tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68620665588508380552024-03-13T15:51:42.595-04:00At the Sign of the Yellow SphinxA Sequel to "The Encouraging Voice of The Labyrinth"Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.comBlogger43125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-77290834105443701182011-10-14T18:38:00.000-04:002011-10-14T18:38:02.404-04:00Werewolf<div class="western" id="nsvb" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">A Short, Yet Reasonable Guide to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">E</span><i id="nsvb0">xtreme</i>, Extreme Sports Drinks and "Power" Beverages</div><div class="western" id="nsvb1" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb3" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb3" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Instinto</span><br />
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</div><div class="western" id="nsvb29" style="font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 85%;">Zé do Caixão for <span style="font-weight: bold;">Instinto</span></span><br />
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</div><div class="western" id="nsvb29" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Instinto is a very simple and serviceable power drink with a very clear and univocal ideology: survival. The central graphic on the bottle of a hand clawing out of rubble expresses this. This, and its motto in all caps: WHY DID YOU LET ME LIVE, GOD? BIG MISTAKE. The taste of Instinto is not unlike human urine, only with the distinct iron tang of blood and a significant hint of renal failure. It has a significantly ashy, metallic, post-apocalyptic taste to it, as though one were indeed drinking it out of a rusted hubcap and spiking it with acid from a cracked battery in a monochrome sea of ash while killer drones fly overhead, as depicted in the commercial spots. Users of Instinto typically somehow manage to incorporate knives into most of their workouts, and sometimes fire.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb29" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb29" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div id="nsvb30" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Instinto enjoys a significant and uncomfortably devoted fan base among all-too active and still-at-large people. This may have to do with the combination of a number of features that give Instinto cross appeal: its discounted bulk pricing; its additional use as a saline wound wash and the forward looking design of its bottle which is specifically designed for significant <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weapons_of_mass_destruction">NBC shielding</a> and easy decontamination and allows the bottle to be easily mounted on a pack animal or wielded as a hand weapon.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb31" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb31" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Users of Instinto tend to be lean, extremely aggressive types. They tend not to wipe down their equipment: indeed, spitting may be a problem. Cutting in line and pilfering are typical of Instinto users, as is the adept use of the towel as a close quarters weapon. If you don’t drink Instinto, it is worth noting that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">people who do </span><b id="nsvb32">are inevitably the ones you have to watch out for</b>; should any dangerous event or crisis present itself in the gym, or even if the lights flicker slightly or the a/c blows a little warm, the Instinto users will be way ahead of you, on the other side of the fire door, blocking it with a chair. Instinto users know this. As a rule, they workout and travel alone, so if you ever see more than one of them at time, get the hell out the gym as fast as you can.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb31" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb33" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb33" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Never sleep with an Instinto drinker. The first time they have either charmed or forced their way into your place, you can be pretty sure that sometime during sex they have made a complete set of impressions of all of your keys on the lump of plastic modeling clay they keep in their gym bag. Also, don’t look in the gym bag.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb33" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="western" id="nsvb4" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Fthagn!</span></div><br />
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<div class="western" id="nsvb4" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">Because of its commercial spots </span><span style="font-size: 85%;">Fthagn! </span><span style="font-size: 85%; font-style: italic;">is sometimes mistaken for a cologne or mildew remover. In application it is generally considered too caustic for either purpose</span><span style="font-size: 85%;">.</span></div><div class="western" id="nsvb4" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb4" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Surprisingly bitter for an exercise or power drink, yet comparatively sweet for an absinthe and achewood mixer and disturbingly opaque for a “mineral” water, <i id="nsvb11">Fthagn! </i>comes in a slender serpentine glass bottle that is typically seen listlessly and precariously dangling from the long and intelligent figures of men in big shirts or women in flowing workout outfits with Empire or Neoclassical lines. The latter can often be seen on the treadmills on the “sleepwalk” setting carrying flowers to some unknown destination that they never reach.<br />
</div><div id="nsvb10" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb12" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb12" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The workout of your typical <i id="nsvb13">Fthagn! </i>drinker tends to be long, drawn out and dolorous, with occasional swooning and bits of poetry. <i id="nsvb14">Fthagn! </i>drinkers carefully wipe down their exercise equipment before and after, each time with the attentiveness of burying a loved one. Their perspiration tends to smell faintly of lavender, which is part of the appeal of the beverage.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb15" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb15" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb15" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">However languid the workout of your average <i id="nsvb16">Fthagn! </i>drinker seems to be, this does not necessarily make for poor practice, as their workout inevitably goes on an inhumanly long time, until they are drenched in a cold, dewy sweat that drips off their long raven locks into their maniacally bright eyes, long after most good Christian people have said their prayers and are safely in bed. Cardio workouts seem meaningless to <i id="nsvb17">Fthagn! </i>drinkers as none of them seem to breathe while exercising (though they may sigh) or have a detectible pulse.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb18" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb18" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb18" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Note that if you spot a <i id="nsvb19">Fthagn! </i>drinker in the shower, it is not necessary to wake them. It is usually sufficient to turn off the water, if the hot water has run out, and wrap them in the heavy sable riding cloak that hangs next to amber soap and shampoo they invariably carry*.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb20" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb20" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb20" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">*The shampoo is Johnson’s Baby Shampoo. For a larf, quote the slogan on the bottle to a <i id="nsvb21">Fthagn! </i>drinker: “No More Tears.” Invariably, they will begin laughing with dreadful irony, <i id="nsvb22">“No More Tears! -Ha! Ha!”</i> However, note that their laughter will go on longer than comfortable for most people and may end with coughing, or worse, a looked of fixed intensity that should not be received full on.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb37" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="western" id="nsvb4" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Werewolf</span></div><br />
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<div class="western" id="nsvb4" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">As of this writing, Werewolf is banned in most gyms and public places. Most of the adverse effects and behavior that have come to be associated with it are generally attributed to its high tequila and PCP content, though the company maintains that its primary ingredient is “pure rage.” Drinking Werewolf has been accurately described as “an Incredible Hulk-like experience” though it should be noted that Dr. Bruce Banner is never actually portrayed as unashamedly soiling himself when he becomes <i id="nsvb38">the Hulk</i>.<br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb37" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb39" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb39" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Werewolf drinkers inevitably make the same discovery at the gym: that everything at the gym is either very heavy, durable and hard to break, like free weights and exercise machines, or is light, fragile and easy to break, like big mirrors and other people’s ipods and small facial bones. They also inevitably come to the conclusion that they themselves are more like the former than the latter, indeed are some sort of anvil against which all things must be forged or broken: a serious decline in overall peace and security, property values, standards of living, and availability of electricity, communications and potable water inevitably follows. Retail of Werewolf is extremely unpopular with local law enforcement, whom are highly averse to protracted foot chases, broken handcuffs and human bites.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb39" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div class="western" id="nsvb40" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb40" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Werewolf has a very pleasant herbal taste, not unlike Jagermeister or going down on a Wiccan. I highly endorse Werewolf as my extreme sports drink of choice. If it is not available in your community, similar effects can be obtained by mixing Night Train, Redbull, Gatorade, Smoking Dog, ether and Butazamine.</div><div class="western" id="nsvb40" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="western" id="nsvb40" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br />
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<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YfIsNEpYoC0&hl=en"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YfIsNEpYoC0&hl=en" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br />
