no small matter...

currently having a small (pun) love affair with Alexander Pope...probably my favorite 18th cen. poet outside of Christopher Smart (who shant be fucked with as numero uno)

from one of my fav 18th cen. poems...


from "An Essay On Man"

I.
                 Say first, of God above, or man below,
            What can we reason, but from what we know?
            Of man what see we, but his station here,
            From which to reason, or to which refer?
            Through worlds unnumber'd though the God be known,
            'Tis ours to trace him only in our own.
            He, who through vast immensity can pierce,
            See worlds on worlds compose one universe,
            Observe how system into system runs,
            What other planets circle other suns,
            What varied being peoples ev'ry star,
            May tell why Heav'n has made us as we are.
            But of this frame the bearings, and the ties,
            The strong connections, nice dependencies,
            Gradations just, has thy pervading soul
            Look'd through? or can a part contain the whole?
                Is the great chain, that draws all to agree,
            And drawn supports, upheld by God, or thee?