Picture: Stanislav Kondratiev

Respice, Adspice, Prospice

Simon Andrew
Nov 7 · 2 min read

You have been cast out into the world like a rocket.

You have been cast out into the world like an arrow.

Cast out you will rise. Cast out you will fall.

Do not feel anger at the casting.

It was the only way for you.

It is the only way.

You will follow your path, even if you do not see it.

But look around you and feel the breeze on your face.

Look around you and see the things the world has conspired timelessly to arrange for you. Even as they are rearranged for others.

But look to your moment in this world.

This will never be anyone else’s.

Where you are now.

Who you are now.

Look around you.

All the billions in the world will never be enough to buy this street in this way stretching out before you.

Even the most powerful of us will never have that smile, for you, in that cafe or that park.

That smile was yours. Will always be yours.

You are a candle, you are a flame, you are a drop of rain, you are an echo across cobblestones and under archways.

You are the wind as it plays wave games in fields of grass.

You are glorious. You are wretched.

Forget yourself. Remember yourself.

You will rise, you will fall.

Do not feel anger at the casting.

Simon Andrew

Written by

Mostly rough sketches from my day and other fiction pieces. I write serious stuff at https://medium.com/@simon_black

Welcome to a place where words matter. On Medium, smart voices and original ideas take center stage - with no ads in sight. Watch
Follow all the topics you care about, and we’ll deliver the best stories for you to your homepage and inbox. Explore
Get unlimited access to the best stories on Medium — and support writers while you’re at it. Just $5/month. Upgrade