Bread Upon the Waters

 THE FINAL SAY

Quotations (from the Bible and James Baldwin)

in a pair for comparison

Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days.

     --The Bible: Ecclesiastes 11:1 (King James Version)

In other words:

People who treat other people as less than human must not be surprised when the bread they have cast on the waters comes back to them, poisoned.

     --James Baldwin (1924-1987)

Read more about James Baldwin.

The Great Stone Face

One afternoon, when the sun was going down, a mother and her little boy sat at the door of their cottage, talking about the Great Stone Face. They had but to lift their eyes, and there it was plainly to be seen, though miles away, with the sunshine brightening all its features.

And what was the Great Stone Face?

So begins Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic short story "The Great Stone Face." To read the answer to the question above and to read the story in its entirety, click here.

Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864)

(Photo by Mathew Brady)

The Butterfly Magnet

In my small bathroom

I allow

no silverfish, no

pests, just one

butterfly.

The butterfly in the photo above

is a magnet that once belonged

to my dear departed Aunt Mildred

and that now belongs to me. 

Concerning Anger and Murder: A Found Poem

A Poem of Jesus Christ

from The New English Bible (1970):

Matthew 5:21-22

You have learned that our forefathers were told,

"Do not commit murder;

anyone who commits murder

must be brought to judgement."

But what I tell you is this:

Anyone who nurses anger

against his brother

must be brought to judgement.

If he abuses his brother

he must answer for it to the court;

if he sneers at him

he will have to answer for it

in the fires of hell.

Cover of The New English Bible

Silence of Fools

Those who are sure of themselves do not talk all the time. People who stay calm have real insight. After all, even fools may be thought wise and intelligent if they stay quiet and keep their mouths shut.

     --The Bible: Proverbs 17:27-28 (Good News Translation)

It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.

     --Mark Twain

     

Emily Dickinson on Asking Forgiveness of God

Here is an untitled poem by American poet Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) on asking forgiveness of God. This poem is in the public domain.

Of God we ask one favor,

That we may be forgiven --

For what, he is presumed to know --

The Crime, from us, is hidden --

Immured the whole of Life

Within a magic Prison

We reprimand the Happiness

That too competes with Heaven.

Emily Dickinson