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</div><div class="western" id="nsvb40" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">I hope you are all happy now.</div><div id="nsvb41" type="FOOTER"><div id="nsvb42" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0.46in;"></div><div id="nsvb43" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div id="nsvb45"></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-39639866103090078612009-06-11T14:00:00.000-04:002009-06-12T03:14:41.832-04:00The End of the Sign<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHplMgqSallu6x4qQcvV69R9EC3IB4y6Cu2iPaNcO1JgVr4sz564m4EULX2r7-PWVeQZcRMQM3CKi-eMKUmE8drp-8_z1W-Hk34Gf6kIGOz3V6alrJq5JHAjNM0YSgW87saYZL0Hpfx7v1/s1600-h/Photo+429.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 350px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHplMgqSallu6x4qQcvV69R9EC3IB4y6Cu2iPaNcO1JgVr4sz564m4EULX2r7-PWVeQZcRMQM3CKi-eMKUmE8drp-8_z1W-Hk34Gf6kIGOz3V6alrJq5JHAjNM0YSgW87saYZL0Hpfx7v1/s400/Photo+429.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346336003160682210" /></a><br />Dear Wayfarer,<div><br /></div><div>We here at the Sign of the Yellow Sphinx merely tell stories. It is your kind and game attempts to answer that make them into proper riddles.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Sign of the Yellow Sphinx has, as promised, run for exactly a year with postings no less than every two weeks. Unfortunately, we seem to have left our curious <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2008/08/chapter-one-prima-luce.html">dream</a> detective <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2008/09/chapter-three-quem-deus-vult-perdere.html">sleeping</a> on the case (you should comment or email me if you really like this story and find the situation intolerable). On the other hand, we <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2008/06/guide-to-extreme-extreme-sports-drinks.html">did</a> <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-i-did-this-summer.html">have</a> <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2008/09/previous-fall.html">more</a> <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2009/05/late-fall-2008.html">werewolves</a><a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2009/05/winter-2008.html"> than</a> <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2008/09/spring.html">expected</a> and even a <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/31657852@N08/sets/72157612943874753/">free comic book</a> and trip to <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2009/04/martian-language-and-culture.html">Mars</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Yet, as some of you well know, I awake to find myself in an even stranger and less believable city than <a href="http://elminotaurblanco.blogspot.com/2007/03/end-of-curse-and-beginning.html">before</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And yet, as I prostrated myself before the 999 levels of shopping mall in that jewel city, whose name is as long and as beautiful as a tourist brochure, กรุงเทพมหานคร อมรรัตนโกสินทร์ มหินทรายุธยา มหาดิลกภพ นพรัตน์ราชธานีบุรีรมย์ อุดมราชนิเวศน์มหาสถาน อมรพิมานอวตารสถิต สักกะทัตติยะวิษณุกรรมประสิทธิ์ and sat and meditated in the refreshing quiet of its food courts, I found myself again reflecting upon my life on Mars, my adventures with my Master and the Monster Poops I had seen. </div><div><br /></div><div>And so, to give these recollections some form, I have seen it fit to start another blog, <a href="http://naakleuuap.blogspot.com/">Naak Leuuap</a> (<span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">นาค เหลือบ<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;">, the metallic blue Naga), which will contain these narratives and also provide true and accurate information about this remote and imaginary city as such would be useful to travelers. </span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-family:Georgia;"><a href="http://naakleuuap.blogspot.com/">Naak Leuuap</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style=" font-weight: bold; font-family:'Trebuchet MS';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" ;font-size:medium;">นาค เหลือบ <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">will be published over the course of my first year in Bangkok, after which I will be ordaining as a Buddhist monk, for a period to be determined by the unknown weight of my past lives. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And so, after our closing ceremonies here, I invite you to join me at my <a href="http://naakleuuap.blogspot.com/">new fictitious home</a> in another imaginary made up place: it would not be a home without you.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>your most humble and grateful,</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Van Choojitarom</div><div>เเวน ชูจิตารมย์</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-21773668668696989052009-06-11T07:54:00.002-04:002009-06-11T22:22:05.607-04:00Epilogue<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Georgia"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Estimating the size of the creature by comparison with the diameter of the large trees near which it passed–the few giants of the forest which had escaped the fury of the land-slide–I concluded it to be far larger than any ship of the line in existence. I say ship of the line, because the shape of the monster suggested the idea- the hull of one of our seventy-four might convey a very tolerable conception of the general outline. The mouth of the animal was situated at the extremity of a proboscis some sixty or seventy feet in length, and about as thick as the body of an ordinary elephant. Near the root of this trunk was an immense quantity of black shaggy hair- more than could have been supplied by the coats of a score of buffaloes; and projecting from this hair downwardly and laterally, sprang two gleaming tusks not unlike those of the wild boar, but of infinitely greater dimensions. Extending forward, parallel with the proboscis, and on each side of it, was a gigantic staff, thirty or forty feet in length, formed seemingly of pure crystal and in shape a perfect prism,–it reflected in the most gorgeous manner the rays of the declining sun. The trunk was fashioned like a wedge with the apex to the earth. From it there were outspread two pairs of wings- each wing nearly one hundred yards in length–one pair being placed above the other, and all thickly covered with metal scales; each scale apparently some ten or twelve feet in diameter. I observed that the upper and lower tiers of wings were connected by a strong chain. But the chief peculiarity of this horrible thing was the representation of a Death's Head, which covered nearly the whole surface of its breast, and which was as accurately traced in glaring white, upon the dark ground of the body, as if it had been there carefully designed by an artist. While I regarded the terrific animal, and more especially the appearance on its breast, with a feeling or horror and awe–with a sentiment of forthcoming evil, which I found it impossible to quell by any effort of the reason, I perceived the huge jaws at the extremity of the proboscis suddenly expand themselves, and from them there proceeded a sound so loud and so expressive of woe, that it struck upon my nerves like a knell and as the monster disappeared at the foot of the hill, I fell at once, fainting, to the floor.</span></p><div style="text-align: right;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">-Edgar Allan Poe, "The Sphinx"</span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-48587834942490486742009-06-11T06:48:00.006-04:002009-06-11T22:21:22.285-04:00Confessions of the Yellow SphinxDaniel: I got that banner that you had carefully fixed the layout for and never used it.<div><br /></div><div>Stacey: I started collaborative, online erotic story with you about edge play with extremely short people, and then, when it got too scary, let my roommate Tom finish it. Tom really liked writing the story with you. Then, when Tom got too scary, I moved out. You should not reply to any further emails or requests for contact, because I'm pretty sure Tom is now detained at her Majesty's leisure.</div><div><br /></div><div>Majumba: I deleted all your racist comments.</div><div><br /></div><div>Robert: There was no charity event. All the donuts went to me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Brian: I don't bathe for a month and then I ask all the hookers to call me "King Brian."</div><div><br /></div><div>Ady: I did actually find your bra</div><div><br /></div><div>Margaret: I've strongly suspected you don't like oneiric detective stories</div><div><br /></div><div>Aisha: That whole weird thing when I had the flu for a week and I wanted you to give hand jobs to strangers while you were on the bus and come back and tell me about it -I stole that from a Lars Von Trier movie. Seriously, you deserve so much better than me.</div><div><br /></div><div>Loren: I pay extra to call the hookers "Loren."</div><div><div><br /></div><div>Tom: I told you I would steal all your stories and become rich and famous. If you haven't guessed already, it was me. Now I'm in Bangkok to commit another series of horrific crimes against extremely short people and there is nothing you can do but read about it online at the prison library.</div><div><br /></div><div>Stephen: I don't know how this happened, but your baby is mine. I know it.</div><div><br /></div></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-65419574373556456772009-06-11T06:44:00.003-04:002009-06-11T22:20:56.604-04:00"The Sphinx" by Oscar Wilde<p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><i>As part of our closing ceremonies here </i>At the Sign of the Yellow Sphinx<i>, it is my pleasure to present to you a poem by my close personal friend, Oscar Wilde. </i></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><i>[lights down]</i></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:180%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:18px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><i>(To Marcel Schwob in friendship and in admiration)</i></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In a dim corner of my room for longer than</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">my fancy thinks</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A beautiful and silent Sphinx has watched me</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">through the shifting gloom.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Inviolate and immobile she does not rise she</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">does not stir</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For silver moons are naught to her and naught</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">to her the suns that reel.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Red follows grey across the air, the waves of</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">moonlight ebb and flow</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But with the Dawn she does not go and in the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">night-time she is there.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dawn follows Dawn and Nights grow old and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">all the while this curious cat</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lies couching on the Chinese mat with eyes of</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">satin rimmed with gold.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Upon the mat she lies and leers and on the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tawny throat of her</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Flutters the soft and silky fur or ripples to her</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">pointed ears.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Come forth, my lovely seneschal! so somnolent,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">so statuesque!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Come forth you exquisite grotesque! half woman</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and half animal!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Come forth my lovely languorous Sphinx! and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">put your head upon my knee!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And let me stroke your throat and see your</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">body spotted like the Lynx!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And let me touch those curving claws of yellow</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ivory and grasp</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The tail that like a monstrous Asp coils round</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">your heavy velvet paws!