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With the advent of genetic engineering the time required for the evolution of new species may literally collapse.

quote by Dee Hock
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Collide

I felt my heart collapse
On the day that I met him
I felt my heart collapse
It filled up to the rim
I felt my heart collapse
When my eyes traveled 'round
I felt my heart collapse
The one I had found

I felt my heart collapse
When he first touched my skin
I felt my heart collapse
Oh it seemed a lovely sin
I felt my heart collapse
It fell without a sound
I felt my heart collapse
Oh I knew I had found

I felt my heart collapse
When we shared that first kiss
I felt my heart collapse
I thought that I would almost miss
I felt my heart collapse
I was lost in his embrace
I felt my heart collapse
I kept staring at his face

Oh my heart collapsed on that day
Ever since it's been that same way
My love for you has not faded
Ever since the day it escaped

poem by Courtney Beaudry
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A Map Of Culture

Culture

Contents

What is Culture?

The Importance of Culture

Culture Varies

Culture is Critical

The Sociobiology Debate

Values, Norms, and Social Control

Signs and Symbols

Language

Terms and Definitions

Approaches to the Study of Culture

Are We Prisoners of Our Culture?

What is Culture?

I prefer the definition used by Ian Robertson: 'all the shared products of society: material and nonmaterial' (Our text defines it in somewhat more ponderous terms- 'The totality of learned, socially transmitted behavior. It includes ideas, values, and customs (as well as the sailboats, comic books, and birth control devices) of groups of people' (p.32) .

Back to Contents

[...] Read more

poem by Nyein Way
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Rock It

I'm walking to the something
Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
Collapse
I'm drinking too much bla bla,
bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
Fall out
I'm feeling really bla bla, I want to bla bla bla,
Collapse
And in the end it means I bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
The end
I got myself together
Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla.
Watch out
I didn't need the patience, life bla bla bla bla bla
Collapse
Don't you sit to close, or I'll bla bla bla bla bla
Break up
Stick it up your nose
Bla bla bla bla bla bla
The end
I didn't mean to do it (Rock it, rock it)
It loved me in my head
I tried to be a charmer,
but I got a bit hopeless instead
The world is very sexy
It's part of my collapse
I'm walking to the something (It's part of my collapse...)
Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
I'm drinking too much bla bla,
bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
Fall out
I'm feeling really bla bla, I want to bla bla bla,
Collapse
And in the end it means I bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
The end
I didn't mean to do it (Rock it, rock it)
It loved me in my head
I tried to be a charmer,
but I got a bit hopeless instead
The world is very sexy
It's part of my collapse
I'm walking to the something (It's part of my collapse...)
Bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
I'm drinking too much bla bla,
bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
Fall out
I'm feeling really bla bla, I want to bla bla bla,
Collapse
And in the end it means I bla bla bla bla bla bla bla
The end

[...] Read more

song performed by Gorillaz
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Out Gunned By A Single Cell DNA Rocker

Amoebia Dubia approximately
200 times more DNA than a human
being of ego essential character.
Genome human 3.2 billion base pairs.
The largest sequenced genome known?
At present a one celled animal traveller.
Counting up in genome base pairs we have
E. coli 4.1 million, baker’s yeast 12 million,
a worm 97 million, a fruit fly 120 million base pairs.

Continuing with our count up define
a flower arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) 157 million,
a bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) 1.9 billion,
a snake (Boa constrictor) 2.1 billion
an Asian barking deer (Muntiacus muntjak vaginalis) 2.5 billion
us humankind (Homo sapien) 3.2 billion
a frog (Bufo bufo) 6.9 billion
amoebia (Amoebia proteus) 290 billion
amoebia (Amoebia dubia) 670 billion base pairs.

Amoebia Dubia approximately
200 times more DNA than a human
when the human genome was
recorded as 2.9 million base pairs.

Human immunodeficiency
virus type, only 119,750 thousand?
A virus usually contains
less base pairs than a bacterium.
“Duplications are probably
fundamental to the creation
of genetic novelty.”

“Horizontal gene transfer is a highly
significant phenomenon and amongst
single-celled organisms perhaps
the dominant form of genetic transfer.”

