RAMIFICATIONS - The Awty International School

To RunTo run, or not to run—that is the question:Whether ‘tis better for my leg to sufferThe tweaks and cracks of selfish indulgenceOr to stiffen up by resting musclesAnd later tear the leg when active. To sit, to stand—No more—and by sit to say we endThe leg ache, and the thousand natural needlesThat flesh a-feelish. ‘Tis a consummationDevoutly to be wished. To rest, to jog—To rest—perchance to heal: no, there’s the flaw,For in that rest the pains of recovery loomWhen we have thought of skill before the strain,Must give us pause. There’s the thoughtThat makes calamity of so long life.For who would bear the pains and tears of time,Th’ activity of athletes, the rip of unfortunate use,The pangs of inability, the healing delay,The frustration of solace, the body’s decay,That merits thoughts of th’ unworthy,When I myself am alone in shame admit,With a grim fiend? Who would fight the sorrow,To limp and sweat above a weakly limb,But that the dread of something after night,The undiscovered status, who all hopeNo injury remains, puzzles the head,And makes us rather happy ‘til the timeTo run comes swiftly forth again.Thus, conscience does make cowards of us all.And thus the native fear of unknownComes po’erfly to our shaking thoughts,And though it can be overcome,The fear of pain and greater stillCommands thy will, and wit outdone.And lose the optimistic mind. —Soft you now,The fine Osloadia! Man, in thy orizons,Be all my skills remembered.Photo by Sarah MekhaRyan van MechelenTwelfth grade36