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">A thousand weary centuries are thine</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">while I have hardly seen</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some twenty summers cast their green for</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Autumn's gaudy liveries.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But you can read the Hieroglyphs on the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">great sandstone obelisks,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And you have talked with Basilisks, and you</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">have looked on Hippogriffs.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">O tell me, were you standing by when Isis to</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Osiris knelt?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And did you watch the Egyptian melt her union</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">for Antony</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And drink the jewel-drunken wine and bend</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">her head in mimic awe</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To see the huge proconsul draw the salted tunny</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">from the brine?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And did you mark the Cyprian kiss white Adon</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">on his catafalque?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And did you follow Amenalk, the God of</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Heliopolis?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And did you talk with Thoth, and did you hear</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the moon-horned Io weep?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And know the painted kings who sleep beneath</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the wedge-shaped Pyramid?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Lift up your large black satin eyes which are</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">like cushions where one sinks!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Fawn at my feet, fantastic Sphinx! and sing me all your memories!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sing to me of the Jewish maid who wandered</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">with the Holy Child,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And how you led them through the wild, and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">how they slept beneath your shade.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sing to me of that odorous green eve when</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">crouching by the marge</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You heard from Adrian's gilded barge the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">laughter of Antinous</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And lapped the stream and fed your drouth and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">watched with hot and hungry stare</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The ivory body of that rare young slave with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">his pomegranate mouth!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sing to me of the Labyrinth in which the twi-</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">formed bull was stalled!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Sing to me of the night you crawled across the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">temple's granite plinth</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">When through the purple corridors the screaming</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">scarlet Ibis flew</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">In terror, and a horrid dew dripped from the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">moaning Mandragores,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And the great torpid crocodile within the tank</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">shed slimy tears,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And tare the jewels from his ears and staggered</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">back into the Nile,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And the priests cursed you with shrill psalms as</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in your claws you seized their snake</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And crept away with it to slake your passion by</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the shuddering palms.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Who were your lovers? who were they</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">who wrestled for you in the dust?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Which was the vessel of your Lust? What</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Leman had you, every day?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Did giant Lizards come and crouch before you</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">on the reedy banks?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Did Gryphons with great metal flanks leap on</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">you in your trampled couch?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Did monstrous hippopotami come sidling toward</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">you in the mist?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Did gilt-scaled dragons writhe and twist with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">passion as you passed them by?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And from the brick-built Lycian tomb what</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">horrible Chimera came</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With fearful heads and fearful flame to breed</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">new wonders from your womb?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or had you shameful secret quests and did</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">you harry to your home</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Some Nereid coiled in amber foam with curious</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">rock crystal breasts?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or did you treading through the froth call to</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the brown Sidonian</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For tidings of Leviathan, Leviathan or</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Behemoth?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or did you when the sun was set climb up the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">cactus-covered slope</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To meet your swarthy Ethiop whose body was</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">of polished jet?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or did you while the earthen skiffs dropped</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">down the grey Nilotic flats</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">At twilight and the flickering bats flew round</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the temple's triple glyphs</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Steal to the border of the bar and swim across</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the silent lake</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And slink into the vault and make the Pyramid</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">your lupanar</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Till from each black sarcophagus rose up the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">painted swathed dead?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or did you lure unto your bed the ivory-horned</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Tragelaphos?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or did you love the god of flies who plagued</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the Hebrews and was splashed</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With wine unto the waist? or Pasht, who had</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">green beryls for her eyes?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or that young god, the Tyrian, who was more</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">amorous than the dove</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Of Ashtaroth? or did you love the god of the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Assyrian</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Whose wings, like strange transparent talc, rose</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">high above his hawk-faced head,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Painted with silver and with red and ribbed with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">rods of Oreichalch?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Or did huge Apis from his car leap down and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">lay before your feet</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Big blossoms of the honey-sweet and honey-</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">coloured nenuphar?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">How subtle-secret is your smile! Did you</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">love none then? Nay, I know</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Great Ammon was your bedfellow! He lay with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">you beside the Nile!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The river-horses in the slime trumpeted when</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">they saw him come</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Odorous with Syrian galbanum and smeared with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">spikenard and with thyme.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He came along the river bank like some tall</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">galley argent-sailed,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He strode across the waters, mailed in beauty,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and the waters sank.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He strode across the desert sand: he reached</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the valley where you lay:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">He waited till the dawn of day: then touched</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">your black breasts with his hand.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You kissed his mouth with mouths of flame:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">you made the horned god your own:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You stood behind him on his throne: you called</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">him by his secret name.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You whispered monstrous oracles into the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">caverns of his ears:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With blood of goats and blood of steers you</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">taught him monstrous miracles.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">White Ammon was your bedfellow! Your</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">chamber was the steaming Nile!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And with your curved archaic smile you watched</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">his passion come and go.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">With Syrian oils his brows were bright:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and wide-spread as a tent at noon</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">His marble limbs made pale the moon and lent</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the day a larger light.