A blurred number down, only two to go.
We forget these endless days floating by,
nothing if not creatures of habit.
Time carries us forward, lullabied on its gentle waves,
placid on calm waters until
faced with change the sea breaks.
Picking up the past to ruminate
like smooth stones rolled in the palm,
we discover them innumerable and
smaller than life.
Faced with the options,
we find the only thing for it
is forward motion,
full steam ahead carried by momentum
pushing towards the infinitely finite.
21 Monday 2012
2251
Monday, May 21, 2012
John Steinbeck, On Love
New York
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will answer it from hers.
First - if you are in love - that's a good thing - that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is in an outpouring of everything good in you - of kindness and consideration and respect - not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply - of course it isn't puppy love.
But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it - and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone - there is not possible harm in saying so - only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness in consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another - but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don't worry about losing it. If it is right, it happens - The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
November 10, 1958
Dear Thom:
We had your letter this morning. I will answer it from my point of view and of course Elaine will answer it from hers.
First - if you are in love - that's a good thing - that's about the best thing that can happen to anyone. Don't let anyone make it small or light to you.
Second- There are several kinds of love. One is a selfish, mean, grasping egotistical thing which uses love for self-importance. This is the ugly and crippling kind. The other is in an outpouring of everything good in you - of kindness and consideration and respect - not only the social respect of manners but the greater respect which is recognition of another person as unique and valuable. The first kind can make you sick and small and weak but the second can release in you strength, and courage and goodness and even wisdom you didn't know you had.
You say this is not puppy love. If you feel so deeply - of course it isn't puppy love.
But I don't think you were asking me what you feel. You know better than anyone. What you wanted me to help you with is what to do about it - and that I can tell you.
Glory in it for one thing and be very glad and grateful for it.
The object of love is the best and most beautiful. Try to live up to it.
If you love someone - there is not possible harm in saying so - only you must remember that some people are very shy and sometimes the saying must take that shyness in consideration.
Girls have a way of knowing or feeling what you feel, but they usually like to hear it also.
It sometimes happens that what you feel is not returned for one reason or another - but that does not make your feeling less valuable and good.
Lastly, I know your feeling because I have it and I'm glad you have it.
We will be glad to meet Susan. She will be very welcome. But Elaine will make all such arrangements because that is her province and she will be very glad to. She knows about love too and maybe she can give you more help than I can.
And don't worry about losing it. If it is right, it happens - The main thing is not to hurry. Nothing good gets away.
Love,
Fa
Monday, May 14, 2012
Here's History
Biopics have a way of making its subject larger than life.
It makes me wonder how much of the reality matches
the misty montages and sepia screen shots.
The chronicles of the beloved TV personality
somehow lull the mind into forgiveness of the
vices mentioned therein; whatever the poison might've been.
Married and divorced, and again, and again,
with infidelities and alcoholism casually tossed in.
Sons neglected, friends abandoned, and interviewees
continue to chime in- the late, the great, the entertainer,
the deep loss felt by a nation's brethren as one kin.
Larger than life, and alone at the end- the audience feels
pity but you know this story, less the soundtrack and money;
we know the house stands of cards of our own making.
Aspiring to greatness, and even achieving that lofty reign
doesn't forgive the betrayals and choices, each decision
down a path that led to your solitude, self imposed, exiled in fame.
14 May 2012
2210
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Disconnected
Suddenly there is nothing,
just fuzzy radio silence.
A few clicks of the dial
and things fall out of sync.
White noise across the airwaves
something familiar and oddly correct,
jet engine humming on the wind.
Not that I wish it different anymore
but who knew even in this late hour
a chink remained in the armor,
an arrow in the quiver finds its mark again.
13 May 2012
2351
just fuzzy radio silence.
A few clicks of the dial
and things fall out of sync.
White noise across the airwaves
something familiar and oddly correct,
jet engine humming on the wind.
Not that I wish it different anymore
but who knew even in this late hour
a chink remained in the armor,
an arrow in the quiver finds its mark again.
13 May 2012
2351
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