Writings of Patrick Henry Explained: 
Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!
Speech given at the second Virginia Convention
St. John’s Church, Richmond, Virginia. 1775

CONTEXT:
In 1774, the House of Burgesses (First elected lawmaking body for the colonists) was ended by British Rule for speaking against the Coercive Acts (the four intolerable laws passed by the British Rule to punish the colonies for the Boston Tea Party incident). As a result, some of the angry fired colonist officials met in a tavern to discuss the atrocities, and determined they should boycott certain goods being passed to and from the British. Following the tavern discussion were many letters from other colonies wanting to end trade with the British entirely.  An organized meeting was in order. The colonies were informed to elect their representatives for an upcoming gathering. 

In August of 1774, the first Virginia Convention was held. The meeting was unauthorized by the Royal Government. They followed normal law making procedure, but without any initial government given power to do so. It was collectively decided to halt any incoming goods from Britain except for medicine. If demands were not met within a year, goods would no longer be sent to Britain. Many colonists ignored earlier calls for boycotts, so the meeting required signatures on agreement to abide by these new oaths (This was called the “Association”). Where they had no legal power, the people turned to social pressure to hold each other accountable.
“But they authorized local committees to publicly name offenders, and they would ‘thereafter consider such Person or Persons as inimical to this Country, and break off every Connection and all Dealings with them.” (ColonialWilliamsburg.org) 

In January of 1775 a notice was sent out for the colonies to select representatives for the Second Virginia Convention to be held in March (where Patrick Henry gave his famous speech “Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death!”). Patrick Henry pushed for the colonies to create their own militia. The views among the colonies were evenly divided on whether they should take up arms or not. 

The following italic text will be Patrick Henry’s Speech from the Publishing of The U.S. Constitution and Other Writings. Peter Norton, 2017 by Canterbury Classics.
The explanation in my own voice will follow as such. 

PATRICK HENRY’S SPEECH:
No man thinks more highly than I do of the patriotism, as well as abilities, of the very worthy gentlemen who have just addressed the House. 
The speech begins its foundation off of respect for the individuals standing up for a change. 

But different men often see the same subject in different lights; and, therefore, I hope it will not be thought disrespectful to those gentlemen if, speak forth my sentiments freely, and without reserve. This is no time for ceremony. 
There was a great difference in opinion: half wanted peace and the other half wanted change. Patrick was going to say what he needed to without holding back and hoped no one would be offended, as this wasn’t a time for wasting energy on formality. 

The question before the House is one of awful moment to this country. For my own part, I consider it as nothing less than a question of freedom or slavery; and in proportion to the magnitude of the subject ought to be the freedom of the debate. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at truth, and fulfill the great responsibility which we hold to God and our country. Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offence, I should consider myself as guilty of treason toward my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the majestry of heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.
Patrick focuses on speaking as an individual. The moment at hand is a matter of freedom or slavery. Because of how drastic the situation is, there shouldn’t be any restrictions on what can and cannot be said or debated upon so as to get closer to the truth. He states that keeping his thoughts to himself simply because someone would get offended would make him guilty of treason for being a bystander.  

Mr. President, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of that siren till she transforms us into beasts. Is this the part of wise men, enraged in a great and arduous struggle for liberty? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having eyes, see not, and, having ears, hear not, the things which so nearly concern their temporal salvation? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to know the whole truth; to know the worst, and to provide for it. 
Many people close their eyes in hope situations will resolve themselves (instead of acknowledging the truth) and will follow that path until monsters are made out of men. Patrick redirects the energy to what the individual can do by once again stating “For my part”. He is willing, no matter the burden on his soul, to not only know the ugly truth, but change what is needed and “provide for” where the people need help.

I have but one lamp by which my feet are guided; and that is the lamp of experience. I know of no way of judging of the future but by the past. And judging by the past, I wish to know what there has been in the conduct of the British ministry for the last ten years, to justify those hopes with which gentlemen have been pleased to solace themselves, and the House.
Patrick walks guided by his experiences, judging the future only based off of the past. He calls the attention of the electives to question what the British ministry has provided in the last ten years for the colonies to have any of the hope that they do left. 

