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THE THREEFOLD HUMAN BEING AND THE ANIMAL KINGDOM

MARCUS
Well, when you put it that way: fine. Starting now. Main Lesson.

CATHERINE
What do you mean?

(MARCUS takes CATHERINE’s hand and leads her in some dance movements.)

MARCUS
WHEN WE SEE
THE HUMAN BODY
WE SEE THREE
DISTINCT AND SPECIAL PARTS.
THERE’S A HEAD
A TORSO, FOUR LIMBS:
AN INCREDIBLE
WORK OF ART.
DIFFERENT SPECIES
OF THE ANIMALS
FIND IN THESE
THEIR COSMIC COUNTERPARTS.
WE CAN UNDERSTAND
THIS KINSHIP:
ANIMALS, MAN,
ONE BEATING HEART.

WE HAVE ROUNDED
HEADS SURROUNDING,
SOFT BRAINS, PROTECTED
BY HARD SKULLS
THAT BRACE OUR FACES’
SOFT PARTS
THROUGH WHICH OUR SENSES EMBRACE
THE WORLD IN FULL.
LIKE THE MOLLUSKS
OF THE SEVEN SEAS
WHOSE SOFT BODIES
HIDE WITHIN HARD SHELLS.
YES, THESE CREATURES
OF THE SEA BEDS
SHARE WITH OUR HEADS
SOME PARALLELS.

MARCUS AND CATHERINE
(flirting as the song progresses)
WE HAVE LONG
AND LIMBER TORSOS.
SPINES SO STRONG
YET SUPPLE AT THE BASE.
AND OUR RIBS PROVE
GOOD PROTECTION,
YET LET USE MOVE
WITH FLUENCY AND GRACE.
LIKE THE EELS AND FISH;
OR INVERTEBRATES;
OR THE LIZARDS, SNAKES,
AND CROCODILES.
WE CAN UNDERSTAND
THIS KINSHIP
BETWEEN MAN
AND THE WILD.

WE HAVE LIMBS
TO CLIMB AND DANCE WITH,
RUN AND SWIM,
DO WHAT WE LIKE TO DO.
WITH OUR HEADS
AND GAZE HELD UPRIGHT,
WE’RE FREE TO CHOOSE
THE ACTIVITIES OUR HANDS PURSUE.

Words and Music by Michael Johnson
© 2022, Zubsongs, Ltd.