“Horizontal gene transfer is invoked
to explain how there is often extreme
similarity between small portions
of the genomes of two organisms
that are otherwise very distantly related.”

The words probably, perhaps and invoked
were used to indicate that we are not as knowledgeable
nor smart as collective public perceptions.

Artificial horizontal gene transfer
is a form of genetic engineering

[...] Read more

poem by Terence George Craddock
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From Tree To Web

A Quixotic Quest

“The tree of life is a record of how every species that
ever lived is related to all others back to the origin of life.”

For a period of 150 years
biology sought the holy grail
of the tree of life – today
the tree has become obsolete
through negative evidence

Discovery of DNA structure led to
molecular evolution studying inheritance
as contained in the history of DNA sequences
finding species swapped genetic material
with each other, hybridising - thus the tree-
theory degenerates into impenetrable
thickets of interrelatedness

Bacteria and archaea swap
genetic material with other species
across huge taxonomic distances
in horizontal gene transfer (HGT)

Darwin assumed 'vertical' descent
but when genes were sequenced -
DNA replication and protein synthesis
showed the promiscuous exchange
of genetic information across
diverse groups

**************************
Why Darwin was wrong about the tree of life
21 January 2009 by Graham Lawton
Magazine issue 2692. Subscribe and get 4 free issues.
For similar stories, visit the Evolution Topic Guide

Graham Lawton is features editor of New Scientist

http: //www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126921.600-why -darwin-was-wrong-about-the-tree-of-life.html? full=true

poem by Margaret Alice
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Into God Worship

You shall not pernit a false teacher to seduce you or,
Pull you away into God Worship! !
And stay away from the genetic engineering which involves the mixing of two species,
For, they are all part of Satan's work to elude many into her fold.

Par, stat, tar, car, far, bar, gar, jar, oar, war!
Spies,
Species,
Alone once again! !
And, back to square one;
But, stay away from the genetic engineering which involves the mixing of two species!
And, live like the muse of love in the land of your joy.

poem by Edward Kofi Louis
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A Time To Feel Forlorn and Reconstruct What's Torn

There's a designated time in the universe for everything:

A time to limit, a time to expand.
A time to rise, time to lower and lend a hand.

A time to maintain, a time to abandon.
A time to develop, a time to rest at random.

A time to communicate, a time for silence.
A time to kiss your enemy, a time to concede wins.

A time to spite, a time to please.
A time for respite, a time to tease.

A time to process, a time to confess.
A time to do more. A time to do less.

A time to dominate. A time to captivate.
A time to plunge. A time to resurface straight.

A time to maximise. A time to minimise.
A time to diminish. A time to optimise.

A time to sacrifice. time to insist on rights.
A time to be selfish. A time to be concerned about plights.

A time to be big. A time to be small.
A time to care for a special one. A time to love all.

A time to add dimension. A time to simplify.
A time to advocate egalitarianism.
A time to exult.
A time to default.
A time to be accepting of imperfect humanism.

A time to enhance. A time to simplify.
A time to criticise. A time to dignify.

A time to produce. A time to use.
A time to relent. A time to refuse.

A time to demand. A time to give.
A time to die. a time to live.

A time to survive. A time to admit defeat.
A time to lie. A time to walk on your feet.

A time to compete. A time to not.
A time to remember. A time to concede you forgot.

[...] Read more

poem by Hercolena Oliver
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Engineering is not merely knowing and being knowledgeable, like a walking encyclopedia; engineering is not merely analysis; engineering is not merely the possession of the capacity to get elegant solutions to non-existent engineering problems; engineering is practicing the art of the organized forcing of technological change... Engineers operate at the interface between science and society...

quote by Dean Gordon Brown
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Engineering is not merely knowing and being knowledgeable, like a walking encyclopedia engineering is not merely analysis engineering is not merely the possession of the capacity to get elegant solutions to non-existent engineering problems engineering is practicing the art of the organized forcing of technological change... Engineers operate at the interface between science and society...

quote by Dean Gordon Brown
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Love Toy