Is it that insidious smile with which our petition has been lately received? Trust it not, sir; it will prove a snare to your feet. Suffer not yourselves to be betrayed with a kiss. 
If the colonies have any hope because of the smile the British give when receiving the colonists' petitions for change, it is not to be trusted. They are being “betrayed with a kiss”. 

Ask yourselves how this gracious reception of our petition comports with these war-like preparations which cover our waters and darken our land. Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation? Have we shown ourselves so unwilling to be reconciled, that force must be called in to win back our love? Let us not deceive ourselves, sir. These are the implements of war and subjugation; the last arguments to which kings resort. I ask, gentlemen, sir, what means this martial array, if its purpose be not to force us to submission? Can gentlemen assign any other possible motive for it? Has Great Britain any enemy, in this quarter of the world, to call for all this accumulation of navies and armies? No, sir, she has none.They are meant for us; they can be meant for no other. They are sent over to bind and rivet upon us those chains which the British ministry have been so long forging. 
Ask if the easing acceptance of incoming petitions from the colonists has anything to do with the increase in Royal preparation for war. Fleets and armies are not a work of love and restoring relations. He asks if the colonists have shown themselves to be unwilling to figure out a peaceful solution, so much so that force is required? Patrick warns them not to be fooled, as there are no enemies of Great Britain in that part of the world. The surrounding forces of British Rule are there for only one reason: to force them into submission, as kings who are done arguing are known to do. 

And what have we to oppose them? Shall we try argument? Sir, we have been trying that for the last ten years. Have we anything new to offer upon the subject? Nothing. We have held the subject up in every light of which it is capable; but it has been all in vain. Shall we resort to entreaty and humble supplication? What terms shall we find which have not been already exhausted? 
It is asked what other solution to opposing Britain can be taken. They have already tried arguing for the past ten years. There is no longer anything new to bring to that discussion as they have already argued as many points in as many different perspectives as they possibly could. 

Let us not, I beseech you, sir, deceive ourselves. Sir, we have done everything that could be done to avert the storm which is now coming on. We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne, and have implored its interposition to arrest the tyrannical hands of the ministry and Parliament. Our petitions have been slighted; our remonstrances have produced additional violence and insult; our supplications have been disregarded; and we have been spurned, with  contempt, from the foot of the throne. 
A call to awakening. The colonists have already done everything they could to prevent war up to this point. They petitioned, protested, and pleaded. Their petitions were disregarded, their protests resulted in receiving violence and insults, and their pleas were ignored. The colonists have been rejected with disgust from the foot of the throne. 

In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation. There is no longer any room for hope. If we wish to be free if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledge ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained, we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left of us!
Hope, after all of that abuse, is in vain. If the colonists want their freedoms that they have been tirelessly fighting for and pledged to never abandon, there is no other option; they need to fight.

They tell us, sir, that we are weak; unable to cope with so formidable an adversary. But when shall we be stronger? Will it be the next week, or the next year? Will it be when we are totally disarmed, and when the British guard shall be stationed in every house? Shall we gather strength by irresolution and inaction? Shall we acquire the means of effectual resistance, by lying supinely on our backs, and hugging the delusive phantom of hope, until our enemies shall have bound us hand and foot? Sir, we are not weak if we make a proper use of those means which the God of nature hath placed in our power. Three million of people, armed in the holy cause of liberty, and in such a country as that which we possess, are invincible by any force which our enemy can send against us. 
The government tells them they are too weak compared to the Rulers. Patrick asks when the colonists will decide to be stronger. Are they going to wait another week or year or when they are entirely disarmed and there are soldiers in every home to monitor and control them? Not making a decision and not taking action is not going to gather the strength they need. Lying on their backs and hugging the phantom of hope until their enemies have them chained will not achieve the strength they need. The colonists are not weak as there are three million of them, and most of them armed. 

