We mentioned the poetry of T S Eliot in relation to Time in the last class of Session 8.<\/p>\n
Here is the first stanza of ‘Burnt Norton’ (one of the Four Quartets)<\/p>\n
Time present and time past
\nAre both perhaps present in time future
\nAnd time future contained in time past.
\nIf all time is eternally present
\nAll time is unredeemable.
\nWhat might have been is an abstraction
\nRemaining a perpetual possibility
\nOnly in a world of speculation.
\nWhat might have been and what has been
\nPoint to one end, which is always present.
\nFootfalls echo in the memory
\nDown the passage which we did not take
\nTowards the door we never opened
\nInto the rose-garden. My words echo
\nThus, in your mind.
\nBut to what purpose
\nDisturbing the dust on a bowl of rose-leaves
\nI do not know.
\nOther echoes
\nInhabit the garden. Shall we follow?
\nQuick, said the bird, find them, find them,
\nRound the corner. Through the first gate,
\nInto our first world, shall we follow
\nThe deception of the thrush? Into our first world.
\nThere they were, dignified, invisible,
\nMoving without pressure, over the dead leaves,
\nIn the autumn heat, through the vibrant air,
\nAnd the bird called, in response to
\nThe unheard music hidden in the shrubbery,
\nAnd the unseen eyebeam crossed, for the roses
\nHad the look of flowers that are looked at.
\nThere they were as our guests, accepted and accepting.
\nSo we moved, and they, in a formal pattern,
\nAlong the empty alley, into the box circle,
\nTo look down into the drained pool.
\nDry the pool, dry concrete, brown edged,
\nAnd the pool was filled with water out of sunlight,
\nAnd the lotos rose, quietly, quietly,
\nThe surface glittered out of heart of light,
\nAnd they were behind us, reflected in the pool.
\nThen a cloud passed, and the pool was empty.
\nGo, said the bird, for the leaves were full of children,
\nHidden excitedly, containing laughter.
\nGo, go, go, said the bird: human kind
\nCannot bear very much reality.
\nTime past and time future
\nWhat might have been and what has been
\nPoint to one end, which is always present.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
We mentioned the poetry of T S Eliot in relation to Time in the last class of Session 8. Here is the first stanza of ‘Burnt Norton’ (one of the Four Quartets) Time present and time past Are both perhaps … Continue reading