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">His long hair was nine cubits' span and coloured</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">like that yellow gem</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Which hidden in their garment's hem the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">merchants bring from Kurdistan.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">His face was as the must that lies upon a vat of</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">new-made wine:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The seas could not insapphirine the perfect azure</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">of his eyes.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">His thick soft throat was white as milk and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">threaded with thin veins of blue:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And curious pearls like frozen dew were</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">broidered on his flowing silk.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">On pearl and porphyry pedestalled he was</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">too bright to look upon:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For on his ivory breast there shone the wondrous</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ocean-emerald,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">That mystic moonlit jewel which some diver of</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the Colchian caves</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Had found beneath the blackening waves and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">carried to the Colchian witch.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Before his gilded galiot ran naked vine-wreathed</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">corybants,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And lines of swaying elephants knelt down to</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">draw his chariot,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And lines of swarthy Nubians bare up his litter</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">as he rode</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Down the great granite-paven road between the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">nodding peacock-fans.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The merchants brought him steatite from Sidon</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in their painted ships:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The meanest cup that touched his lips was</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">fashioned from a chrysolite.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The merchants brought him cedar chests of rich</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">apparel bound with cords:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">His train was borne by Memphian lords: young</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">kings were glad to be his guests.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ten hundred shaven priests did bow to Ammon's</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">altar day and night,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ten hundred lamps did wave their light through</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Ammon's carven house--and now</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Foul snake and speckled adder with their young</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ones crawl from stone to stone</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">For ruined is the house and prone the great</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">rose-marble monolith!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wild ass or trotting jackal comes and couches</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in the mouldering gates:</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wild satyrs call unto their mates across the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">fallen fluted drums.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And on the summit of the pile the blue-faced</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">ape of Horus sits</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And gibbers while the fig-tree splits the pillars</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">of the peristyle</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">The god is scattered here and there: deep</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hidden in the windy sand</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I saw his giant granite hand still clenched in</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">impotent despair.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And many a wandering caravan of stately</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">negroes silken-shawled,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Crossing the desert, halts appalled before the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">neck that none can span.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And many a bearded Bedouin draws back his</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">yellow-striped burnous</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">To gaze upon the Titan thews of him who was</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">thy paladin.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Go, seek his fragments on the moor and</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">wash them in the evening dew,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And from their pieces make anew thy mutilated</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">paramour!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Go, seek them where they lie alone and from</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">their broken pieces make</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Thy bruised bedfellow! And wake mad passions</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in the senseless stone!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Charm his dull ear with Syrian hymns! he loved</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">your body! oh, be kind,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Pour spikenard on his hair, and wind soft rolls</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">of linen round his limbs!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Wind round his head the figured coins! stain</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">with red fruits those pallid lips!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Weave purple for his shrunken hips! and purple</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">for his barren loins!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Away to Egypt! Have no fear. Only one</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">God has ever died.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Only one God has let His side be wounded by a</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">soldier's spear.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">But these, thy lovers, are not dead. Still by the</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">hundred-cubit gate</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Dog-faced Anubis sits in state with lotus-lilies</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">for thy head.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Still from his chair of porphyry gaunt Memnon</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">strains his lidless eyes</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Across the empty land, and cries each yellow</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">morning unto thee.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And Nilus with his broken horn lies in his black</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and oozy bed</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And till thy coming will not spread his waters on</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the withering corn.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Your lovers are not dead, I know. They will</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">rise up and hear your voice</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And clash their cymbals and rejoice and run to</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">kiss your mouth! And so,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Set wings upon your argosies! Set horses to</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">your ebon car!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Back to your Nile! Or if you are grown sick of</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dead divinities</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Follow some roving lion's spoor across the copper-</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">coloured plain,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Reach out and hale him by the mane and bid</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">him be your paramour!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Couch by his side upon the grass and set your</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">white teeth in his throat</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And when you hear his dying note lash your</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">long flanks of polished brass</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And take a tiger for your mate, whose amber</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">sides are flecked with black,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And ride upon his gilded back in triumph</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">through the Theban gate,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And toy with him in amorous jests, and when</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">he turns, and snarls, and gnaws,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">O smite him with your jasper claws! and bruise</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">him with your agate breasts!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Why are you tarrying? Get hence! I</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">weary of your sullen ways,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I weary of your steadfast gaze, your somnolent</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">magnificence.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Your horrible and heavy breath makes the light</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">flicker in the lamp,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And on my brow I feel the damp and dreadful</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">dews of night and death.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Your eyes are like fantastic moons that shiver</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">in some stagnant lake,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Your tongue is like a scarlet snake that dances</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">to fantastic tunes,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Your pulse makes poisonous melodies, and your</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">black throat is like the hole</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Left by some torch or burning coal on Saracenic</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">tapestries.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Away! The sulphur-coloured stars are hurrying</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">through the Western gate!