RIP John Donne

No man is an island wrote Donne

centuries ago.

He understood the predicament

understood

than man, or wo-man

is one part

of a whole

which is one part

of something larger

and so on

into mind-blowing infinity.

No man, or wo-man can stand alone

and reach their potential 

in isolation

or when isolated

on some small island 

however grandiose

the delusion.

And a small island cannot thrive.

if it makes its sea an impenetrable wall

to protect it from the to-ing and fro-ing

of all but but the tides -

except here in Britain of course.

It’s Brit-ish-mus that makes the difference.

Brit-ish-mus that will make it work

or not.

RIP John Donne

https://www.unlikelystories.org/content/friday-mornings-and-rip-john-donne