An ancient tale is told of how the gods, having stolen from man his divinity, met in council to discuss where they should hide it. One suggested that it be carried to the other side of the earth and buried, but it was pointed out that some men are great wanderers and that they might find the lost treasure on the other side of the earth; another proposed it be dropped into the depths of the sea, but the same fear was expressed: that man, in his insatiable curiosity, might dive deep enough to find it even there. Finally, after space of silence, the oldest and wisest of the gods said “hide it in man himself. Because that is the last place he will ever think to look for it”. I sent my soul to the invisible, the afterlife to foretell. And returning, it said to me “I myself am both heaven and hell”…

For those who believe in God, most of the big questions are answered. But for those of us who can’t readily accept the God formula, the big answers don’t remain stone-written. We adjust to new conditions and discoveries. We are pliable. Love need not be a command nor faith a dictum. I am my own god. We are here to unlearn the teachings of the church, state, and our educational system. We are here to drink beer. We are here to kill war. We are here to laugh at the odds and live our lives so well that Death will tremble to take us.

Voglio coprirti d’amore, di voluttà, d’ebbrezza: voglio farti sazia di tutte le felicità della carne. Voglio che tu sia stupita di me e che confessi nell’anima tua che non avevi neppure immaginato trasporti simili. Voglio che in vecchiaia ti ricordi queste ore e che le tue ossa scarnite ne fremano di gioia al pensiero.