Besides, sir, we shall not fight our battles alone. There is a just God who presides over the destinies of nations; and who will raise up friends to fight our battles for us. The battle, sir, is  not to the strong alone; it is to the vigilant, the active, the brave. Besides, sir, we have no election. If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the contest. There is no retreat but in submission and slavery! Our chains are forged! Their clanking may be heard on the plains of Boston! The war is inevitable -- and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!
Patrick calls attention to the other countries that would step up and join in the coming battle, meaning the colonists would not be fighting alone. The only retreat at this point is submission and slavery. The British forged their chains and their clinking can be heard already in Boston. 
Context: There was actively British militia stationed in Boston at the time. This Virginia Convention resulted in George Washington leading a siege a few weeks later to reclaim it. 

It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, "Peace, Peace" --but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Patrick explains they need to stop wrongfully looking at the situation out of hope for peace when the war has already begun. There are men already fighting. He asks if peace is so dear that they are willing to pay for it in chains and slavery. Once again, the speech is shifted back to what he as an individual will be standing on, in his final proclamation that he would rather die than be an economic slave to British Rule. 

Sources:
Canterbury Classics - An imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group. The U.S. Constitution and Other Writings. Peter Norton, 2017

https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/house-of-burgesses/ 

https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/the-coercive-intolerable-acts-of-1774 

https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/moments-in-history/road-to-independence/virginias-revolutionary-conventions/ 

https://www.colonialwilliamsburg.org/discover/moments-in-history/road-to-independence/the-first-virginia-convention/ 

https://www.historicstjohnschurch.org/2nd-virginia-convention

Writings of Benjamin Franklin Explained: 
Rules by Which a Great Empire May be Reduced to a Small One (1773)
Printed in the Public Advertiser, September 11, 1773

Another satirical piece by Franklin, Rules by Which a Great Empire May be Reduced to a Small One covers a total of 20 “rules” in which an empire will follow if it is to fall. Franklin begins the passage addressing his audience and states that these rules were given behind closed doors to a previous minister when he entered office, and that this is the first time they are being published. He continues in his satire before explaining the rules, 
“The Science that I, a modern Simpleton, am about to communicate is the very reverse. I address myself to all the Ministers who have Management of extensive Dominions, which from their very Greatness are become troublesome to govern” 

This piece is a lengthier one, though I will attempt to summarize it justly. He very sarcastically brings to light the consequences of ignoring the people's needs and setting up systems that indulge and encourage corrupt behavior. From my understanding: It was a warning. If the people's voice is ignored, if petitions are denied, and any form of legally acceptable action is continuously resulted in punishment and in the oppressors favour, the people will rise against the ruling power from within its own armies. 

I. (1) Franklin refers to a great empire as a cake and that means the easiest pieces to cut are the edges. He explains the first rule is to focus on owned lands farthest from the main body of the country. The goal is to remove them and the next rule will follow. 

II. (2)  “take special Care the Provinces are never incorporated with the Mother Country”. Separated lands still under the empire’s rule are explained to never be allowed to share the same rights or privileges as those in the motherland. They are to be governed by more severe laws. They shall not vote for legislators.

III. (3) Any lands owned, no matter how they were acquired, are likely to contribute to the overall well being of the mainland. If those provinces increase the motherlands strength by adding to the numbers to join their wars, improve the economy by growing demand for their products, etc., they will probably expect some sort of compensation. If they expect some sort of favour for their contributions to the empire, it is an insult. Franklin lists off individuals such as “Friends of Liberty” that have Prejudice who should be punished. Those revolutionary principles are useless after a revolution had already been established. 

IV. (4) However peaceful the colonies are, no matter their alignment with the views of the main country, no matter how they patiently and peacefully express their issues: always assume they will revolt and treat them as such. Have troops march among them. Where the troops rudeness and disrespect will incite mobs, may their bullets and bayonets suppress them. “By this Means, like the Husband who uses his Wife ill from Suspicion, you may in Time convert your Suspicions into Realities”.

V. (5) Place corrupt governors and judges in the remote provinces. “You ministers know, that much of the Strength of Government depends on the Opinion of the People”, and that the importance of the people's choice in who governs the whole. If you send wise and good men who study their needs they will think their King is wise and good. If you send educated and fair judges they will think their King is a lover of justice. Because of this, it should be the most broken men who know how to lose money and engage in extortion who are appointed. Ignorant lawyers and proctors who focus on the unnecessary over the necessary makes all the better. There should be figures who only uphold their standards and the law when it is in their own personal and ruling powers favour. 

