Hunter B. Shirley

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MAN: A Poetic Autobiography

by Hunter B. Shirley
 

Introduction

 

Notes Toward an Autobiography

 

I am an original.

I am the primordial man who came into existence

with the advent of the race…

and lives in the consciousness of everyman.

I am the quintessential self…

the nature of man that broods under his majesty and his servility,

his mock heroism and splendid courage.

I have always existed, as man has always existed.

This is my autobiography.

The autobiography of the self that lives in man,

which inspires him and demeans him,

exalts him and perverts him,

drives him to supernal heights

and casts him down into the dregs of his own pollution.

I am you and this is your own story.

Because I am everyman and eachman

--- and both are you and you are both.

I introduce myself to you so that you may know yourself.

This is the story of I the self and this is you.

Salud! Pig of a man! Glory gathering god!

 
This introduction is to a book of poems he created throughout his life depicting the different stages of man and his aspirations, the introduction written most likely in 2006.

long live daddy!