But, Oh to be without It!!

[semper_augustus]

One of my favorite lines from any works of fiction is:

"Breath. None sing hymns to breath. But, oh to be without it!"
This line is said as one of the main characters drowns his opponent in a river. And for those of you trying to figure out the book: yes, the drowner is the god of death

Comments

[semper_augustus]

I think there have been a few hymns composed about Love, Love.

Those Special Songless Sundries

[nomdiplume]

Salt and water leap to mind, though Will Robey might be a decent option. ( c ;

For that matter, the internet has become pretty indispensable, at least to me, though I'm sure those hymns are being written now. ( c ;

Re: Those Special Songless Sundries

[semper_augustus]

A hymn to me? You'd best write one before I write one about you. Oops, too late!

You are a hymn-in-progress.
No genre doth contain you;
your verse changes to suit
the light of the Sun and Moon,
through whatever clouds might obscure you.
Frequently indented as a poem,
with form and shape,
with structure and purpose,
yet the whole world takes itself to be
your margins.
Whole epochs betake themselves to be your canvas;
you surround the whole and the part,
the clothed and the naked,
the frenzied and the whirling,
the still and the silent.

The air and the ground rhyme together
in the smoke of your punctuation.
Only Time itself does not yield to you any entreaty,
giving with one hand, and taking with both.
And yet, with Time, you live and love
and discover what it means
to own your own soul.
At the end of Time,
you get to be your own Judge.
Just like me.

Re: Those Special Songless Sundries

[nomdiplume]

That's an incredible and unexpected gift, my friend. You're quite the poet. I'm both touched and honored. Thank you.

Re: Those Special Songless Sundries

[semper_augustus]

You're very welcome, Jeremiah. I could not have written it if I didn't love you and have read some of your journal.