Kahlihliji was a migrant to Australia, settling in Sydney from Lebanon. He had studied sculpture under Rodin but at that time nobody in Australia had heard of either Rodin or sculpture. Kahlihliji became a visionary.
THE HALF-YEARLY PROPHET
And a Punter came forth, which was not unusual, and said Speak to us of Race 5 at
Randwick. And he answered and said: Goodness me, is that the time?
People of Moron, I say to you, Wisdom is not in others. It is in ourselves. We are not others. Other people are. We are us. And yet they are not Them. They are merely an Us which does
not include anyone here. Any questions so far? The world is a seamless cloth. Take shelter in it but do not expect it to fit. Love and Understanding are but winds that bear the spirit.
Love may be given but cannot be taken. Understanding can be neither given nor taken but is
the string in the bow of Life. We are not Us either, incidentally, I should make this clear. Just a
small one thanks. Everything is its own opposite. Paradox is that which is not paradoxical.
Only the living know death. Only the dead are living. Only the lonely, dum dum dum
dumdedoowah, know the way I feel tonight. Jameson's if they've got it. A cow has many
windows, but only one rudder. Reason is a tool. Try to remember where you left it.
If you are rich and you would give, give not your money. The poor know nought of money.
Give them of yourself. A smile, a pat on the head, something of that order. And he beckoned
to the pilot.
I must take rest for a time, he said, possibly on Venus. And he was gone.