06 Feb 2012, 8:49 pm
Dear Cornflake, Thank you for printing that, I had thought my first quote was part of 'Desiderata', but it isn't, and I have no idea where 'I am not in the world to live up to your expectations.....' is from. It is always wonderful to read 'Desiderata', though, and I thank you for sending it to us. I hope others feel equally touched by reading it.
Sylkat 
06 Feb 2012, 8:53 pm
Are you saying you don't believe in it anymore? You were an old hippy in your youth?
06 Feb 2012, 9:05 pm
Personally, if anything, I prefer If— by Rudyard Kipling.
Maybe The Desiderata has become a little hackneyed over time for me and, probably unfairly, it seems a bit "soppy" now.
It is nice to finally have it confirmed that it was not "found in Old St. Pauls Church, Baltimore A.D. 1692" as was almost always attached to the printed copies I was familiar with - but to state that then was almost seen as a hanging offence by some.
As if that date adds more to the words themselves. That's where it started getting soppy for me: that the date added something, and I just thought people were missing the point.
If—
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream—and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ’em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: ‘Hold on!’
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!
I'm not sure how well I live up to either but actually, either would still be a good target.
06 Feb 2012, 9:07 pm
06 Feb 2012, 9:13 pm
DearCornflake, Thank you once again; more please?
Sylkat
06 Feb 2012, 9:13 pm
Also this - and I have to confess that the last verse always has me tearing up. 
Invictus -- William Ernest Henley
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
06 Feb 2012, 9:14 pm
06 Feb 2012, 9:21 pm
06 Feb 2012, 9:23 pm
Dear Cornflake, you are a veritable literary connoisseur, and we appreciate you immensely!
Sylkat
06 Feb 2012, 9:27 pm
I'm more into this sort of poetry:
decorative pattern...
fly s**t
Okay, I kid. However, for someone who studied English Literature, I seem to be lacking in appreciation of inspirational poems.
artrat
Veteran
Joined: 6 Nov 2011
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,269
Location: The Butthole of the American Empire
06 Feb 2012, 9:30 pm
06 Feb 2012, 9:34 pm
06 Feb 2012, 9:42 pm
Dear Artrat, There is a website called Beliefnet, totally about belief, totally non-prejudiced; try their 'Belief-o-matic' test..it's fun, and will help you see where your beliefs fit into the major religions and philosophies of the world. The site is NOT run by any church, all beliefs are represented and welcome...there are some excellent discussion groups, too, but, as usual, some heavy debates!
Sylkat
artrat
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Joined: 6 Nov 2011
Age: 41
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,269
Location: The Butthole of the American Empire
06 Feb 2012, 10:21 pm
Sylkat
I have taken that already. Once my top results were Buddhism,unitarian universalists and liberal quaker.
I actually relate to those 3 faiths very well.
I went to a unitarian universalist service and all of the people were very. I felt out of place.
There are no quakers or Buddhist at all in my area so I can't even talk to anyone about it.
CockneyRebel
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Joined: 17 Jul 2004
Age: 51
Gender: Male
Posts: 121,598
Location: In my own little country
07 Feb 2012, 9:50 am
07 Feb 2012, 11:06 am
