life out-blossom all flowers that were ever mistakenly thought perfect.

Plus 1 is 4! Thanks for the good news.

Charlotte, your mother's words, "Do it", are an inspiration. They express great strength and courage, an essentially heroic determination, a fiercely intense love of her own life. It is truly great that she leaves a daughter who understood her so well and who has made herself into a person so worthy of honoring and loving her memory. My best wishes to you. Brian Faulkner

It has been said that most people, when they hear the word "selfish", think of people who cheat and abuse others to get what they want. In my experience this is not true. A great majority of the times I have heard people use the word "selfish" is when a parent tells his child that he is being selfish because he won't share his toys, or wants to do what he wants without asking others, even when his desired actions will have no adverse affect on others. The implied message is: desiring something solely for yourself is wrong and, further, using your self, your mind, as the standard for judging your actions, is wrong. I might add that in sports it is rather sickening to hear star players described (and describing themselves) as being selfless. It's too bad there aren't any gutsy reporters. Then it might be like this: a player says, "I don't want to win for myself, I want to win for the team." A reporter asks, "If you weren't part of the team, would you still want to win for the team?" "Well, uh, I mean, I want that Superbowl ring." "For whom? For the team? How big of a ring is it?" The only way we'll get away from this kind of avoidance-of-selfishness nonsense is for courageous thinkers to speak out for selfishness, and not to give way to the child-bred fears of perpetual non-thinkers.

Of the men readers I, too, like Martin Clifton best, but I like Karen Savage's reading best of all. To me, she has more fully made this poem an expression of her own.

Yes to that. I'd give Chip's reading an 11! It was also a pleasure to here the two young women in versions one and two. Beautiful clear voices of sincerity.

I just now listened to a really great recitation of "IF", at this site, by a reader called Chip. He's an older man with a gravelly voice. Every nuance and vocal shading of every word is wonderfully done.

Thanks. I'll check it out.

My Pure Selfishness Every time I wake at morn I open eyes like one new born For my pure selfishness. Every time I breathe the air I fill my lungs with loving care For my pure selfishness. Every time I go to work I do my best and never shirk For my pure selfishness. Every time I spend my dough It's for the goods I'm wanting so For my pure selfishness. For I am selfish, yes, it's true, Especially when I think things through; And oh, it's great to figure on What I will do each coming dawn For my pure selfishness! Every time I kiss those lips Whose spirit is the sun's eclipse It's my pure selfishness! __________________________________ Brian Faulkner

Don't be Selfish He hogged the ball, Took shot after shot; He made them all, His coach was hot.---- "Our team did win Because of sin, And now you're through, You selfish you." The team's next game Was void of bliss; In selfless shame Each shot did miss. But Coach was cool, He was no fool.--- "I've got my dream: A sensitive team." ______________________ Song Of The Selfish Player I'm never here to lose, I'm always here to win; To shoot or pass I'll choose, Depending on the spot I'm in. And yes, if I am hot, And grooving in "the zone", Give me the ball a lot; I'll win this game alone. I'm selfish to the core, I pass to be on top; Man's open down the floor--- Throw! We never stop! "Take charge, high self assert", That is my teammate's cry. A selfless team would hurt, But we're a team of "I"! I guard, I block, I steal, I find the open man; A swish! we seal the deal! We'll take whate'er we can. Then comes the bal to me, I'm forty feet away; Right through the rim, we see I've got my touch today! We're selfish in each soul, We play to be on top; A healthy, high-five whole, Let I-ball never stop! ___________________________ Brian Faulkner

The word "selfish" is a great litmus-test word. Those people who have courage will use and say it proudly, disregarding what other people's evaluations of them will be. If those other people have a knee-jerk reaction to the word and choose not to independently think, too bad for them. They will never be on your side, and not because of their reaction to the word "selfish", but because they fear independent thought. It is the idea of sacrifice which is man's oldest enemy. Thousands of years ago a man was expected to sacrifice his best bull or cow to the gods (which meant to roast it, then divide the meat up among his neighbors and fellow villagers). The message then was to surrender a value. "No, don't keep your bull for yourself; would you be selfish?" Until sacrifice is seen for what it is in the culture at large, civilization will continue down the same stupid, selfless, self-sacrificial road.

Yes, there are many such beauties to be found in Tristram, as well as in many other poems by Swinburne. Not least of all is the full, ongoing rhythm of the poem, which is never forced and never flags, filling one's lungs, mouth, ears and mind with a continuous perfection of musical speech.