Doo wop bop
When it comes to boys
Mamma always said
Never let any temptation
Go to your head
Doo wop bop
Oh but its so tempting so delicious
When I kiss your lips
When I feel your fingertips
Cause ooh, you my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh youre my love toy
Wind me up and I start to move
Ooh youre my love toy
No batteries required
No, no, no Id be so ashamed
Beisdes Ive got my reputation to maintain
Must you be so darn persistent
Tryin to make me weak
bout to knock me off my feet
Ooh, you my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh youre my love toy
Wind me up and I start to move
Ooh youre my love toy
No batteries required
Doo wop bop, ooi ooi doo wop, doo wop bop
You are always on the sly
When I see you smiling
With that look in your eyes
Whispering those little secrets
You really turn me on
Doo wop bop
Makes me wanna have more fun
Ooh, you my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh youre my love toy
Wind me up and I start to move
Ooh youre my love toy
No batteries required
Ooh...que rico
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
No batteries required
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
Love toy
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
No batteries required
Ooi ooi doo wop bop
Love toy

song performed by Gloria Estefan
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Hothead

Here in the shadows where we, stand watching lady, watching man
Reading the pictures as they roll -
We see the planet lose control
Hothead!
Evolution, nonstop evolution
Hothead!
Hothead!
Evolution, nonstop evolution
(hothead..)
Time, time will change the picture (all the time)
About time!, (all the time)
Time will change the picture
How to change the points of view
bout what is fake and what is true
Blow by blow youre telling me
Youll change the course of history
(chorus)
Bop bop bop bop, bop-bop-bop
Bop bop bop bop, bop-bop-bop
Bop bop bop bop, bop-bop-bop
Bop bop dop bop
Time!, time!
I turn you on you turn me off
Right now Im suffering from this culture shock
You spread confusion wherever you can
With shaking heads and shaking hands
Use propoganda to manipulate
When they make a bust you protect the state
Then the body break and the body tumble -
So you build it up, then you watch it crumble.
Time will change the picture
(evoltion, nonstop evolution)
About time, time will change the picture
(evoltion, nonstop evolution)
About time, time will change the picture
(evoltion, nonstop!)

song performed by Duran Duran
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A poem, on the rising glory of America

LEANDER.
No more of Memphis and her mighty kings,
Or Alexandria, where the Ptolomies.
Taught golden commerce to unfurl her falls,
And bid fair science smile: No more of Greece
Where learning next her early visit paid,
And spread her glories to illume the world,
No more of Athens, where she flourished,
And saw her sons of mighty genius rise
Smooth flowing Plato, Socrates and him
Who with resistless eloquence reviv'd
The Spir't of Liberty, and shook the thrones
Of Macedon and Persia's haughty king.
No more of Rome enlighten'd by her beams,
Fresh kindling there the fire of eloquence,
And poesy divine; imperial Rome!
Whose wide dominion reach'd o'er half the globe;
Whose eagle flew o'er Ganges to the East,
And in the West far to the British isles.
No more of Britain, and her kings renown'd,
Edward's and Henry's thunderbolts of war;
Her chiefs victorious o'er the Gallic foe;
Illustrious senators, immortal bards,
And wise philosophers, of these no more.
A Theme more new, tho' not less noble claims
Our ev'ry thought on this auspicious day
The rising glory of this western world,
Where now the dawning light of science spreads
Her orient ray, and wakes the muse's song;
Where freedom holds her sacred standard high,
And commerce rolls her golden tides profuse
Of elegance and ev'ry joy of life.

ACASTO.
Since then Leander you attempt a strain
So new, so noble and so full of fame;
And since a friendly concourse centers here
America's own sons, begin O muse!
Now thro' the veil of ancient days review
The period fam'd when first Columbus touch'd
The shore so long unknown, thro' various toils,
Famine and death, the hero made his way,
Thro' oceans bestowing with eternal storms.
But why, thus hap'ly found, should we resume
The tale of Cortez, furious chief, ordain'd
With Indian blood to dye the sands, and choak
Fam'd Amazonia's stream with dead! Or why,
Once more revive the story old in fame,

[...] Read more

poem by Hugh Henry Brackenridge
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Light Burst, Confusion, First Thirst, Then Fusion, Flight

As nature hates a vacuum NOTHING can
be but a figment fragment second-guessed.
Reality and dreams combine, their quest
is thus to banish NOTHING then to span
creation’s vastness, scanning big bang's van,
from tao trip evolution's also-ran
to space displacement through one thousandth dan,
to Time condensing on initial jest
when request and inquest converge in gest.
Atoms void avoid, spin tails till trail's lost, rest
contest, contestants, distance, über plan,
arresting surface difference with zest.

