AMERICAN ENERGY

I offer an arrangement of the thoughts of Walt Whitman for reflection at a very strange time for the people of this world.

“O public road …….. you express me better than I can express myself.” ……. “My words itch at your ears till you understand them ……”

Whitman did not reject the place of science but he also saw: “……. the fossil theology of the mythic – materialistic, superstitious, untaught and credulous, fable-loving, primitive ages of humanity.”

“And as to me, I know nothing else but miracles …….”

……. “From this hour I ordain myself loos’d of limits and imaginary lines.”

……. “In the faces of men and women, I see God.”

…… “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then, I contradict myself; I am large — I contain multitudes.”

……. “I exist as I am, that is enough,”

When Walt wrote, “I sound my barbaric yawp over the roofs of the world.” did he foreshadow POTUS 45’s reinvention of presidential communication to the people via Twitter? And then some of the world’s reactions to Trump …… “I find no sweeter fat than sticks to my own bones.”

In this time of a terrified rush to isolation, is it more important than ever for America to remember these words: …….. “TO the States or any one of them, or any city of the States, Resist much, obey little, Once unquestioning obedience, once fully enslaved, no nation, state, city of this earth, ever after-ward resumes its liberty.”

“Unscrew the locks from the doors ! Unscrew the doors themselves from their jambs !”

“……. we are members of the human race. And the human race is filled with passion.”

Stay safe, everyone.

And please stay free.

Geoff Fox, 27th March in Terra Nullius, 26th of March in America, 2020