Sunday, February 4, 2007

73 circles

My hope is that this will be an unconventional blog about circles of sharing: information and posts about hobbies, politics, philosophy, religion, poetry among other things. My interests are catholic; my outlook usually heterodox, but always with the attempt to find common ground. It will begin with two of my favorite poems which set the tone.

OUTWITTED

He drew me a circle that shut me out
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout,
But love and I had the wit to win.
We drew a circle that took him in.

Edwin Markham



Abou ben Adam

Abou ben Adam (may his tribe increase!)
awoke one night from a deep dream of peace,
And saw, within the moonlight of his room,
Making it rich, and like a lily in bloom,
an angel, writing in a book of of gold.
Exceeding peace had made Ben Adam bold,
And to the Prescence in the room he said:
"What writest thou?" The vision raised its head,
And, with a look made of all sweet accord,
Answered, "The names of those who love the Lord."
"And is mine one?"said Abou, "Nay, not so,"
Replied the angel. Abou spoke more low,
But cheerily still, and said, "I pray thee, then,
Write me as one who loves his fellow men."
The angel wrote, and vanished. The next night
It came again, with a great awakening light,
And showed the names whom love of God had blest,
And lo! Ben Adam's name led all the rest.

- Leigh Hunt

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