Philosopher's Stone

Jun 29 18:17 UTC 1994

"Look," he said, holding out his hand, thumb touching forefinger.

I looked.  I looked more closely.  "It is a grain of sand."

"It is the Philosopher's Stone," he said.

I looked more closely.  "It is a granular quartz crystal, a quantum beach
particle, a silicate chip off the old planet, like many others."

"It is the Philospher's Stone," he said. "Its touch turns lead into gold."

"Lead into Gold?" I said.

"Indeed," he said.

       "I placed it on a clock, it turned back.
        I placed it on a television, it turned off.
        I placed it on my master, he turned me free.
        I placed it on a bulldozer, it turned aside.
        I placed it on a prince of darkness, he turned up the lights.
        I placed it in wine, it turned to water.
        I placed it on a drunkard, he turned down drink.
        I placed it on Charlie Chaplin, he turned out his toes.
        I placed it on my car, it turned up my driveway.
        I placed it on a lathe, it turned a spoke.
        I placed it on the underdog, he turned the tables.
        I placed it on a worm, it turned.
        I placed it on a prison, it turned inside out.
        I placed it on the innkeeper, he turned me out.
        I placed it on a lost child, he turned up.
        I placed it on my anger, it turned another cheek.
        I placed it on Julia Roberts, she turned ugly.
        I placed it on the world, it turned round.
        I placed it on a king, he turned the tide.
        I placed it on my tongue, I turned foolish.
        I placed it on a dream, and never, ever turned back."

"Indeed," I said.

response 2 of 9:

Jun 30 13:04 UTC 1994

Hmmm.

response 4 of 9:

Jul 3 01:32 UTC 1994

"To everything, turn, turn, turn, there is a Philosopher's Stone..."

response 6 of 9:

Jul 26 18:40 UTC 1994

I am happy, because ignorance is bliss.

response 8 of 9:

Aug 18 22:15 UTC 1994

   Said the teacher to the student:
           "I have shown you the Philosopher's Stone.  Have you learned
            enough?"
   Said the student to his teacher:
           "We are always learning; we are not always remembering."
   Said the teacher to the student:
           "What will you show me?"
   Said the student to his teacher:
           "I will show you that there is a wood.  Shall I show they're
            something else?"
   Said the teacher to the student:
           "Where is this wood?"
   Said the student to his teacher:
           "It rests among the Philospher's Stones that are themselves
            resting.  Shall I show you that the wood is something
            else?"
   Said the teacher to the student:
           "And what does the wood show?"
   Said the student to his teacher:
           "They show me the ignorance of the Philosopher's Stone.  Shall
            I show the wood is something else?"
   Said the teacher to the student:
           "But what does the Philospher's Stone tell you?"
   Said the student to his teacher:
           "The Philospher's Stone speaks of the ignorance of the wood.
            May I show that wood is something else?"
   Said the teacher to the student:
           "How is the Philospher's Stone ignorant?"
   Said the student to his teacher:
           "What may the bird see that the worm cannot?;
            What can the worm see that the bird may not?
            What can the grass see that the water may not?;
            What may the water see that the grass cannot?
            Then you will know what the stone may see that the wood cannot
              AND
            You will know what the wood can say that the stone may not."
   Said the teacher to the student:
             "I will learn of the Philospher's Wood.  Show me that the wood is
              something else."
   Said the philospher to the other:
             "I will show you that there is a wood."

{Grex 12} Chaos Rules gumby-->

Eliot