| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Iron Puddler by James J. Davis: brain power. That's what I lack and that's what I want above all
other things. I try to study at night and educate myself. But I
haven't got any chance against you fellows who are born
intellectual and have college training on top of it. So if I have
talked sharp to you, my cussedness is really due to envy. I
really want to be in your shoes, and I haven't got the brains for
the job."
This worked.
"There is nothing about me for a fellow like you to envy," he
said condescendingly. "I'm no better off than you are. In fact, I
envy you fellows. You are never sick; you can eat and digest
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Poems of William Blake by William Blake: Why fade these children of the spring? born but to smile & fall.
Ah! Thel is like a watry bow, and like a parting cloud,
Like a reflection in a glass: like shadows in the water
Like dreams of infants, like a smile upon an infants face.
Like the doves voice, like transient day, like music in the air:
Ah! gentle may I lay me down and gentle rest my head.
And gentle sleep the sleep of death, and gently hear the voice
Of him that walketh in the garden in the evening time.
The Lilly of the valley breathing in the humble grass
Answerd the lovely maid and said: I am a watry weed,
And I am very small and love to dwell in lowly vales:
 Poems of William Blake |