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#suitors
We’re coming up on the spooky pumpkin-latte season, when days suddenly end, while I’m busy in some sterile, fluorescent chemistry-lab and there’s nothing to do but walk down dark science-hill to the dorm. Is that rustling the sound of leaves or footsteps?  The most effective horror stories come from spaces of doubt and hover between reality and possibility - but no fears, this isn’t my Halloween story. Apparently, there was a scandal last year, about underage girls being served at bars around Yale - I mean, seriously, who knew? Sunny’s still having fun. She’s out every other night like a hunting cat ‘meeting’ all these new freshie girls. She has the best takes. Her hungover Sunday morning debriefs are not to be missed. I’ve gotten comments that suggested that the party lives of U-girls are seen as dysfunctional, but to me they’re perfectly normal. Everyone seems to want college life to be saccharine and sanitized. I figure most students live highly stressed lives. We’re expected to show up to multiple classes, on time, prepared and be ready to perform at the highest levels academically - then add to these pressures our elaborate social and study demands. Young adulthood is strict in ways you may not remember. Poor us. sigh So we have a little fun. I’ve been bottled-up, by and large, this semester - mostly by my own twisted need to get ahead in every subject and I joined a Yale Society - dumb, I know, like I have the time. But I was tapped and Annick (my sister) said “DO IT!” I bet I quit when the going gets tough. Why did I think senior year would be easier?   Fall semester is a time famous for freshmen heartbreak - with everyone newly away from home and old boyfriends. About that... I hate it when boyfriends get old and you have to get rid of them. Not chronologically old - don’t call your lawyer, this isn’t ageism rearing its ugly head. There’s the chafing-like pre-breakup irritation, because you’re suddenly separated by distance and experience. it’s easy to feel out of touch and unable to voice your joy about the new life you’re living. It’s the little things that tend to bother you first, like the sudden strangeness of lingering silence on the once-exciting video calls. Ugg, breakups - the subject freaks me out - I get shivers up my spine and feel nauseous, just thinking about them - I’m not mocking heartbreak. Where was I? Oh, yeah. Adolescence should feature at least one earth-shaking, world-shifting, heartbreaking first love - unless, of course, covid happened. Do I harp back to covid lockdown too much? Well, it happened. It was our Vietnam, and we were unprepared. There’s a guy showing me some persistent interest - something I have no time for - or interest in. He’s a tall, sporty, transfer student from Princeton. Not unattractive, in a sort of eager, and dense, hipster way. “I have a boyfriend,” I told him, hoping he'd lose interest. “He must be invisible,” he observed, several days later. Then, “If you’d give me a chance, you’d soon find out I’m a sparkling conversationalist.” He updogged. “Introverts,” I said, “we should be running the world, but no one listens to us.” “I like a woman with ambition,” he said, encouragingly. “Go away,” I replied, and he did. But he was back in the morning because he’s in my residence and we share a shuttle bus stop. sigh Question: Why are they still calling storms hurricanes? I mean, now that they can have male or female names, shouldn’t they be themicanes? . . A song for this: Alfie by Cilla Black Does Everyone Stare by The Police
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Sep 18, 2024
Sep 18, 2024 at 11:21 PM UTC
sighs
We’re coming up on the spooky pumpkin-latte season, when days suddenly end, while I’m busy in some sterile, fluorescent chemistry-lab and there’s nothing to do but walk down dark science-hill to the dorm. Is that rustling the sound of leaves or footsteps?  The most effective horror stories come from spaces of doubt and hover between reality and possibility - but no fears, this isn’t my Halloween story. Apparently, there was a scandal last year, about underage girls being served at bars around Yale - I mean, seriously, who knew? Sunny’s still having fun. She’s out every other night like a hunting cat ‘meeting’ all these new freshie girls. She has the best takes. Her hungover Sunday morning debriefs are not to be missed. I’ve gotten comments that suggested that the party lives of U-girls are seen as dysfunctional, but to me they’re perfectly normal. Everyone seems to want college life to be saccharine and sanitized. I figure most students live highly stressed lives. We’re expected to show up to multiple classes, on time, prepared and be ready to perform at the highest levels academically - then add to these pressures our elaborate social and study demands. Young adulthood is strict in ways you may not remember. Poor us. sigh So we have a little fun. I’ve been bottled-up, by and large, this semester - mostly by my own twisted need to get ahead in every subject and I joined a Yale Society - dumb, I know, like I have the time. But I was tapped and Annick (my sister) said “DO IT!” I bet I quit when the going gets tough. Why did I think senior year would be easier?   