..through many a dark and dreary vale
They passed, and many a region dolorous,
O'er many a frozen, many a fiery alp,
Rocks, caves, lakes, fens, bogs, dens, and shades of death,
A universe of death, which God by curse
Created evil, for evil only good,
Where all life dies, death lives, and nature breeds,
Perverse, all monstrous, all prodigious things,
Abominable, inutterable, and worse
Than fables yet have feigned, or fear concieved,
Gorgons and hydras, and chimeras dire
With the dreary reverie one is faced on a saturday afternoon and the events which have come to pass, I read these lines and these words by Milton and even after those 350 odd years these were penned, it does not fail to send a shiver up my spine.
Why do these lines hold an allure? The picture they depict is not a cheery one, not one that should be taking up the few and far between moments a youthful, zestful guy with most of his necessities covered, and who still is exploring this world just like a five year old with new tastes, new feelings, new playthings.
One thing I have realised and have resolved, is that these ancient lines indeed do describe the state of mind I am in, the people around me are and on some level the entire world I live in. I yearn, with all my intensity and awareness, that things do turn to a cheerier page but I have decided that I will not wait for that day.
I will face the truth, try to understand why things are so, be it so utterly distasteful or painful, I will be the one or one of those who strive to literally be the elusive Panacea, the greek goddess who cures all, who may be the answer to the suffering in the world.
Today is the day I have decided that I will try to piece this jigsaw together, futile though may it be, a dead end it may have been, to those, who had ventured this before me heads bowed down fully aware of the task ahead, but thankfully and blissfully unaware of the impending challenges that lie ahead , to pursue the one direction that their heart tells them to.
Now, and every moment from now, I will strive to make this world a better place, so help me God.
