Re: What's Going on in Europe
Reply #985 –
Were you so petted that you thought life
was only that, or a series of blows?
Did your youth not tell what everyone knows?
You'd have learned more, had you taken a wife…
Disputation is fine for a school boy,
where it serves no purpose and has no weight.
But out in the world it is love or hate,
bile or understanding… Which brings you joy?
I think I can answer where you can not:
Try as you might, you prefer your petting;
and you'd as soon lie to yourself, letting
the pleasures of childhood tie you to rot.
The ways of the world are oft sad and cruel…
You see only the wooden-sword. You'd duel!
————————————————————————————————
Forgive me, all: I've recently finished reading George R. R. Martin's first volume of "A Game of Thrones". (I make no other apology… )
Some time ago i had Jaybro read a short story of mine: His first -and only- complaint, as I remember, was that it was too short. But I told all that needed to be said, and -in fact- padded it! Was it Somerset Maugham who said something like: "Writers are ghouls"? Eating the dead does not appeal to me; but when I was young I wanted to be a writer.
It appeals to me less, now. I know I'll never be…
Perhaps I have no imagination, eh, ersi? I won't try to tell others' stories. You can chide me for that.
But my dead are still so dear to me that I can't let them go: My lopsided love reins me in — a knee of respect rather than a knee given a steed.
I can't let them go? I won't give them to others! I don't have the talent; I don't have the urge…
I don't need to be petted.
I had enough of that when I was young.