The Archbishop of Cantebury, in preparing for this year's Dimbleby lecture, has, it seems, been drawing inspiration from the leading American thinker, Professor Philip Bobbitt. We spoke to Professor Bobbitt on the Today programme. During the interview, he mentioned that he would like to read a poem for us. Listen Perhaps these thoughts of ours will never find an audience Perhaps the mistaken road will end in a mistake Perhaps the lamps we light one at a time will be blown out, one at a time Perhaps the candles of our lives will gutter out without lighting a fire to warm us. Perhaps when all the tears have been shed the earth will be more fertile Perhaps when we sing praises to the sun the sun will praise us in return Perhaps these heavy burdens will strengthen our philosophy Perhaps when we weep for those in misery we must be silent about miseries of our own Perhaps Because of our irresistible sense of mission We have no choice - Shu Ting (translated by Carolyn Kizer)
Philip Chase Bobbit, author of The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace and the Course of History
