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Adrian Plass
2004.06.14. 14:08
Pilgrim
By Adrian Plass
| Some people love the old hymns, don’t they…?
He who would valiant be, let him come hither Well, yes - quite Absolutely Let him come! I'll be along in a minute Not that I'm against hithering, you understand I'm a hitherer I am a hithering person - definitely am a potential one It's just that - well, I've had to put the old hithering on hold for a bit I suppose you could say I'm in the Slough of thing Thingy Things The Slough of things Hmmm... First avowed intent still intact, mind you Oh, yes, to be - a proper one To be a pilgrim The thing is - modern pilgrimming doesn't quite hit the err... Well, you know, the jolly old sort of churchy High thingy thing Day off Smart casual gear Hope it doesn't rain Who're you walking with? Very profound experience Has a very special meaning for me Flowers are wonderful Go every year Usually get a coach together Very good talk Smashing meal Charming little bed and breakfast. Tidy prayers Been happening for hundreds of years That and the effort of the walking seems to add depth to it Sort of thing Nothing wrong with all that, of course Nothing wrong Very right But... Pilgrimming Pilgrimming for me Can we afford? Did I remember? I should have done it then Oh, not again All right, I'm sorry - I'm sorry - I'm sorry! It didn't mean anything, honestly I promise I won't I promise I will I promise I'll promise to promise that I'll promise anything Someone at the door... Why the hell should I? Why the hell shouldn't I? Yes, of course I will - you know I will Ow! Ow! My leg! Ow! Hurts too much to go on a pilgrimage... Sort of thing Beset me round with dismal stories? Dismal, abysmal - oh, yes! Oh, yes! Oh, yes! My strength the more is? No-o-o-o, no, no, no! Well, look, never mind - we know we at the end shall life inherit At least, we shall if - Tell me, do your fancies seem to flee away? Mine don't Large, lazy, flightless birds, my fancies - like emus They just run and run and run and run... Do you know, I really rather fear what men say I suppose The long and the short of it is - I do labour night and day In a way But I'm not sure I've even begun To be a pilgrim |
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