The Dolphins

-Carol Ann Duffy

World is what you swim in, or dance, it is

simple.
We are in our
element but we are not free.
Outside this world you cannot breathe for long.
The other has my shape. The other's
movement
forms my thoughts. And also mine. There is a man
and there are
hoops. There is a constant flowing guilt.
We have found no truth in these waters,
no
explanations tremble on our flesh.
We were blessed and now we are not blessed.
After travelling such space for days we
began
to translate. It was
the same space. It is
the same
space always and above it is the man.

And now we are no

longer blessed, for the world
will not
deepen to dream in. The other knows
and out of love reflects for
me
myself.
We silver skin flash like memory
see our
by
of somewhere else. There is a coloured
bal
we have to balance till the man
has disappeared.
The moon has
disappeared. We circle
well-worn grooves
of water on a
single note. Music of loss forever
from the other's heart which turns
my own to stone.
There is a plastic toy. There is no
hope. We sink
to the limits of this pool until the whistle blows.
There is a man and our mind knows will die
we
here.
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 The Gift of India
Sarojini Naidu

I there ought you need that my hands withhold,

Rich pifts of raiment or
grain or
gold?
lo' have flung to the East and the West
P'riceless treasures torn from my breast,
And yielded the sons of my stricken womb
To thedrum-beats of the duty, the sabers of
doom
Gathered like pearls in
their aliun gráves
Silent they sleep by the Persian Waves,
Scattered like shells on
Egyptian sands,
They lie with pale brows and brave, broken hands,
they are strewn like blossoms mown down by chance
On the blood-brown meadows of Flanders and France
Can ye measure
the grief of the tears I weep
Or compass the of the watch I
woe
keep?
Or the pride that thrills thro' my heart's despair
And the hope that comforts the
anguish of prayer?
And the far sad glorious vision I see
Of the torn red banners of
victory?
when the terror and the tumult of hate shall cease
And life be relashioned anvils of peace,
on

And your love shall offer memorial thanks

To the comrades who fought on the dauntless ranks,
And you honour the decds of the dauntless ones,
Remember the blood of my martyred sons!

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6 John Brown
-Bob Dylan

John Brown went off to war to fight on a

foreign shore
His mama sure was proud of him
He stood straight and tall in his uniform
and all

His mama's face broke out all in a

grin

"Oh son, you look so fine, I'm glad you're a

son of mine

You make me proud to know you hold a

gun
Do what the captain says, lots of medals
you will get
And we'll put them on the wall when you
come home"

As that old train

pulled out, John's ma

began to shout
Tellin' ev'ryone in the neighborhood
"That's my son that's about to go, he's a
soldier now, you know"
She made well sure her neighbors
understood

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She got a letter once in a while and her
face broke into
a smile
As she showed them to the people from
next door
And she bragged about her son with his
uniform and gun
And these things you called a good old-
fashioned war

Oh, good old-fashioned war

Then the letters ceased to come, for a

long time they did not come

They ceased to come for about ten

months or more
Then a letter finally canme saying, "Go

down and meet the train

Your son's a-coming home from the war

She smiled and went right down, she

looked everywhere around
But she could not see her soldier son in

sight
But as all the people passed, she saw her
Son at last

When she did she could hardly believe her

eyes

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 Oh his tace was all shot up and his hand

W.s all blown ott

And he wore a metal brace around his

Waist

He whispered kind of slow, in a voice she

did not know

While she couldn't even

recognize his
tace!

Oh, lord, not even

recognize his tace

Oh tell me, my
darling son, pray tell me

what they done

How is it you be this way?"
come to
He tried his best to talk but his
mouth
could hardly move
And the mother had to turn her
face away

"Don't you remember, ma, when I went off

to war

You thought it was the best thing I could

do?

/1 the
was on
battleground, you were home
acting proud
You wasn't there standing in my shoes"

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Oh, and thought when I was
there, God,
what amI doing here?
Im tryin' to kill
a
sumebody or die tryin'
But the thing that scared me mnost was
when my enemy came close
And I saw that his face looked
just like
mine"

Oh, lord, just like mine!

"And I couldn't help but think, through the

thunder rolling and stink
That I was just a
puppet in a
play
And through the roar and smoke, this
string is finally broke
And a cannonball blew my eyes away.

As he turned away to walk, his ma was still

in shock
At seein' the metal brace that helped him
stand
But as he turned to go, he called his
mother close
And he dropped his medals down into her
hand.

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 Desiderata
-Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste,

and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,

even to the dull and ignorant;

they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons;

they are vexatious to the spirit.
yourself with others,
I you compare
you may become vain or bitter,
tor always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourseli

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

NEp interested in your own career, however humble,

s a real possession in t h e changing fortunes of tirme

Exercise caution in your business affairs,

for the world is full of trickery.

But let this to what virtue there
not blind you s
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism
Be yourself.

specially do not feign affection.

Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,

gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe

no less than the trees and the stars;

you have a right to be here.

And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God,

whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life, keeP peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams,

it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy.

24
 The Spider and the Fly
Mary Botham Howitt

Will ou walk into my parlour" said the Spider to the Fly:

Tis the prettiest little purlour that ever you did spy.
The wav nto my arlor is up a winding stair,
And I have many pretty things to show when you are there."
Ono no" said the little Fly, "to ask me is in vain,
For who goes up your winding stair can ne'er come down again.

Tm sure you must be weary, dear, with soaring up so high;

Will you rest upon nmy little bed?" said the Spider to the Fly.
Thern an pretty curtains drawn around, the sheets are fine

and thin,
And if you like to rest awhile, I'l snugly tuck you in."
O no, no," said the little Fly, "for l've often heard it said,

They never, never wake again, who sleep upon your bed."

Said the cunning Spicder to the Fly, "Dear friend, what can I do,

To prove the warm affection l've always felt for you?

I have within my pantry, good store of all that's nice;
to take slice?"
you please
will a
m
very welcome;
sure you're

Oh no, no," said the little Fly, "kind Sir, that cannot be;
Tve heard what's in your pantry, and I do not wish to see!"

Sweet creature!" said the Spider, "you're witty and you're wise!
How handsome are your gauzy wings, how brilliant are your

eyes !

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 shelt,
Ihave little looking glass upon my parlor
a

Itoull step in one moment, dear, you shall behold yourself

thank vou. gentle sir," she said, "tor what you're pleased to

And bidding you good morning now, ll call another day."

The spider turned him round about, and went into his den,
For well he knew the silly Fly would soon be back again:
So he wove a subtle web, in a little corner sly,
And set his table ready dine upon the
to Fly.
Then he his door again, and
came out to
merrily did sing
Come hither, hither, pretty Fly, with the pearl and silver wing:
Your robes are green and there's
purple; a crest upon your
head;
Your eyes are like the diamond
bright, but mine are dull as
lead."

Alas, alas! how very soon this silly little Fly,

Hearing his
wily flattering words, came slowly flitting by.
With buzzing wings she
hung aloft, then near and nearer drew
Thinking only of her brilliant eyes, and green and
purple hue;
Thinking only of her crested head poor foolish -

thing! At last,
Up jumped the cunning spider, and fiercely held her fast.
He dragged her
up his winding stair, into his dismal
den,
Within his little parlour; but she ne'er came out
again!
And now, dear little children, who may this story read,
To idle, silly, flattering words, I
pray you neer give heed;
Unto an evil counsellor close heart, and
er, and
eye,
And take a lesson trom this tale ot the
Spider and the Fly
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