posted January 18, 2007 02:00 AM            

By Ms. Maya Angelou

Oh, an old buddy of mine hung out a little this weekend and gave me my "Christmas present".

It is a book that began in 1852 and was first released in the form I have received in 1891. Mine is a 1965 bound copy, and it is a book of quotations. It begins with a wheel called the "Key To Thoughts". The cover has been mended with tape and it has been pressed open to pages 376/377 Luck, Luck, Lust, and Luxury.
It falls open next most easily to Learning, Learning, Learning, Leisure... and third most easily to Fortune, Freedom, Freedom, Freedom.

The inside front cover has a picture of large being with out-stretched arms around a man on his right (my left), with a book and a feather pen. He is "Written Words". There is a woman (on his left) with her head and arms raised as if preparing to sing. She is "Spoken Words". Winged beings fly amidst clouds and a wingless couple stands and looks on. Below the large being is the bold faced word: THOUGHT.
Other words are scattered, but in a circle, among the clouds...
Philosophy
Physics
Medicine
across the top from left to right and then continuing clockwise around the circle and back to Philosophy...
Biology
Religion
Chemistry
Poetry
Politics
Art
Music

The couple stands closest to Biology and Religion and therefore Medicine and Chemistry as well. They appear to be standing on something that might represent earth or grass.

The large being stands on his own individual cloud (THOUGHT)nearest to Philosophy, Music, and Art.

I love this book.