Tuesday, January 17, 2012

the pathway to truth

The wayfarer,
Perceiving the pathway to truth,
Was struck with astonishment.
It was thickly grown with weeds.
"Ha," he said,
"I see that none has passed here
In a long time."
Later he saw that each weed
Was a singular knife.
"Well," he mumbled at last,
"Doubtless there are other roads."

STEVEN CRANE, "The Wayfarer," from War Is Kind and other Lines, 1899
quoted by Valerie Frandsen in her valedictory address, June 1992 ;)


Two excellent bits of news for the New Year: (1) I'm in Singapore and (2) I got a new camera for Christmas. These young pineapple plants in our hotel garden instantly brought my favorite Mr. Crane to mind....