|
Note: The Poet had intended for years to write a third-person autobiography entitled The Sword. It was intended to be both autobiography and full statement of her world view. In the mid-1990s, when I asked her how long she expected it would be upon completion, she answered "I can't see how I could bring it in in anything under 2,000 pages." She died before the book could be properly begun, but notes and drafts for it are scattered throughout her notebooks of the 1990s. The below is a draft for the book's concluding paragraphs. M.R.B., 13 November 1999.
draft ending for The Sword by Elisabeth Pruitt Remember as you travel through the journey of your life, from birth to death, that compassion and consideration can go a long way in speeding you along. Never forget that the romance of the open road is eternal, for nothing can ever quite match the genuine excitement of possibility. Never be afraid of death, for the open road leads us through this phase of the journey onto the next. Accept your fellow voyagers for what they are, since their path and yours may diverge at any time. Experience your trip as fully as you can, because you can never tell what may lie further ahead. Always travel light; don't get tied down by pointless situations, unresolved relationships, or futile obligations. Avoid the detours of egotism or fanaticism; keep moving, or you'll miss out on the sights along the way. And always remember that we are the true masters of our time, not the slaves of society that some would have us believe. Move forward and never fear death, because infinity is the most intriguing journey, the most fascinating road, of all.
|