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Away! Or it may be too late to climb their silent</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">silver cars!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">See, the dawn shivers round the grey gilt-dialled</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">towers, and the rain</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Streams down each diamonded pane and blurs</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">with tears the wannish day.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What snake-tressed fury fresh from Hell, with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">uncouth gestures and unclean,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Stole from the poppy-drowsy queen and led you</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">to a student's cell?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">What songless tongueless ghost of sin crept</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">through the curtains of the night,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And saw my taper burning bright, and knocked,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">and bade you enter in?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Are there not others more accursed, whiter with</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">leprosies than I?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Are Abana and Pharphar dry that you come here</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">to slake your thirst?</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Get hence, you loathsome mystery! Hideous</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">animal, get hence!</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You wake in me each bestial sense, you make me</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">what I would not be.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">You make my creed a barren sham, you wake</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">foul dreams of sensual life,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And Atys with his blood-stained knife were</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">better than the thing I am.</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">False Sphinx! False Sphinx! By reedy Styx</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">old Charon, leaning on his oar,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Waits for my coin. Go thou before, and leave</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">me to my crucifix,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman; min-height: 15.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;"><br /></span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">Whose pallid burden, sick with pain, watches</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">the world with wearied eyes,</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">And weeps for every soul that dies, and weeps</span></p> <p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Times New Roman"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">for every soul in vain.</span></p><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'Times New Roman';font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:12px;"><br /></span></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-20728645268528094522009-06-08T00:00:00.000-04:002012-04-29T23:29:11.793-04:00Spring 2009The deputy was a rookie and got jumped. He got grief for that and the bite got infected. There were a string of killings, someone with a dog or a wolf. They got worse. He had problems with anger at work. One night, he spots the girl who jumped him. She explained that they had come in the winter from Chicago. But he had gotten HIV. Now he was just killing. The pack tried to stop him; he killed them. She needed him. When they tracked him, he was thin, thin and sick. She didn’t cry. He quit the department.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-59717146765001654412009-05-25T00:00:00.000-04:002012-04-29T23:28:50.512-04:00Winter 2008Jack came back chewed up, nearly dead. The others died. He meant it this time. He was always at Father Jonathan’s side now, helping out. Patti had started using again, so it was no surprise she vanished, but then they found her. They said it was a pack of dogs. Somebody killed Robbie and Consuela, too, and dogs must have come after. John went on the news about the shelter. The story went national. Jack organized the whole thing, helping to raise millions. Father Jonathan never stopped praying for Jack, but could not stop him. The shelter closed that spring.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-42667605626901049192009-05-11T00:00:00.001-04:002012-04-29T23:28:32.266-04:00Late Fall 2008It was fucked up. We were fucked up a lot. She had a lot of old connections: I remembered Jack from the clinic. Things got really rough and we had to leave. We agreed to cut down. At least stop biting people. We rented with my last savings. She was out a lot. I had the internet. I thought we were straight, but in the trunk of the car she had kept their wallets and jewelry. She didn’t want to fuck me before she left. When the police came, I realized I hadn’t changed. I was just a naked loser.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-42990977182172057172009-04-27T00:00:00.000-04:002012-04-29T23:28:11.111-04:00Fall 2008You had to watch her and not just the cutting. She was hard to believe, but what had happened to her was unbelievable. What I really wanted was to save her. I got reported. I came back. I busted her out. I am still glad I did that. We went south in a car with hot air and spilled beer. She was covered with scratches. I could not get her off me. I woke up bruised with a crust of blood. She licked her snout and padded over. She licked my wounds. I held her until it was dark again.<br />
<br />
(The autumn previous to <a href="http://yellowsphinx.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-i-did-this-summer.html">this summer</a>)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-24169303497201780482009-04-13T00:00:00.000-04:002009-04-13T00:00:01.166-04:00Martian Language and Culture: An Introduction<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN12APyxKW83iZiXc1wKIoYEnR8mYyzX4hw1vO6InHSPt8iVVW_fvTk4fU4jPxLsjmVI1ZonU5n8XT4mZrrdsZS6UzPux2OqvVNCIqbc43WYps3hxkTJ8IUm2NaUOMJhl-apct8tS5ykDa/s1600-h/garfield-a.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN12APyxKW83iZiXc1wKIoYEnR8mYyzX4hw1vO6InHSPt8iVVW_fvTk4fU4jPxLsjmVI1ZonU5n8XT4mZrrdsZS6UzPux2OqvVNCIqbc43WYps3hxkTJ8IUm2NaUOMJhl-apct8tS5ykDa/s400/garfield-a.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301735496861672050" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Martian has 216 forms of “spoken” “punctuation”, all of which appear to be represented by sharp kicks; only an experienced Martian speaker can tell the difference: the beginning and intermediate student has to be content with asking the Martian to repeat himself and paying close attention to the reply. Functionally, each form of punctuation appears to be roughly equivalent to either the comma or the semicolon, or the expression “and another thing that gets me is…”<br /><br />Some have argued that the Martians have no language proper, but rather "a string of endless random signs interrupted by abrupt punching and running away."<br /><br />The actual rules of Martian (as much as can be inferred) seem to vary greatly depending on who is speaking, who is being spoken to, what is being talked about, whether the speaker likes talking about it, etc... Each Martian effectively has its own idiolect, which changes daily. A further complication is that it is considered rude for one's actions or behavior to have any relation to one's language. The only certain constant is the punching or kicking for which the Martians have 7,653 synonyms; a Martian sentence is not really considered complete unless it has about 30 of them<br /><br />The most popular human cultural product for Martians is Garfield: this is because Garfield the cat closely resembles a character from their classical pre-drought literature. Martian “Garfield” is not a cat, but a malign demon that lives inside Martian “Jon Arbuckle's” primary non-ruminant stomach. Like Garfield the cat, however, Martian Garfield is malicious, selfish and cruel, primarily concerned with eating, sleeping, insulting Jon and defecating inside of him.<br /><br />The only notable point of difference it that these actions eventually drive Martian Jon Arbuckle to acts of incest, cannibalism and murder, (though the order varies by strip).<br /><br /><br />Hence the t-shirt now popular among humans:<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br />Garfield shits inside me<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGT3zVgng0wMoJ1-Pe3t7JYOVbkw4MZHEU6mIachc-fwjAkcM1AjvEA02_q_DvBJzkoz8cQ3T0m5RsVi2-Zpj__ezR9cDE0858EDd00Tk8GZM7oxoyVzyqP8TICMZRfHyf3Fmg7iu_hwr/s1600-h/Picture+1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 645px; height: 86px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAGT3zVgng0wMoJ1-Pe3t7JYOVbkw4MZHEU6mIachc-fwjAkcM1AjvEA02_q_DvBJzkoz8cQ3T0m5RsVi2-Zpj__ezR9cDE0858EDd00Tk8GZM7oxoyVzyqP8TICMZRfHyf3Fmg7iu_hwr/s400/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301728782106202898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />[This is here transcribed using XIPA Method I, the arrows indicating roughly the kind, angle and intensity of the kicks.]<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Martian Romances</span><br /><br /><br />Martian romances are basically tales of disenchantment. Almost every Martian Love Epic has a scene after the couple first realizes their great love for one another where they meet a recurring stock character, an old hermit that describes, in exhaustive detail, the challenges the pair are to face and the adventure ahead, culminating in a dire warning. Everything the hermit says is, without exception, completely wrong and does not happen. Scholars believe this character was invented to insure the story was properly disappointing and to prevent people from interrupting.<br /><br />The couple then embarks on a heroic journey together which is invariably longer and less interesting than the couple had anticipated. All that follows is all falling, accreting action, in the form of complaints, veiled criticisms and long, drawn out arguments, which form the heart of the Martian romance, as captured in this justly famous line,<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFFwHpOA5oa_dzaItx9lbWdKpjwyD74OFSswHQgnW2veE7vUiRb1O3iKJ-cJE3fnr8Hif4VCMizHnukGrBM0XqYdvIdV3KPmJiUIqk3gKafjhUT6MEHtKcbdj-V5H00SHFcohIQOeBroG/s1600-h/Picture+2.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 612px; height: 501px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaFFwHpOA5oa_dzaItx9lbWdKpjwyD74OFSswHQgnW2veE7vUiRb1O3iKJ-cJE3fnr8Hif4VCMizHnukGrBM0XqYdvIdV3KPmJiUIqk3gKafjhUT6MEHtKcbdj-V5H00SHFcohIQOeBroG/s400/Picture+2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301729284398638802" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />''At first you were interesting. At the first time, of you, this report: more interesting<br /><br />Today speaking<br />I view other [mental content] time of your communicating from time of period of consciousness beginning<br />sleep following"<br /><br /><br /><br />These “grievance duets” expand in intensity and frequency, for the remainder of the romance, sustained entirely by the couple, with the exception of the occasional passer-by who is dragged in:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmc6ItBfDHfe7HC_iE9N5xrt0gT51hzLwH8p66c4w-jPk2gJ_2R17QFrQwoWXRR0vnczgrODEbsLyIqgC5BbB0CAdkwCiuAgSLVPd_WFoht_EdGrg4tXHMJGJeckrmkLaadDVZQ8cifgJ/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 667px; height: 261px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWmc6ItBfDHfe7HC_iE9N5xrt0gT51hzLwH8p66c4w-jPk2gJ_2R17QFrQwoWXRR0vnczgrODEbsLyIqgC5BbB0CAdkwCiuAgSLVPd_WFoht_EdGrg4tXHMJGJeckrmkLaadDVZQ8cifgJ/s400/Picture+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301729675144086114" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4kXrURQTrYvYbGYCwjALhQroM9X-SLb5TfmtGC5RiIUCkgfCf575lFx2lgAH6W4jrG5REtGj68O2cE5-FmK6leY-_hsUMrrF_TI9LPUHqhkbsQDORjFYMNNkoDw_SR-hEgw7hSC-R6e_/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 661px; height: 222px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs4kXrURQTrYvYbGYCwjALhQroM9X-SLb5TfmtGC5RiIUCkgfCf575lFx2lgAH6W4jrG5REtGj68O2cE5-FmK6leY-_hsUMrrF_TI9LPUHqhkbsQDORjFYMNNkoDw_SR-hEgw7hSC-R6e_/s400/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301730232828341650" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Why are you doing this<br />To me? If I could burn you, by [ejecting] my [spleen-head] [off] setting it on fire<br />On the sacred mountain<br />And hitting you with it<br />I would.