From mess congestive to suggestive test
of chaos, universal fractal fest
patterns pitter patter, matter must
invent itself from, to, through, into dust.

./.

Before big bang rang change strange, range remaining still in flux
electrons once were strangers all to call of ‘fiat lux’.
Along came fission’s fusion, confusion first, then light
bequeathing mission’s clues upon delusion and delight.
This led to fate's conclusion, caused atoms to unite
the which, in turn, illusion lent woe_man - sum mum quite!

From chaos sprung our meeting, a marriage of convenience,
the which our rhymes are sweeting so judge linked lines with lenience.
When I was oxygenic and you two hydro genes
as dry as dust hygenic remained both Ways and Means,
as lonely and divided you me me…anderings,
unknown were helix he licks, and protoplasmic strings.

Unknown were then amoebae, or cells life's spells now bring,
like wise unfixed stoned genes' screen sticks, where species do their thing,
Thus life reached out, leached in for years before the Christian Right
decided seven days were all transforming night to right.
The Kansas Education Board's creation tale lies scored,
for aeons spun, together run, provided bread and board
for creatures wild - those really mild encountered some predators
before blind humankind assigned their carbon half-life daters.
Without our tryst few formal life forms on earth could ever
pursue existence ‘normal’, act out silly or feel clever.

When I was young and ignorant unknown to hair twins hydro
few days were spent in versing chant, reversing carbohydro
none fought for life on food chain link, existence ungalactic
they were a simple pair I think, electrons unclimactic.
But now beneath, above, beyond it is our joy to bond -

[...] Read more

poem by Jonathan Robin
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Bald

I didn’t need shampoo to clean my scalp; instead a glass of tainted
water
could excellently do the job,
On the other hand you required tones of bubbly froth to cleanse your
hair;
evacuate the petulant granules of dandruff neatly entrapped between
your
follicles.

I didn’t need gleaming hair oil to smear on my head; all I had to do
was clap
it loudly with my bohemian palms,
On the other hand you required swanky ointments; antiseptic creams to
keep the
conglomerate of your hair well in place.

I didn’t need scintillating scissors to use on my scalp; it would
appear
wholesomely ludicrous even if I held one in close proximity with it,
On the other hand you required a plethora of sharp instruments; pairs
of
intricate razors; in order to occasionally trim the unruly tentacles of
your
hair.

I didn’t need a brush to part my scalp; as it nimbly obliged to my
scrubbing
it with a dust cloth,
On the other hand you required a luxuriously serrated comb; to
meticulously
entangle the incorrigible knots formed in your long hair.

I didn’t need to camouflage my scalp with a taut piece of cloth every
time I
ventured out; as there was no danger of the wind blowing it away,
On the other hand you required to embellish yourself with a
grandiloquent cap;
a host of flapping sunshades; in order to ensure that the thin wisps of
your
hair didn’t rip apart with the tenacious breeze,

I didn’t need to incessantly browse my hands through my scalp; while
attending
pompous parties,
On the other hand you required to sporadically run your fingers against
your
cuticles; making sure that they remained stringently aligned.

I didn’t need to wash my scalp after bathing in the saline ocean;
instead let

[...] Read more

poem by Nikhil Parekh
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High School Science Project

in the celestial
scheme of things
this world
planet earth

this sacred world
earth sphere planet
ball blue life bubble
spin life day night

if it were rated
a high school
science project
how judge you?

conception creation potential
planet water land masses
flora plants fauna animals
micro systems eco systems

life domain kingdom
phylum/division
class order family
genus species outlined

an animal kingdom
split into main groups
vertebrates (with a backbone)
invertebrates (without a backbone)

an animal a mouse a cat
a dog or a lion or tiger
over 800,000 species
have now been identified

in the Animal Kingdom
most species are in
the Arthropod phylum
mind blowing numbers

scientists estimate
to identify all species
in the tropical rain
forests the ranks of

Arthropoda would swell
to over 10 million species!
A clam a jellyfish an insect
an earthworm all are animal.

