Today, July 13, in 1798, William Wordsworth took a walking tour of TINTERN ABBEY (built 1131) and, a few miles on, composed it. Below are the opening lines of this famous poem.
Five years have past; five summers, with the length
Of five long winters! and again I hear
These waters, rolling from their mountain-springs
With a soft inland murmur.
The Table of Emotions
There is a banquet in my mind. It is given to me by my emotions. I am the host of these notions;
It is in my honor that they toast me. Love is the first to stand and tell of its glory in me. How it alone is always there to honor me. Pride stood up and said, “wait, if not for me you would not go far in your craft. Joy, immediately interjected, “Am I not the result of your happiness on deeds well done!” Awe, responded, “I am beyond you, as in excitement, I am the best! Pride jumped in, “without me, feelings would be bland.” Serenity, spoke up, “all of you need me to be sincere.” Hope included, “without me, most of your dreams would not exist.” Forgiveness finally added, “Yes, but without me, where would all of you be? This gave cause for Anger to cry out. “I am not staying silent in this false praise. Sincerity mumbled, without me, where would all of you go? Worry said, “ you would come to me!” Sadness, in its natural state lamented, That’s what bothers me the most, when I am neglected. Grief, agreed. Fear, in its shivering voice demanded, “I am the number one Emotional dominator, “All must be of service to me!” Disgust, became disenchanted with itself. Shame gave into shyness and cried. “Why am I always sorry?” As Sadness took over. Grief and unhappiness were now lost ... As loneliness was the king of these dark emotions. I just looked on in speculation. Unbelievably, my ego was in command of these good and bad motions. I, alone, could bring them up at Will: They were soldiers in my state of mind. The emotions themselves were under the orders of my feelings. My feelings had to listen to the advice of my whims. “Was happiness stronger than contentment?” What advice was given to “trial and error?” For sure, my ego has its duty to cater to my emotions. But at what cost is pride willing to give into fairness in choice? Where is the path that leads to rejoice? How do you bypass ncertainty and find the right thing to do? I sit at this table, every moment, of every day of my life. Decisions are made at the spur of the moment, or, over time. Choices change, as right can be wrong? Or, reversed in mixed feelings . When must I be strong and not give in to that ever present, ever tempting... temptation? It is always there, egging me on, to investigate the nknown. The best thing we, as humans have, is our own Free Will. Free Will, “dominates” and “Triumphs” over all emotions! My Free Will wrote this poetic decree. It is meant for me, yet, it applies to all who have a mind full of emotions. Hatred and Pity looked annoyed at each other as I write this; Laughter just got a kick out of everything. Sensual was peeking in wonder; Judgement was neutral, as usual.
0 Comments