EXCUSE me, have you heard of Sir Edward Dyer (1543-1607), Earl of Oxford, English lyric poet and attributed author of “My Mind To Me A Kingdom Is” ? Today, a chilly Sunday morn, these 7 words were my waking thought ! I am not a suspicious sort but I question the reason, I should like to learn where these words emerged from. Perhaps we live an alternate life within our private dreamworld ? Or as my mother was prone to point out to me quite frequently, I possess an overactive mind, aha ! Back to my original observation about this poem written mid 16th century, please take time to research original 8 stanza, 48 line piece of melodic perfection ! Once again I credit my English mentor, Lorena E. Fry for introducing this depression-era child to the pure joy of words ! Can you imagine what it must have been like for the ancient Greeks to participate in the Socratic Circles of Plato’s time ? Or to stand in the Pit of the Globe in 1600 London ? Where would we be without the vocal power of the pulpits of life ? I’ll close with Dyer’s last stanza:
My wealth is health and perfect ease…….My conscience clear my chief defence
I neither seek by bribes to please……………Nor by deceit to breed offence
Thus do I live, thus will I die…………………….Would all did so as well as I !
Sincerely, Claire B.
Claire V. Bogdanos 