Outwardly I am 83, but inwardly I am every age, with the emotions and experience of each period.

Governments may change, and opinions, and the very appearance of lands themselves, but the slowest thing to change is religion. What has once been associated with worship becomes holy in itself, and self-perpetuating, always built upon the foundation of mingled awe and attraction which the unknown has for the mind of man.

But calm, white calm, was born into a swan.

When I dream, I am ageless.

At a touch, he explodes like a snapdragon into loud purrs.