WEBVTT

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"Four."

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"Already it's beginning to seem
that I cannot avoid the subject

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of this nation's interminable
abuse of another's remains.

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But I would have preferred
to write something

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along the lines
of a poetic essay

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on comparative underworlds.

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For the past few years,
I've taught a course

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on underworld lit,
which has frequently

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proven to be a
disappointment both to myself

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and to the students, some in
headscarves, some occasionally

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dressed in fatigues,
who've registered

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for the seminar in order
to satisfy their humanities

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requirement.

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It confirmed my hatred of
epics, and reaffirmed my faith

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that I will never study
non-western literature.

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The instructor is fairly
intelligent and enthusiastic

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about his brand of writing,
but is unreceptive, even

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intolerant of anything
that is not a poem,

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or a poem in prose form.

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Made me question
things, including

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the value of higher learning.

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It occurred to me that
by writing about teaching

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I might learn something.

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There would be
assignments, a midterm,

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and a final
examination, followed

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by a series of
timed detonations,

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and the collapse of an
abandoned complex under stars.

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I needed to find my footing
in the order of things.

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And because I know almost
nothing about the world,

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I decided to work my
way up from below."

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