Fall semester is a time famous for freshmen heartbreak - with everyone newly away from home and old boyfriends. About that... I hate it when boyfriends get old and you have to get rid of them. Not chronologically old - don’t call your lawyer, this isn’t ageism rearing its ugly head. There’s the chafing-like pre-breakup irritation, because you’re suddenly separated by distance and experience. it’s easy to feel out of touch and unable to voice your joy about the new life you’re living. It’s the little things that tend to bother you first, like the sudden strangeness of lingering silence on the once-exciting video calls. Ugg, breakups - the subject freaks me out - I get shivers up my spine and feel nauseous, just thinking about them - I’m not mocking heartbreak. Where was I? Oh, yeah. Adolescence should feature at least one earth-shaking, world-shifting, heartbreaking first love - unless, of course, covid happened. Do I harp back to covid lockdown too much? Well, it happened. It was our Vietnam, and we were unprepared. There’s a guy showing me some persistent interest - something I have no time for - or interest in. He’s a tall, sporty, transfer student from Princeton. Not unattractive, in a sort of eager, and dense, hipster way. “I have a boyfriend,” I told him, hoping he'd lose interest. “He must be invisible,” he observed, several days later. Then, “If you’d give me a chance, you’d soon find out I’m a sparkling conversationalist.” He updogged. “Introverts,” I said, “we should be running the world, but no one listens to us.” “I like a woman with ambition,” he said, encouragingly. “Go away,” I replied, and he did. But he was back in the morning because he’s in my residence and we share a shuttle bus stop. sigh Question: Why are they still calling storms hurricanes? I mean, now that they can have male or female names, shouldn’t they be themicanes? . . A song for this: Alfie by Cilla Black Does Everyone Stare by The Police
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What of the stories,what of you,what of the words or what of my dew Lies and lies  Strangled the fliers  Witnessed it, he has admirers  Sweetness and tartness ignored  Mulberry swallowed but in the heart it sored What would the 'dead lips' pen When it had not the truth,son Curses though slip off Feelings be never any drawf  For to hate  Once there should have been love's bait tight How dangling and dwindling  No shore was he ever kindling  Hours and hours  It takes no par  Touch not that knight  He has swords defending with might  How barren is he and Knows not any scabbard Those wands of enigma  That suits not the noble hands off stigma Suitors of temper  Shooters of blood towels much damper  Is it your blood ?  Shut-up for god's sake  Let's arrange him a slumber
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Mar 1, 2019
Mar 1, 2019 at 10:25 AM UTC
Dissembled
*My brothers were remarking I've had more beaus than most... (sonnet #MMMMMMCCCCLXXXVIII) La, how Vivaldi trills and capers thence When I am on the run, like to avail Me is a chancy thing for all he'd hail In, erm, my absence. And oh! these skies wear hence Long faces since rain swore off dawn, a sense Of sheer foreboding in racks' blue detail, The scanner crackling with a weary tale My brother knew would be, and "jail" fr'intents. Dad swears I am "subjective" as it were, That list of boyfriends I once tripped on through (Whereof I say "I don't know how to stir Aught man, but I kin sure ditch lovers") to A fault against my dearest hopes, a poor Reminder of I can't say what. Why, too? 10Jul17b
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Jul 12, 2017
Jul 12, 2017 at 8:34 PM UTC
It's What the Wags All Shake Their Heads About
She doesn't own a mirror. Confirmation of her beauty comes from those around her at all times. Fawning fools adore, jealous sisters abhor, but all notice the shine of her hair, the tilt of her lips. She does not dance. Her steps lead, and dancers follow with no reasons nor rhymes. They cry: "Lead me not into temptation", but in her ministrations, they ache and beg for her glance, their hearts in her grips. She does not care for suitors. Her heart was long ago dulled by the fencing blades of admirers. And yet I if honest, must admit that it is a careless abandon, devoid of wit that begs me join her jousters in mock combat for the privilege of her kiss. What a porcelain fool, she, to inspire such a heartfelt, bloodtaxed roust. What sorrier the fool, me, to join in such a sure dealt, unasked joust.
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Nov 8, 2014
Nov 8, 2014 at 7:48 PM UTC
The Queen's Joust