Monday, November 01, 2010

Decide

DECIDE, v.i. To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.
A leaf was riven from a tree,
"I mean to fall to earth," said he.

The west wind, rising, made him veer.
"Eastward," said he, "I now shall steer."

The east wind rose with greater force.
Said he: "'Twere wise to change my course."

With equal power they contend.
He said: "My judgment I suspend."

Down died the winds; the leaf, elate,
Cried: "I've decided to fall straight."

"First thoughts are best?" That's not the moral;
Just choose your own and we'll not quarrel.

Howe'er your choice may chance to fall,
You'll have no hand in it at all.
—G.J.
2010 Update: To offer destiny a consideration.

15 comments:

Ariel the Thief said...

Decide, to give up on the other 999 paths. One has to avoid it to happen as often as possible.

TLP said...

I've decided not to argue with Ambrose this morning. Or...did he decide for me?

Rabbit rabbit Douglas! I hope November is a special month.

TLP said...

Nice Ariel. Reminds me somehow of Frost's The Road Not Taken.

Jim said...

Rabbit, rabbit, or rabbit?
I can't decide. They all seem about the same to me.
..

Unknown said...

bunny, bunny

lostorac: crash diet

tsduff said...

Rabbit Rabbit from a crow. I can relate to the leaf - to decide or to decide not: that is the question.

Ariel the Thief said...

Rabbit, rabbit!

google said...

"Consider Destiny". A great name for a book.

Loved your definition, loved Ambrose's as well.

I can't decide which one I like best.

k. riggs gardner said...

As an aside, doesn't your nephew Eamon celebrate his birthday this week?

k. riggs gardner said...

Also, congratulations to San Francisco Giants -- 2010 World Series Champs!

Anonymous said...

so i now must decide
whether or not this
(san francisco ,win)
was a political omen
sports are used in
the political arena
daily...so i see
with hopeful eyes
a democratic sweep
across the nation

Rabbit Rabbit

w/v,,hitem
home runs

PEACE

quilly said...

Choosing not to decide is a decision. If one doesn't vote one may actually be more responsible for the outcome than one might have been had s/he voted. Interesting thought, yes?

Doug The Una said...

Ariel, that's a good point. Most decisions are to keep the options open.

TLP, and to you. You're the warm sunrise at the end of autumn. And the sort of noisy one.

I think they pretty much are, Jim.

Bunny bunny, bunny.

I think Bierce was saying the decision is an illusion.

Rabbit rabbit, fox.

Actonbell, they can feel the same.

Pia, is that you calling yourself google?

Karen, Eamon's birthday is today, in fact.

Bear, you're the only one seeing that but you're smarter than a pollster.

Interesting, yes. True, probably half, Quilly. It amounts to the same I think.

javajazz said...

i've been watching
the Autumn leaves fall here,
and i noticed that
they fall
wherever they fall...

javajazz said...

...speaking of graceful,
Tibbar Tibbar, sir...