[...] Read more

poem by Terence George Craddock
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The Female of the Species

When the Himalayan peasant meets the he-bear in his pride,
He shouts to scare the monster who will often turn aside.
But the she-bear thus accosted rends the peasant tooth and nail,
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

When Nag, the wayside cobra, hears the careless foot of man,
He will sometimes wriggle sideways and avoid it if he can,
But his mate makes no such motion where she camps beside the trail -
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

When the early Jesuit fathers preached to Hurons and Choctaws,
They prayed to be delivered from the vengeance of the squaws -
'Twas the women, not the warriors, turned those stark enthusiasts pale -
For the female of the species is more deadly than the male.

Man's timid heart is bursting with the things he must not say,
For the Woman that God gave him isn't his to give away;
But when hunter meets with husband, each confirms the others tale -
The female of the species is more deadly than the male.

Man, a bear in most relations, worm and savage otherwise,
Man propounds negotiations, Man accepts the compromise;
Very rarely will he squarely push the logic of a fact
To its ultimate conclusion in unmitigated act.

Fear, or foolishness, impels him, ere he lay the wicked low,
To concede some form of trial even to his fiercest foe.
Mirth obscene diverts his anger; Doubt and Pity oft perplex
Him in dealing with an issue - to the scandal of the Sex!

But the Woman that God gave him, every fibre of her frame
Proves her launched for one sole issue, armed and engined for the same,
And to serve that single issue, lest the generations fail,
The female of the species must be deadlier than the male.

She who faces Death by torture for each life beneath her breast
May not deal in doubt or pity - must not swerve for fact or jest.
These be purely male diversions - not in these her honor dwells -
She, the Other Law we live by, is that Law and nothing else!

She can bring no more to living than the powers that make her great
As the Mother of the Infant and the Mistress of the Mate;
And when Babe and Man are lacking and she strides unclaimed to claim
Her right as femme (and baron), her equipment is the same.

She is wedded to convictions - in default of grosser ties;
Her contentions are her children, Heaven help him, who denies!
He will meet no cool discussion, but the instant, white-hot wild
Wakened female of the species warring as for spouse and child.

[...] Read more

poem by Rudyard Kipling
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Ive Got A Match

Get out of the car
Put down the phone
Take off that stupid looking hat you wear
Im going to die if you touch me one more time
Well I guess that Im going to die no matter what
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
You think its always sensitive and good
You think that I want to be understood
Ive got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Beat up the cat if you need someone else on the mat
I put a rock in the coffee in your coffee mug
Which one of us is the one that we cant trust?
You say that I think its you but I dont agree with that
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
You think its always sensitive and good
You think that I want to be understood
Ive got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Even when we get along
Ive got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
Why cant you be sensitive and good
Why dont you want to be understood
Ive got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Ive got a match
Your embrace and my collapse

song performed by They Might Be Giants
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0015 'Intelligent Design' Goes Bats

Once upon a time
in the forests of Ecuador -
but this is a true story,
who'd dare to make it up?

there was and is today
a flower with a deep bell-like cup
whose tempting nectar is just out of reach
to all but one species

In the forests of Ecuador
there's a species of bat
with a tongue 9 centimetres,
that's 3 inches, long
and therefore quite a proportion
of its bodyweight
which is the only species
yes you've guessed it

there's something going on here

it's called something like
species co-evolution -
have they come to some cute arrangement
and if so, what language did they whisper in?

that means, over hundreds, thousands, millions?
of years, each generation the flower's bell
got infinitesimally longer and
the bat's tongue got longer

Had they allowed for the possibility
that one day, mankind,
meddling as mankind does,
might mess up the rain -forests of Ecuador
and suddenly, a shortage of
flowers - or of bats?
the deal's off... but anyway,
who gave these guys the right
to bargain this private deal?

