| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Flame and Shadow by Sara Teasdale: In spite of all your tenderness,
Sometimes I am not glad to live.
I am alone, as though I stood
On the highest peak of the tired gray world,
About me only swirling snow,
Above me, endless space unfurled;
With earth hidden and heaven hidden,
And only my own spirit's pride
To keep me from the peace of those
Who are not lonely, having died.
Red Maples
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Danny's Own Story by Don Marquis: feller to take Looey's place out there.
This feller's name is Watty Sanders, and his
wife is a fat lady in his own show and very good-
natured when not intoxicated nor mad at Watty.
She was billed on the curtains outside fur five hun-
dred and fifty pounds, and Watty says she really
does weigh nigh on to four hundred. But being
a fat lady's husband ain't no bed of rosy
ease at that, Watty tells the doctor. It's like
every other trade--it has its own pertic'ler
responsibilities and troubles. She is a turrible
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Marvelous Land of Oz by L. Frank Baum: and it panted and gasped painfully, and moved more slowly than before. Then
it reached the edge of the desert and began racing across the deep sands.
But its tired feet sank far
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into the sand, and in a few minutes the Griffin fell forward, completely
exhausted, and lay still upon the desert waste.
Glinda came up a moment later, riding the still vigorous Saw-Horse; and
having unwound a slender golden thread from her girdle the Sorceress threw
it over the head of the panting and helpless Griffin, and so destroyed the
magical power of Mombi's transformation.
For the animal, with one fierce shudder, disappeared from view, while in its
The Marvelous Land of Oz |
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from The Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: camp awaiting Wetzel's return, he was always content. Many hours he idled away
lying on his back, with the west wind blowing softly over him, his eye on the
distant hills, where the cloud shadows swept across with slow, majestic
movement, like huge ships at sea.
If Wetzel and Joe were far distant from the cave, as was often the case, they
made camp in the open woods, and it was here that Joe's contentment was
fullest. Twilight shades stealing down over the camp-fire; the cheery glow of
red embers; the crackling of dry stocks; the sweet smell of wood smoke, all
had for the lad a subtle, potent charm.
The hunter would broil a venison steak, or a partridge, on the coals. Then
they would light their pipes and smoke while twilight deepened. The oppressive
The Spirit of the Border |