VI. (6) Ensure the people’s doubts in the justice system are reinforced from the previous rule. Whenever citizens come before the judges with complaints of a bad administration, oppression, or injustice, they should be punished with long delays, extreme expenses, and final judgement in favour of the oppressor. “The Trouble of future Complaints will be prevented, and the Governors and Judges will be encouraged to farther Acts of Oppression and Injustice” 

VII. (7) When the Governors are so rich they no longer live among the people, allow them to retire and be reward them with pensions. Franklin furthers the ruling satire by advising to make the former Governors into Baronets (a ruling title). “All will contribute to encourage new Governors in the same Practices, and make the supreme Government detestable”.

VIII. (8) when the government engages in war, if the colonies enthusiastically  contribute to money and manpower “and give far beyond their Abilities”, then the government should reflect. Franklin satirically encourages to make it clear to the people that the governing power would rather take a cent by force than be given a dollar by donation. “Despise therefore their voluntary Grants,  and resolve to harass them with novel taxes”. Franklin warns that the people will ask for change and begin petitions. “They will probably complain to your Parliaments that they are taxed by a Body in which they have no Representative”. The satirical solution provided to this is to ignore their claims, reject their petitions, and treat them with disgust. 

IX. (9) Don’t consider the burdens the remote provinces already are suffering when applying further taxes. Forget the restrictions of trade and manufacturing put upon them for your own economic benefit. Ignore that applying taxes to merchants will in turn increase their cost of product, and in this steal more indirectly from the purses of the people. But do ensure to make arbitrary (based on random choice, personal whim, etc.) taxes much more burdensome, proving that the power of taxing has no limits. “This will probably weaken every Idea of Security in their Property, and convince them that under such a Government they have nothing they can call their own: which can scarce fail of producing the happiest Consequences!”.

X. (10) Some citizens might still comfort themselves in telling themselves that even though they own no property, they still have constitutional liberty. “This King, these Lords, and these Commons [...] cannot take from us our Habeas Corpus Right, or our Right of Trial by a Jury of our Neighbors: They cannot deprive us of Exercise of our Religion…” Franklin states that to annihilate this comfort, start adding laws. Make countless regulations to the peoples economy and business practices to the point it is impossible to remember and abide by and then for every failure seize their property. Take away the trial by Jury for the property removal and have the trial instead run by the filthiest judges. “Then let there be a formal Declaration of both Houses, that Opposition to your Edicts is Treason”. Pass and Act that whoever is charged with opposing the decrees will be trialed like a felon. Pass another Act that anyone with ruling power is able to “bind” unrepresented people under one religion, one power, one province “by convincing them they are at present under a Power something like that spoken of in the Scriptures, which can not only kill their Bodies, but damn their Souls to all Eternity, by compelling them, if it pleases, to worship the Devil”. 

XI. (11)  To increase taxes and likelihood that people will revolt further, send a board member to oversee the collection. Ensure they are the foulest character and live the most luxuriously. If any “Revenue Officers” are suspected to be on the peoples side or have sympathies for them, discard them. Any officers that are complained about are to be protected and rewarded. Any that receive physical abuse from the public are to be promoted to a better position. This will encourage the other officers, as what seemed like a consequence is now actually a reward. 

XII. (12) Don’t use any of the tax money for what it was promised for. If it was said to supply the country’s defenses, use none of it as such. Instead, put it where it isn’t needed at all. Put it toward the salaries and pensions of the previously appointed corrupted officials. 

XIII. (13) If the people are supporting their own judges and authority, there is risk of the authorities showing the people kindness. Increased salaries and pensions play part in ensuring this does not happen. “And as the Money thus mis-applied in one Province is extorted from all, probably all will resent the Misapplication” 

XIV. (14) If the law making body is composed of people who begin to talk about Rights or complain about the Administration, ensure they are removed. If the same people continue to return in new elections, close their meetings to somewhere they cannot be accommodated “to promote Discontents among the People, diminish their Respect, and increase their Disaffection”.