Can it be that Intelligent Design
sticks a offside pass or two in?
A kinda divine joke by Evolution
or vice versa..

poem by Michael Shepherd
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Insect Assassins

Injects no survive. Efforts control the
Animal survive. Survive. Animal survive. Survive. Injects no survive.

In nasty spitting eye cost. This
Assassin spitting spitting assassin spitting spitting in nasty spitting

Insectivorous nutriment species encounter Charles to
Are species species are species species insectivorous nutriment species

Into notoriety. Sweeping eastern capture testimony
As sweeping sweeping as sweeping sweeping into
notoriety. Sweeping

Interest nervous succumb easily: composed tube
Adhesive succumb succumb adhesive succumb succumb interest
nervous succumb

It near spider East closes thorax.
And spider spider and spider spider it near spider

Its needle. Specialized enlarged? Cutting tough
A specialized specialized a specialized specialized its needle.
Specialized

Is nontoxic secretion extremely contains that
Assassin-bug secretion secretion assassin-bug secretion secretion
is nontoxic secretion

I needle-like snake. Enzymes compound TENDON
ANCHORING snake, snake, ANCHORING snake, snake, I
needle-like snake,

INLET not significant, effect cockroach. Thus
About significant, significant, about significant, significant,
INLET not significant,

Insect "natural" surround enzyme constituents time
After surround surround after surround surround insect "natural"
surround

Internal nerve. Sucks especially contents through.
Against sucks sucks. Against sucks sucks. Internal nerve. Sucks

Immediate now share extinguishing controlling them.
Arises: share share arises: share share immediate now share

Insecticide? Needs. Sap; episode. Cimicidae thoroughly
Attributed sap; sap; attributed sap; sap; insecticide? Needs. Sap;

Insects numbing seconds. Each channels. They.

[...] Read more

poem by Jackson Mac Low
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Prince Hohenstiel-Schwangau, Saviour of Society

Epigraph

Υδραν φονεύσας, μυρίων τ᾽ ἄλλων πόνων
διῆλθον ἀγέλας . . .
τὸ λοίσθιον δὲ τόνδ᾽ ἔτλην τάλας πόνον,
. . . δῶμα θριγκῶσαι κακοῖς.

I slew the Hydra, and from labour pass'd
To labour — tribes of labours! Till, at last,
Attempting one more labour, in a trice,
Alack, with ills I crowned the edifice.

You have seen better days, dear? So have I —
And worse too, for they brought no such bud-mouth
As yours to lisp "You wish you knew me!" Well,
Wise men, 't is said, have sometimes wished the same,
And wished and had their trouble for their pains.
Suppose my Œdipus should lurk at last
Under a pork-pie hat and crinoline,
And, latish, pounce on Sphynx in Leicester Square?
Or likelier, what if Sphynx in wise old age,
Grown sick of snapping foolish people's heads,
And jealous for her riddle's proper rede, —
Jealous that the good trick which served the turn
Have justice rendered it, nor class one day
With friend Home's stilts and tongs and medium-ware,—
What if the once redoubted Sphynx, I say,
(Because night draws on, and the sands increase,
And desert-whispers grow a prophecy)
Tell all to Corinth of her own accord.
Bright Corinth, not dull Thebes, for Lais' sake,
Who finds me hardly grey, and likes my nose,
And thinks a man of sixty at the prime?
Good! It shall be! Revealment of myself!
But listen, for we must co-operate;
I don't drink tea: permit me the cigar!
First, how to make the matter plain, of course —
What was the law by which I lived. Let 's see:
Ay, we must take one instant of my life
Spent sitting by your side in this neat room:
Watch well the way I use it, and don't laugh!
Here's paper on the table, pen and ink:
Give me the soiled bit — not the pretty rose!
See! having sat an hour, I'm rested now,
Therefore want work: and spy no better work
For eye and hand and mind that guides them both,
During this instant, than to draw my pen
From blot One — thus — up, up to blot Two — thus —
Which I at last reach, thus, and here's my line
Five inches long and tolerably straight:

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poem by Robert Browning (1871)
Added by Veronica Serbanoiu
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