<br />I only work here.<br /><br />This last line, being one of the most famous in Martian Literature.<br /><br />In any case, the frequency, intensity and personal criticism of the exchanges grows and grows, until they express clearly the mutual desire that the other is dead. This typically leads to a tender scene in the fourteenth or twenty-second act where one of the couple, typically through a series of reversals and annoyances, discovers the other and believes them to be dead, whereupon they express their relief and gratitude in a gentle aria of soaring hope and violent ill-treatment of the beloved’s “corpse.” The “resurrection” of the dead partner generally causes dismay and complaint. This “Romeo and Juliette” plot mechanism is a favorite of Martian romances and will often be featured in them up to five or six times in the same given romance.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-1821006959611981512009-03-30T00:00:00.000-04:002009-03-30T00:00:01.825-04:00Celebrity on the ≤ 10 -6 ScaleThe International System of Units/Système International d’Unités Official Guide to Celebrity on the ≤ 10-6 Scale<br /><br />11th Annual Celebrity Metrology Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Microcelebrity </span><br /><blockquote>Person in front of you at Open Mic Night/last guy to leave drumming circle/has-been from Sheila Bishop’s Cabaret</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Nanocelebrity</span><br /><blockquote> Hey, you brought donuts!</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Picocelebrity</span><br /><blockquote> Man, some asshole is eating all the donuts.</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Femtocelebrity</span><br /><blockquote>Name published in the well-read journal The Yellow Pages</blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Attocelebrity</span><br /><blockquote> Name published in the less well-read White Pages</blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Zeptocelebrity</span><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>Yes, that would be you on your driver’s license. </blockquote><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Yoctocelebrity</span><br /><blockquote>Theoretical lowest values for celebrity. One or more of the following minimally apply:<br /><br />• Can recognize own self in mirror, or<br />• Corpse can be identified by mother<br />• Are minimally distinct by Leibniz’s Law</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-62623687494202796912009-03-16T00:00:00.000-04:002009-03-16T00:00:01.134-04:00Things I have Invented, How Brilliant They Are, Why the World Continues to Ignore Them<span style="font-weight: bold;">Trans Siberian Minimalist Post Goth</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What is it?</span><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>Goth music, without all the distracting changes and “music” and with the addition of “wolves."</blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />How Brilliant Is It?</span><br /><blockquote>Totally brilliant.</blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Why the World Continues to Ignore It</span><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>Not enough wolves.</blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Talky Pop</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What is it?</span><br /><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote>Talking Popcorn Bucket. Asks “who is that?” “where is he going?” “Isn’t he really Superman?” Reminds viewer of product tie-ins, cracks wise, answers cell phone</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How Brilliant Is It?</span><br /><blockquote>Not really all that brilliant</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Why the World Continues to Ignore It</span><br /><blockquote>No popcorn bucket, however sophisticated, can replace Grandma</blockquote><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Steinman Power 7 Artificial Heart</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What is it?</span><br /><blockquote>Artificial Heart That Plays “Total Eclipse of the Heart”</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How Brilliant Is It?</span><br /><blockquote>Merely clever</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Why the World Continues to Ignore It</span><br /><blockquote>All things considered, not a very good song or artificial heart. </blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mace Lite and Mace Jr.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What is it?</span><br /><blockquote>Personal defense without all that stinging harshness. When you want to incapacitate someone …but not all that much. Comes in different scents: Jalapeño, Habanero, Summer Breeze, Holiday Potpourri and Traditional Mace </blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How Brilliant Is It?</span><br /><blockquote>Somewhat</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Why the World Continues to Ignore It</span><br /><blockquote>Never went beyond development: people sampling Mace Lite and Mace Jr. could not tell the difference from regular mace; also complained of not being asked if they wished to sample Mace Lite and Mace Jr. and “blindness.”</blockquote><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Erotic Chess Story</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What is it?</span><br /><blockquote>The most erotic and intellectually stimulating thing ever.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">How Brilliant Is It?</span><br /><blockquote>Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.</blockquote><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Why the World Continues to Ignore It</span><br /><blockquote>Mankind apparently not ready for golden age of ultimate entertainment.</blockquote>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-36848059925330047212009-03-02T00:00:00.000-05:002009-03-02T00:00:01.142-05:00Major Gif: His Adventures in the Public Domain<a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/astronaut/astronaut-01.gif" alt="Animations - astronaut-01" border="0" height="72" width="84" /></a><br /><br />I am an astronaut<br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/BodyParts/Eyes/eyes_015.gif" alt="Animations - eyes 015" border="0" height="60" width="80" /></a><br /><br />The things I have seen<br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/food/hotdog-03.gif" alt="Animations - hotdog-03" border="0" height="120" width="70" /></a><br /><br />You would not believe.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Bullets/Ball_4.gif" alt="Animations - ball 4" border="0" height="20" width="20" /></a><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Bullets/Bolden_globe_2.gif" alt="Animations - bolden globe 2" border="0" height="20" width="20" /></a> <a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/bullets/bullet-03.gif" alt="Animations - bullet-03" border="0" height="24" width="24" /></a> <a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/bullets/bullet-07.gif" alt="Animations - bullet-07" border="0" height="23" width="23" /></a> <a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/bullets/bullet-05.gif" alt="Animations - bullet-05" border="0" height="23" width="23" /></a><br /><br /><br />In every world, however, I have seen the same thing<br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/animals/dogs/dog-10.gif" alt="Animations - dog-10" border="0" height="113" width="141" /></a><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/animals/dinosaurs/dinosaur-03.gif" alt="Animations - dinosaur-03" border="0" height="135" width="128" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Animals/Dinosaurs/Dinosaur-01.gif" alt="Animations - Green T-Rex" border="0" height="200" width="185" /></a> <a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Cars/Old_car.gif" alt="Animations - old car" border="0" height="60" width="100" /></a><br />The struggle to survive<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Animals/catsmice/Exercises.gif" alt="Animations - exercises" border="0" height="384" width="278" /></a><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Explosives/bomb.gif" alt="Animations - bomb" border="0" height="50" width="50" /></a><br /><br />Often cruel.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Animals/catsmice/Fat_cat_runs.gif" alt="Animations - fat cat runs" border="0" height="40" width="640" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Explosives/bomb_line.gif" alt="Animations - bomb line" border="0" height="19" width="582" /></a><br /><br />Senseless.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Animals/dogs/Monopoly_dog_2.gif" alt="Animations - monopoly dog 2" border="0" height="35" width="397" /></a> <a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/fire/fire_line.gif" alt="Animations - fire line" border="0" height="50" width="600" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAImage/Animations/Animals/catsmice/Garfield_2.gif" alt="Animations - garfield 2" border="0" height="153" width="150" /></a><br /><br />Or cruel and senseless.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/construction/backhoe-02.gif" alt="Animations - backhoe-02" border="0" height="124" width="145" /></a><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/food/burger-01.gif" alt="Animations - burger-01" border="0" height="100" width="80" /></a><br /><br />But always a struggle<br /><br /><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/food/hotdog-02.gif" alt="Animations - hotdog-02" border="0" height="90" width="30" /></a><a href="http://www.professionalanimations.com/"><img src="http://www.professionalanimations.com/GAimage/animations/cars/a10-02.gif" alt="Animations - a10-02" border="0" height="208" width="208" /></a><br /><br />To the deathAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-62295216898359661822009-02-16T00:00:00.001-05:002009-02-19T21:14:16.138-05:00Great Local Places to Drink<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Living Room</span><br /><br />No list of great local drinking establishments would be complete without mentioning this perennial watering hole. Centrally located to just about everything, the living room boasts a wide variety of comfortable, lived in seating, from the broken folding chair with a towel on it, to the very popular green “hybrid” couch rescued from the curb some five years ago. Here you can enjoy a variety of beverage, include a wide selection of different domestic beers and fine malt beverages on sale from the local grocery, whose paraphernalia, in the form of bottles, boxes and cans, form an integral part of the room’s décor, (and, in some cases, its furnishings) all creating an intimate and familiar atmosphere for drinking steadily and alone. Patrons can enjoy a variety of programming on basic cable, sometimes even somewhat recent blockbuster films during free preview weekends. Sports fans can also stay connected to the action through live broadcasts and updates on AM radio. The living room is always open, whether for a refreshing extended pause in the middle or early part of the day, planning an important meeting, checking the news and weather, relaxing in the afternoon with a block of cartoons and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> Sewing with Nancy</span>, having quiet private dinner, or a largely silent personal party that goes on until the break of dawn in an endless cycle that never ends, the living room is the place for you and for drinking. Frequent patrons may even find some limited overnight accommodation there by propping their feet on the TV tray, though some numbness and upset of said tray and other furnishing usually results. Patrons staying overnight should remember that the couch has no built in restroom facilities.