“Why was this splendid monster given life?”
“Thomas M. Disch, Camp Concentration
The rent is due, and a pelagic grief
stretches far beyond what the eye can see.
Why was this splendid monster given life
only to end it all in misery?
Stretching far beyond what the eye can see
in ruled lines, the unpronounceable nouns
have come to end their lives in misery,
their faces painted bright as circus clowns.
Those ruled lines of unpronounceable nouns
once taught the autodidact orthoepy.
With faces painted bright as circus clowns,
the little toasters keep him company
but he has aimed a plaything at himself.
The rent is due, and a pelagic grief
will flood the many volumes on the shelf.
Why was this splendid monster given life?
You have a decision to make: double or nothing.
For this week only, a generous supporter has offered to fully match all new and increased donations to First Things up to $60,000.
In other words, your gift of $50 unlocks $100 for First Things, your gift of $100 unlocks $200, and so on, up to a total of $120,000. But if you don’t give, nothing.
So what will it be, dear reader: double, or nothing?
Make your year-end gift go twice as far for First Things by giving now.