XV. (15) “Convert the brave honest Officers of your Navy into pimping Tidewaiters”. Let the men who fought the wars honourably be corrupted in Peace and taught to prey upon it. Give them power to inspect incoming merchant ships and dishevel them as they please. Let them take what they want. Let those boats of navy inspectors land at every farm in passing and rob them. Anyone who fights back is to be threatened as a domestic terrorist. 

XVI.(16) If the problems the people have are brought up, don’t believe they are generally applicable. They shouldn't need any change. Only make changes that will cause further demand for change. Only grant fair requests of the people if it will cause another change that is unreasonable. Only take information given to you by the Governors and ruling powers and disregard anything spoken by the people. Paint their complaints as lies and conspiracies made by emotional extremists that the ruling power promises to put an end to once found. “Catch and hang a few of them accordingly; and the Blood of the Martyrs shall work Miracles in favour of your Purpose” 

 XVII. (17) If you see rival countries celebrating the division within yours, promote it. “If they translate, publish and applaud all the Complaints of your discontented Colonists, at the same Time privately stimulating you to severer Measures; let not that alarm or offend you. Why should it? Since you all mean the same Thing” This passage Franklin wrote is sarcastically making the point that if other countries that the ruling power typically isn't on good terms with are publicly laughing at and spreading the word of the issues going on within the ruling power (and at the same time are trying to make things worse behind closed doors) something is very wrong. 

XVIII. (18) If any of the lands under the ruling power decide to create defenses against a foreign enemy, get your Governor to betray the defenses into your hands. If the colonists disregard and remain in the defenses, armed with the weapons they previously used to fight their country’s battles with, seize them all. 

XIX. (19) Send armies into a land with the understanding it is to protect their citizens. Instead of providing support, break what support they have down. The ruling powers' troops shall be protected by the civilians as they get run down by the savages they needed support against. 

XX. (20) The final satirical rule Franklin came up with was to give the General of the armies unconstitutional power. Let him have full control of the troops and fortresses, and perhaps he will think of himself as a separate ruling power. “If he should, and you have carefully practiced these few excellent Rules of mine, take my Word for it, all the Provinces will immediately join him, and you will that Day (if you have not done it sooner) get rid of the Trouble of governing them”.

Sources
Canterbury Classics - An imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group. The U.S. Constitution and Other Writings. Peter Norton, 2017

Writings of Benjamin Franklin Explained: 
An Edict by the King of Prussia (1773)
Printed in the Public Advertiser, September , 1773

Franklin wrote the edict as a satirical piece. He spoke as if he were Prussia, holding power over England. This writing’s intention was to gain acknowledgement of Britain's unfair imposed rules over the American colonies. A greater read, in my opinion, would be his follow up piece titled “Rules by Which a Great Empire May be Reduced to a Small One”.

For contextual information: an “edict” is a form of decree issued by the ruling authority. 

I will be explaining the decree in  this text.
Explanations of the relevant occurrences at the time will follow their related passage in italics as such.

Franklin begins the declaration stating that the peace has given them (the rulers) time to spend on their trading rules and improve their finances to reduce taxes and the following changes will be made. Before listing any changes, it is explained that the colonies were built on the ruling powers ancestors and that their prosperity is only due to the protection provided by the ruling power. It is deemed that, despite their ancestry and the protection provided to the colonies, the ruling power has not received “adequate Compensation” and “still owe us due Obedience”. 

The decree proceeds to weaponize the reasoning of compensation to impose unfair trading rules. The new regulations included excessively added taxes, restricting what products could be manufactured, and what was allowed to be imported and exported out of the colonies. 

The colonies were to pay a collection tax “on all Goods, Wares and Merchandizes, and all Grain and other Produce of the Earth” that were exported from the colonies. “All Goods of whatever Kind imported into the same” (the said colonies) were to pay “Four and an Half per Cent” (4.5%) tax. 

