O Fortuna - You Bitch

All that talk about "...positive thinking makes eveyting better," is absolute BULLSHIT. Good things and bad things all come down to an esoteric and indeterminate ratio of action and luck so well expressed in the following medieval poem (and modern opera).

No operas will be written about Jack Welch, Dale Carnegie, or The Secret (as seen on Oprah -ack)

***

O Fortuna

O luck,
like the moon
changeable in state,
you are always waxing
or waning;
hateful life
is one moment hard
and the next moment watches over
the mind's playful acumen;
poverty,
power,
it melts like ice.

Fate monstrous
and empty,
a whirling wheel you are;
if badly placed
health is vain-
it can ever be dissolved;
overshadowed
and veiled
you harass me too;
now at the gaming table
my bare back
I bring to your villainy.

The luck of health
and strength
is against me,
is attacked
and ruined
all the time, in your service.
In this hour
without delay
sweep the sounding strings;
and for that which, by lot,
overthrows the strong man,
weep with me, all of you!