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Kitchen</span><br /><br />For an even more informal atmosphere, why not go direct to the source, to the kitchen? The kitchen boasts the coldest beer and as much ice as those little trays can make. Even though service is counter only with no real seating, the kitchen boasts a full menu, including leftover take-out, cereal, pancake batter and bread crumbs, all with a variety of exotic condiments from the area’s local vendors. For a real adventure, try the freezer, where you will find a variety of frozen meats and vegetables from that new plan of yours to start a new life by cooking more, ruptured Otter Pops and even slices of birthday and wedding cake that you haven’t the courage to throw out.<br />The kitchen is the ideal destination for late night and other dining, and is the only guaranteed source of solids in the area; though it provides catering to the living room, only the kitchen has the extensive reheating and refrigerating facilities that the true gourmand demands. Ask about the special “over the sink dining” for patrons on-the-go.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bathroom</span><br /><br />Another forward thinking establishment that cuts out the middleman, the bathroom boasts simple but adequate seating and a variety of collectable reading material –a library and a spa in one. Though not as popular as the other establishments, the bathroom is the one place that, sooner or later, everyone is going, if they know what’s good for them and can remember where it is. The bathroom features extensive facilities for a variety of needs, whether freshening up, taking a whiz, seeing a man about a horse, pinching a loaf, or really letting it all hang out, going for a little drive and freshening up, the bathroom boasts a fully functioning shower that will have you feeling as fresh as a daisy, with a little shelf that can accommodate an entire six-pack. The bathroom also boasts the only local place to drink with a still functioning mirror in it, as of this writing. Overnight accommodations are available, but not recommended.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Front Yard</span><br /><br />Tired of the whole “indoor scene” with its endless quiet drinking and weeping? Why not go for fresh air and the great outdoors with the front yard. Though a much more public establishment, the front yard is a robust, outdoorsy, “business casual” venue: no shirt, no shoes –no problem! It’s only the front yard. Whether exchanging words, opinions or recyclables with neighbors or negotiating with local law enforcement, the front yard is a refreshing and sometimes violent step outside the ordinary. Overnight guests are asked to wear pants.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Bedroom</span><br /><br />Quietest and most intimate of a long line of intimate quiet places to drink, the bedroom is the only venue actually designed for overnight accommodation, which it does superbly well. Enjoy a quick nightcap or two, whether sitting on the bed itself stifling sobs, comfortably nestled in one of several piles of laundry, or tenderly curled up with Mr. Bear and the other buddies in the sheets, you are at the front gate to the happiest place on earth, except for those screaming nightmares. Ask the manager about the special schnapps kept on hand if this happens to you.<div><br />This is where it all generally ends and begins.</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-51836755499392536042009-02-02T01:00:00.000-05:002009-02-02T01:00:00.912-05:00What is Civic Knowledge? A Gothic Tale<span style="font-style: italic;"> To NK</span><br /><br />The civics class is the slow fattening mole that is dancing around the half-eaten ruination of the garden that is your soul. It's like when you are going to a movie with a friend and on the way to the movie, they get a spear in their head and you ask them "do you want to go home or see a doctor?" and they say "no, it's not so bad, we're here, let's see the movie." Then, after the movie is over you ask them "well, what did you think?" and they don't say anything because they are dead and you realize you have just spent possibly ninety minutes watching Adam Sandler and holding the hands of a corpse. And you think:<span style="font-style: italic;"> the spear. It was the spear.</span><br /><br />And later you take some evening classes at a community college, to better yourself (because you don't like yourself) and one of those classes is on spear making and every time you go to class you think of that movie. And when class is over you walk out into the great emptiness of the parking lot and wish you still smoked, or were young and you lie on the roof of your car and look up at the stars and it looks like a vast expanse of diet soda.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-57550639020406218322009-01-19T01:00:00.003-05:002009-01-19T01:00:01.034-05:00Hard Time<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2OWGmk5QXDDBSMrycUbpElaEg3SjnMBL9zjRcUPOOUlY8kcyk8mBhSwJBTuOoD0net7J082ti3YCoTK94WVGzVtEQKk7K16-ygxEQnv-CFxNBxezsWUDHfPOetiz8DMhCJ-DTWBXkPpw/s1600-h/candyland.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2OWGmk5QXDDBSMrycUbpElaEg3SjnMBL9zjRcUPOOUlY8kcyk8mBhSwJBTuOoD0net7J082ti3YCoTK94WVGzVtEQKk7K16-ygxEQnv-CFxNBxezsWUDHfPOetiz8DMhCJ-DTWBXkPpw/s400/candyland.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252262977043131250" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I loved candy. Now I hate it. Candyland is no place for a man. I never had a sweet tooth, really, but when I got there it was like a beautiful dream. Everyone was so friendly, so open. Then it happened like it always do. They turned on me: <span style="font-style: italic;">why are your hands and face so sticky?</span> I don’t know, I said. They give me a lawyer. I tell him I was drunk, I was hungry, I don’t know. He says: we’re pleading insanity. But we don't because I ate my lawyer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PK0FFipkzuFuhIxtuMwgWunQ70fVdotfvMh7X03Aak26lJRpq4h5nC9jfioI2Wk9FbSd2LemWNhvdwkJwu9tYx87z2fWhvsxGrWAPDrrK7gfl70bv4Kma8bRqCYRzSnCq_ucFTLcE3Wj/s1600-h/HomerSimpson47.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5PK0FFipkzuFuhIxtuMwgWunQ70fVdotfvMh7X03Aak26lJRpq4h5nC9jfioI2Wk9FbSd2LemWNhvdwkJwu9tYx87z2fWhvsxGrWAPDrrK7gfl70bv4Kma8bRqCYRzSnCq_ucFTLcE3Wj/s400/HomerSimpson47.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252263853340514002" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The screws in the prison are little blue M&M’s. They like to see the filling get licked out of something, if you know what I mean. They are not the worst. The worst is the hard candy, the penny candy, candy so tough and so bad they keep it locked up behind bars. They got little mints here meaner than broken glass, real jaw breakers, lollipops that'll take your whole head off, lemonheads that'll cut your tounge in two, tootsie roll pops with nothing but pure meaness inside. If they really hate you, they make something called a “smore.” When I close my eyes I can still smell it. I can hear the screaming.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt_mBz-da6kXvXCNTPyJ9l50QDpLBnuM3tp6C-LCyEELm0vA3E_Rso5FJwjzbZsfj01Bc3KIm0mO7XD68rvQTbO2UpVFA94WX176lV4TNbw_ESfTpFc_OGwbOuEQAeHnSDRWMA3Rlrfn3/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBt_mBz-da6kXvXCNTPyJ9l50QDpLBnuM3tp6C-LCyEELm0vA3E_Rso5FJwjzbZsfj01Bc3KIm0mO7XD68rvQTbO2UpVFA94WX176lV4TNbw_ESfTpFc_OGwbOuEQAeHnSDRWMA3Rlrfn3/s400/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252268768028199218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At my parole hearing, I speak from my heart, because I <span style="font-style: italic;">know</span> it’s wrong. My mother always told me. My dentist. It’s bad to eat candy. You should eat candy only occasionally, like at Halloween, maybe a few candy corn. The candy corn chaplain shakes his head. I sense I am losing them. Or just a single piece, once a year, like a candy cane at Christmas. The candystripe on the panel blanches. A little one, I interject, just a baby candy cane. She starts crying.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQFXcGGRs-C3ziObqrFjpyQU6jXoX6TbcLgva4TCbBVZN8B6qBGqFLIUpnsvqq0lZ4tPStmH00S1w1543rt_geUH2z29y9-NtV4FpV_5qVWqwDA2QRD3p56vVeRvjFm64prRRRTPgAnNA/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQFXcGGRs-C3ziObqrFjpyQU6jXoX6TbcLgva4TCbBVZN8B6qBGqFLIUpnsvqq0lZ4tPStmH00S1w1543rt_geUH2z29y9-NtV4FpV_5qVWqwDA2QRD3p56vVeRvjFm64prRRRTPgAnNA/s400/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252263298149522626" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />They ask me if I’d do it again. I say, emphatically, no. I never want to see another piece of candy in my whole god dammed life. Even if my mother gave me a piece of candy I wouldn’t eat it. I’d throw it on the fucking ground and stomp it to bits. I’d let the ants eat it. I’d feed it to the fucking ants. This I have said aloud. The only one not looking at me is my new lawyer.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jhyphenhyphenvyu_I6356leWi4eoivPUI9zAO_6x5LDN0VWQwlkr7hv2lx1Ftpb2gOIPJlCFAa5jiyLrD4m_ZtBQY76y3PDYANnRbXyDST8_sSh84J9gABxsTCo3nW_AZa50DvqZjh2tF64qHjWix/s1600-h/candyReaonJesusBrd.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Jhyphenhyphenvyu_I6356leWi4eoivPUI9zAO_6x5LDN0VWQwlkr7hv2lx1Ftpb2gOIPJlCFAa5jiyLrD4m_ZtBQY76y3PDYANnRbXyDST8_sSh84J9gABxsTCo3nW_AZa50DvqZjh2tF64qHjWix/s400/candyReaonJesusBrd.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252269909663601074" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Now the only one who talks to me is the chaplain. I don’t like candy corn and deep down he knows this. His baby Jesus looks like a Cadbury crème egg.<br /><br />I tell him I wished to God I never came here. I don’t belong here. If I never came here, everything would have been fine. The chaplain says nothing. He suggests that we pray together and think of Jesus. And I do. I think of the crunchy crown of thorns and the rough wounds dribbling raspberry filling. I think of him naked as white chocolate, offering himself, bidding me to drink of his blood and eat of his flesh.<br /><br />And I knew that Jesus knew me. He put me here among them for a reason. So I would be tempted.<br /><br />But he did not make us to suffer. He made the world sweet.<br /><br /><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1phRF1Rw6B8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1phRF1Rw6B8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-77970820679743472682009-01-05T01:00:00.006-05:002009-01-05T01:00:01.196-05:00Ed Harris' Perfect "10"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQpDbE5vT4h60Dm6f_7qbaXZeRSAqgSTWdisYer-y_E_PTpvLWk8ZRo6D-MLOaiONQdUjfmz4hrAuTd76ct3LcBr_6l83Jx3X-brpHb8l_rJwQDz7NoMDplieOf5oIOSt1JJexSoP0xJG/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQpDbE5vT4h60Dm6f_7qbaXZeRSAqgSTWdisYer-y_E_PTpvLWk8ZRo6D-MLOaiONQdUjfmz4hrAuTd76ct3LcBr_6l83Jx3X-brpHb8l_rJwQDz7NoMDplieOf5oIOSt1JJexSoP0xJG/s400/Picture+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251896854321899570" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />Score of "10"<br /></span><blockquote>Pure Buttermilk for Little Eddie</blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "9"<br /></span><span><blockquote>Must fight urge to masturbate whenever your name is mentioned</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "8"<br /></span></span><blockquote><span>Look like Victoria Principal on the cover of old <span>Scholastic</span> Magazine</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "7"</span><br /></span><blockquote><span> "Ladyfriend": Will put on fresh shirt for you<br /></span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "6"<br /></span></span><span><blockquote>Look good in softball jersey</blockquote></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "5"<br /></span></span><blockquote><span>Mardi Gras/have own car</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "4"<br /></span></span><blockquote><span>Some loss of symmetry; "operational"</span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "3"<br /></span></span><blockquote><span><span>More than six factors in common with manager of Burger King</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Score of "2"<br /></span></span></span><blockquote><span><span>Unclear how you get around; also, which way you are facing</span></span></blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />Score of "1"<br /></span></span></span><blockquote><span><span> Are a man wearing a plastic garbage bag</span></span></blockquote><span><br /><br />(Because Ed <a href="http://elminotaurblanco.blogspot.com/2006/08/stories-i-wrote-to-girls-who-never.html">Won't Leave Me Alone</a></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span>)</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-32075678091618222242008-12-19T23:32:00.001-05:002013-12-07T21:42:43.440-05:00Last Christmas Home<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4oSJNBDOMMZnyCH3Fo29k1Mpsz6SK8RL7PEXr5T_evJukWlMykk3JBwe1f9Y7AWHLJqsQfund6_3iignywe4lGTRF7DhyphenhyphenBxRubi5mzOFs6UPQUZIKWpucfI92u8Ap3ux4UXawS1Vs0s-/s1600-h/FA31662.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<div class="western" style="line-height: 200%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.5in;">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in; text-indent: 0.67in;">