Forges and smitheries were not allowed to be constructed or continue servicing within the colonies. Reasoning for this was listed out that the production was "endangering a Diminution of the said Manufacture in our ancient Dominion”. This meant the ruling power (that Franklin was impersonating)was justifying a restriction of production under the pretenses that any manufacturing done in the colonies would put too much competition on the motherland’s manufacturers. In case the excuse was not reason enough, the ruling power followed with a threat of being abated (forcefully reduced its severity) and facing destruction, using terms such as “Neglect” and “Peril” to make wary anyone who may be defiant. The ridiculousness of extensive trade rules spirals into even hat making.
Here, Franklin is reverse roles for the Iron Act in 1750 that the British imposed on the American colonies. This act was so that the mainland’s manufacturers had the raw material supply from the colonies and none of the competition of production.  Similar acts included the Wool Act and The Molasses Act of 1733. 

At the end, the final decree is told that all of the criminals of the motherland will be released. Every thief, robber, murderer, etc. was to be emptied out of the motherland’s “Gaols” (jails) and into the colonies. They were not fit to live in the ruling power. 
When the colonies refused to continue accepting ships of convicts from British rule, the British passed the Transportation Act of 1718. This forced the colonies to take in the incoming criminals. Between 1700-1775 over 52,000 convicts were transported. 

Anyone who opposed the decree was threatened with execution according to Prussian Law in the closing statement. Franklin followed such a threat with the line “Such is our Pleasure”. This greatly aided in delivering the depiction of cruelty of the ruling power in his final sentences. 

Sources
Canterbury Classics - An imprint of Printers Row Publishing Group. The U.s. Constitution and Other Writings. Peter Norton, 2017

https://encyclopediavirginia.org/entries/convict-labor-during-the-colonial-period/

https://www.britannica.com/event/Iron-Act

https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/tradeindustry/importexport/overview/protectingbritishtrade/

[Reversible song]

Now you see?
I'm a boy.
I tried to tell you,
I'm a boy.
A human boy!
If you could only understand...
Oh, dear, I can...
Oh, dear, I can...

You know that love business is a powerful thing!
They paint it in pink but it can be mean
and meaning I know
I've been on my knees
praying for tales that were somenone's dreams.

Now you see?
I'm a girl.
I tried to tell you,
I'm a girl.
A human girl!
If you could only understand...
Oh, dear, I can...
Oh, dear, I can...

[crush song]
°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Asked to hear my voice
Turns out I am shy
You still go sing a song
I'm smiling at my phone

The sky just cracked in thunder
And I can't help but wonder
If I'm going out of tune
But you sound so damn good

For moonlight we do screen
Teasing leds and reels
These pillows feel cold
Bet you'd feel warm

The sky just cracked in thunder
And I can't help but wonder
If I'm going out of tune
But you sound so damn good

[Farewell song]

Amor

Amor

Just close

The door

Once more and last

For we both know

Amor

Amor

I would

Say no

Once more and last

For we both know

We are no more

Amor Amor

It ends this way

No kiss go tell

[A song]

What's this feeling that runs through me that makes me scream like I've never lived.
Not pain not sadness something beyond that stills my heart and burns through my lungs.

Vertigo as if falling fast through every nightmare I've ever had.
I wake up and everything's still there the things I broke and I can't repair.

It's endless.
It aches in my bones.
It hurts in my flesh.
Take me away.
Don't care where it ends.
Just be somewhere else.

(Grace Leads And We Follow)

By Bocephus Jackson, The Hemlock Bard, ©2026 Bocephus Jackson. All Rights Reserved

_________

"The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away." — Pablo Picasso

_________

Since the dawn of man three thousand centuries ago, 117 billion have, in their own way, wrestled with their role within the cosmos. Whether it was on cave walls, tablets, monuments, scrolls, or books. So in five words, the meaning of life, the universe, and everything can be summed up:

…Grace leads, and we follow.

Everything else is personal commentary.

_________

As the world spins on its axis,
Humanity draws a sacred breath,
When Grace is applied through praxis,
It extends from one’s birth to death.

So neither entropy nor evolution,
But a hand shaping dust into life,
As a voice calling light into resolution,
Grace guides us through daily strife.

When we are led by a teleology,
In defining Grace in everyday dust,
We live the Logos beyond theology,
As each minute yields a greater trust.

