the new jerusalem

And so it is that we are now in full Olympic mode. Beginning Friday night at 6 pm the little red light on the DVR has been in constant glow, reminding me that even as I go about my daily chores, or sleep for three or four, somewhere in London (or thereabouts) someone is competing for (and drugging for and doping for and arguing for and protesting against somebody else) winning a medal.

I always watch the first and last day, without fail, and up until this year have actually recorded the broadcasts for posterity, with the rest pretty much up for grabs depending on what the telly tells. But this year NBC has for all intents and purposes turned over its entire schedule to broadcast the eighteen days of glory.

Now, I’m still a sucker for watching those young gymnasts fly around the parallel bars, and seeing a 15-year old touch the pool wall first to win gold does more than just tug at my heart strings. But, frankly, I’m just not that into kayaking in a man-made pool or watching the river sculls or beach volleyball (how the heck it made it into the games is way beyond my ken).

But as the days wear on, even though I feel myself drifting toward Olympic overload and find myself turning away from the visuals on the flat screen (no, we can’t call it the tube anymore, the tube is underground in London), I am still, in my minds ear, drawn back to five minutes during the opening ceremony, when a positively delightful young man in a yellow shirt stood up and sang the words of William Blake:

And did those feet in ancient time.

Walk upon England’s mountains green.

And was the holy Lamb of God,

On England’s pleasant pastures seen!

And did the Countenance Divine,

Shine forth upon our clouded hills?

And was Jerusalem builded here,

Among these dark Satanic Mills?

Bring me my Bow of burning gold;

Bring me my Arrows of desire;

Bring me my Spear, O clouds unfold!

Bring me my Chariot of fire!

I will not cease from Mental Fight,

Nor shall my Sword sleep in my hand,

Till we have built Jerusalem,

In England’s green and pleasant land.