Ben Okri

Our past obscures our future, Lao thought, grimly. We travel forwards, but live backwards. Travelling is no escape; only the panorama changes. We are stuck in ourselves. There is no escape, but maybe there can be a change of direction. Maybe true travel is not the transportation of the body, but a change of perception, renewing the mind.

When we travel we take our troubles for a walk.

We arrive at our destination before we arrive at our revelation.’

There’s wisdom in repetition, in going to the same place often, seeing the same painting again and again, re-reading a much loved book.’

‘Most people would say repetition is boring.’

‘The young maybe.’

Do you know what the luckiest thing is?

No.

It is to be at home everywhere.

But Omovo knew otherwise; he saw beneath the dignity, the fine clothes, and the feathered hat to the bright crack within and a threatening void

‘I’m happy for you. You have your art. I don’t have anything. Except, maybe, you.’

‘I’m happy for you. You have your art. I don’t have anything. Except, maybe, you.’

‘I’m happy for you. You have your art. I don’t have anything. Except, maybe, you.’

he recalled something else he had innocently witnessed.