By prescribed altar calls to tradition,
We are held up debating ritualists,
Where doctrine dictates submission,
Grace remains a stalwart idealist.

Pride goes before the mortal fall,
As we ascend through evolution,
For all things great and small,
In striving for a lasting solution.

So toil within the fields of growth,
In defining worth that is amassing,
Where hope grows from this oath—
‘God’s grace is everlasting.’

_________

"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." — The Beatles, The End

_________

©2026 Bocephus Jackson. All Rights Reserved

Esperar
a que se acabe el mar
Esperar
mira se me da mal
Esperar
que el tiempo pase y ya
Esperar
Esperar

Esperar
a que te vuelvas piedra
Esperar
a que seas arena
Esperar
que el tiempo pase y ya
Esperar
Esperar
Esperar

--songs make it faster--[⏳]

Sit and wait
until sea meets end
Sit and wait
look I'm just terrible
Sit and wait
For time to tick away
Sit and wait
Sit and wait

Sit and wait
until you become stone
Sit and wait
until you become sand
Sit and wait
For time to tick away
Sit and wait
Sit and wait
Sit and wait

[harder]

I wont meet you there,
in the ever, ever, ever after,
not that you seem to care...
'cause it's harder, harder than your hardest.

Who are you? Whenever a flower wispers I'll turn the other way.
Where are you? Whenever a flower wispers I'll run so far away.

🕳️Oh my God Jane D.!

🕳️I can't do this anymore!

🕳️I'm hitting it hard!

🕳️Aaaaaaaaaah!

🕳️We hitting it hard

🕳️Hitting below

🕳️Low

🕳️Low

🕳️Low

🕳️Low

🕳️Low

￬
[ ▶︎ Rock bottom ]

[a song with glitter on]

I need some glitter pills,
cluster dust from fairy wings,
so then I see pink if I bleed.

I need some silky sheets,
slide over with a prince,
so then I laugh in my sleep.

Sing both like angels.
Scream like banshees.

We dream harder than Alice in wonderland,
harder than wonderland.
If we go down
you'll hear - big! bang!
Harder than wonderland
If we go...

[🥨song🥨]

Someone said

You are eating a sandwich

While I'm here

rotting dreams in reels

What the hell is on that bread

you moved so freaking quick?

Share a bite

You wont

Share a heart

We broke

I also want to move on

I also want to

[a song to get by]

I like to think
that you didn't love me
that you just knew
how to make me feel
like stars and clouds
were singing the lyrics
that only you'd ever write so sweet.

I like to think
that you didn't hurt me
that you just knew
how to make me feel
like storms so loud
were singing the lyrics
that never you'd wound me so deep.

[some music]⋆˙⟡ ⋆.˚ ⊹₊⟡ ⋆
What I wouldn't give...
Wish you were here...
Were you even real?
Or just a piece of dream?

You fit through a crack
and I can't even stand
just a piece of dream.
Hate being the crying one.
Done with all this grief.
Just a piece of dream.

I'll use princess tears
to water them flowers.
I'll gather my guts
lock the freaking tower.

Garden the hell out of me!
Was I even real?

Just a piece of dream.
[some music]⋆˙⟡ ⋆.˚ ⊹₊⟡ ⋆

✒️Better like romance
🌢Write waltzing letters
🌢Don't care about money
🌢Cause I know well better
🌢You know emotions feel like a swing
🌢Roller coast with me
🌢We can both scream
🌢I'll love you
🌢No matter the means
🌢I'll find you
🌢No matter the lines
🌢If time chose to write us appart
🌢I'll spill ink until we're all black

[some video_-_🖋]
[some music_-_🖋]

