Dillard wonders if any creature, including humans, reaches adulthood completely unmarked by predators, parasites or accidents. Dillard asks why one creature must eat another, which has done no harm to the other. She wonders why manna is not available. Instead, it seems to be the way of life to take bites out of others' lives.
Dillard writes that Eskimos believe that one has many souls and only rarely is one of those souls privileged to incarnate as a human. Therefore, it is a great honor to be human and to live among other humans. Dillard quotes Van Gogh that the "'important thing is to breathe...,"' which is what Dillard does. She believes that it is true that the world is old and ragged, but is surprised to realize also that the world.....
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