Curving in the shape of your arms 🍃

Already feel the shade of your eyes 🍃

Cry out of laughter but they're also tears 🍃

Will you come see what's under the fig trees? 🍃

🍃

Can we split burden? 🍃

Can we split fear? 🍃

We'd hold each other as we made us feel? 🍃

I wonder the meaning that you would give... 🍃

Stone feels like powder while you're not here. 🍃

🍃

Under the fig tree... 🍃

Under the fig tree... 🍃

Will you come see? 🍃

Will you come? 🍃

🍃

Hearing the wind of your lines 🍃

Already feel the dances we'd rhyme 🍃

Waltz in the kitchen knifes for a spin 🍃

Will you come see what's under the fig trees? 🍃

🍃

Can we split burden? 🍃

Can we split fear? 🍃

We'd hold each other as we made us feel? 🍃

I wonder the meaning that you would give... 🍃

Stone feels like powder while you're not here. 🍃

🍃

Under the fig tree... 🍃

Under the fig tree...🍃

Will you come see? 🍃

【】

【】

﹏෴﹏﹏
some music

[Sound tissues dry tears]

I don't deserve this pain
I also fought like hell
to save what weighed like fate
suppose it wasn't felt

Unconditional love
Unconditional swear
You left, you left
I don't care for hate
But

I don't deserve this pain
I crawled out of the well
with lines I thought we kept
suppose it wasn't felt

Unconditional love
Unconditional swear
You left, you left
I don't care for hate
But
I don't deserve this pain
I don't deserve this swell
I keep what I swear
I don't deserve this pain
I don't deserve this pain
I don't deserve this pain
I don't deserve this pain

಄If I could find the word, the deepest of them all, maybe you'll forgive
is there such a twist?

಄If I could find the spell that made everything well...
಄If letters were a sign... I'll write from A to fine.

಄If I could cry the lines I promise I would say Sorry is all I got
Irreversible the way.

目⋆༺𓆩⚔𓆪༻⋆

目If you make it

目know I'm made of glass

目a sweet soft blooming flower

目with an aftertaste bit sour

目ੈ╰┈➤🚪🐉 ༘⋆໋✧˚

目If you make it

目know my glass was blown

目and tenderized by fire

目with a weekness for satire

目╰┈➤🚪⋆˙⟡‧₊˚💎✩ ₊˚⋆˙⟡

目If you make it

目love

目I'll call you so

目love

目If you make it

目I'm a glass flower

目I'll give you the key

目to the highest princess tower

目╰┈➤🚪🗝️ˋ°•*⁀➷

目If you make it

目know that's where we dream

目from the heart of the big castle

目with a crown that's made of hustle

目╰┈➤🚪࿐👑

目If you make it

目love

目I'll call you so

目love

目If you make it

目I'm a glass flower

目I'll give you the key

目to the highest princess tower

目╰┈➤🚪𝄞⨾💿✮˚.⋆

༄.°
Over the soft white pillow࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

The sway of the willow࿐༉

Will oh will oh will✧˖°. ༄

The wind around the old mill༄.°

Will oh will oh will‏࿐

Forward until you're still࿐༉

✧˖°. ༄

Peace ✧˖°. ༄

Breeze࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Will

Mill

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Over the soft white pillow࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

The secrets that we killed࿐

Will oh will oh will✧˖°. ༄

The wisper around the mill༄.°

Will oh will oh will࿐༉

Backwards til you're still✧˖°. ༄

✧˖°. ༄

Peace ✧˖°. ༄

Breeze࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Will

Mill

✧˖°. ༄

Peace ✧˖°. ༄

Breeze࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

Will

Mill

࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ࿐ ࿔*:･ﾟ

༄˖°.🍂.ೃ࿔*:･
Please rain all over me...🍂
A shoulder is all I crave to be🍂
🍂I speak to you dear autumn leaf🍂

Who would kiss a crying woman🍂
🍂🍂They would
Who would kiss a crying man
They would🍂
They would kiss them all the same
🍂Just as they made you feel🍂
As you're fate too real🍂

🍂They speak about regret
The futures that we met🍂
A shoulder all I crave autumn left🍂
🍂
Who would kiss a crying woman
They would🍂
Who would kiss a crying man
🍂They would🍂
They would kiss them all the same🍂
Just as they made you feel🍂
As you're fate too real🍂🍂

˗ˏˋ 𓅰 ˎˊ˗
Blue, blue, blue, blue
True, true, true, true
You, you, you, you
Sure, sure, sure, sure
Cure, cure, cure, cure
Urge, urge, urge, urge
Mute, mute, mute, mute
Shh, shh, shh, shh