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-align: center; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=6862066558850838055" name="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5253035910336953666"></a>
<span style="font-variant: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4oSJNBDOMMZnyCH3Fo29k1Mpsz6SK8RL7PEXr5T_evJukWlMykk3JBwe1f9Y7AWHLJqsQfund6_3iignywe4lGTRF7DhyphenhyphenBxRubi5mzOFs6UPQUZIKWpucfI92u8Ap3ux4UXawS1Vs0s-/s1600-h/FA31662.jpg"><img align="BOTTOM" border="0" name="graphics1" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4oSJNBDOMMZnyCH3Fo29k1Mpsz6SK8RL7PEXr5T_evJukWlMykk3JBwe1f9Y7AWHLJqsQfund6_3iignywe4lGTRF7DhyphenhyphenBxRubi5mzOFs6UPQUZIKWpucfI92u8Ap3ux4UXawS1Vs0s-/s1600/FA31662.jpg" vspace="5" /></a></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">She said she
didn’t want anything for Christmas and got pearls. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>From
Santa</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">,
it said. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Son
of a bitch</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">,
I thought. He’d been coming around, even in hot weather. To see him
in shorts would make you sick.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Everyone
thought it was so great, especially for the kids. Hell, I even got
some stuff I really liked. “Looks good on you chief,” he’d say.
The decorations never came down at our place.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">She was
happiest of all. It was her favorite time of the year. She was
excited and couldn’t sleep, just like a little kid. She kept two
lists all year long: one of things she wanted, the other of naughty things she had done. Honestly they were both pretty ludicrous. She had the sweetest pair of eyes you ever saw
under a stocking cap. I loved her so.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I don’t know
why he picked on her when the whole world loved him. At first she
wouldn’t do it on Christmas Eve, then the week before. Pretty soon
all December was dry. Thing was, when she finally went downstairs
that morning, she’d be soaking wet.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">*</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">You’ve
been a good little boy, haven’t you?”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I tried to
smile, but it smarted to have him call me that in front of my son.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Well,
look what Santa brung for you!”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">It was a jet
ski. Huge and purple with yellow lightning bolts.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">My wife
squealed and jumped up and down like she had won on a fucking game
show.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">We could never
afford one of these, not after a million paychecks. I wanted to pick
it up and crush him with it.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">There was a
pause. Santa clearly wanted to give my wife his gift.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Why
don’ you and the kids try on your helmets an’ life jackets?”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">The kids
thought it was a great idea. I glared at him.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">They
gonna need some help, opening the packages, son.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">This was true.
There were so many packages. I picked up a box cutter and went with
the kids.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">In the corner
of my eye, my wife beamed at Santa, curled on his breast. She was so
trusting. She glittered like an ornament on his branch.</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">*</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Sometimes Santa
tells me, “Your wife is very special. You have no idea. I know
these things. It’s my job. She has a pure heart, as pure as when
she was a little girl.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Fucker. “And
how’s </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Mrs</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">.
Claus?” I ask him.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">*</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Things I came
to hate about Santa:</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">1. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
fame, obviously</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">2. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
power</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">3. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">The
fact that everybody loves him and nobody questions him</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">4. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
exotic looks</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">5. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
easy laugh</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">6. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">The
way my kids thinks he knows everything</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">7. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
fancy private education</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">8. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
private jet</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">9. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
private train</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT, serif;">10. </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">His
wearing </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Paco
Rabanne</i></span></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">*</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I’m
not trying to ruin Christmas, I’m just saying that this year it
could be just a family thing”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">What
are you talking about?”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I
mean, it could, just be me and you and the kids”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">But
what about the presents? Who will bring the presents?”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I’ll
take care of the presents”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">What?
Are you going to </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>buy</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">them
in a </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>store</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">?”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I
could totally do that, I get a bonus at the end of the year. I could
buy you something nice, whatever you wanted”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">But
that’s just like you buying me something. I’d know what it was”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">You
wouldn’t have to know. I could hide it.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Where</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">?
In the </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>house</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">?
That’s completely crazy. I don’t want something you bought me
from a store that’s been hiding in our house for over a month. I
want a Christmas gift.”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Listen
to me: Christmas is a time for </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>families</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">to
be </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>together</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">.
I’m the father. I can provide for this family. We don’t need…”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">What
are we going to tell the kids?”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I
don’t know. We could tell them not to come out until he’s gone.
Or I could dress up…”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">That’s
insane, you’re insane! You’re so crazy! Why are you doing this?!
It’s Christmas! Why are you doing this to Christmas?! It’s so
wrong!”</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">She would not
stop crying and crying.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I had hoped to
compromise, but I had hurt her in a way I could not have imagined.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">The kids took
it better. They had known something was up. I know they felt
responsible somehow. “Should we put decorations up?” they asked.
“Of course,” I said, “it’s still Christmas.” “Oh right,”
they said. “Help your mother,” I suggested. Their mother was just
sitting there. I had never seen her so unhappy in my entire life. She
seemed appalled every time she looked at an ornament or a piece of
mistletoe. She went back to the bedroom a lot, to cry and sulk.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">On the big day
it took a lot of coaxing to get her out. She looked dazed and ill. My
son did the best he could to act excited with his gift. I think I may
have gotten the wrong size for him. My little girl tore the wrapper off hers </span></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;">noted what it was and sort of excused herself from it without saying a word. I put on some Christmas music. “Don’t,” my
wife said. I turned it off. I went and got her gift. She did not
react. I put it in her hands. She looked at me, dazed. Very
mechanically she began to unwrap it. I had wrapped it myself. She
removed the duct tape with difficulty.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">It was the most
money I had ever spent on one thing. Fortunately, it was also practical. She looked
at me. Her lips trembled with effort. “Thank you,” she said. She hugged me. The hug felt like an apology. She asked if it was okay if she rested a little. I
said, of course. She padded away. I tried to watch football but just
stared at the screen.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">The whole house
was quiet, in quiet sort of way that eats at your ears. I had to get
out of there, so I took my car. It was icy, but there were no cars
anywhere. The whole world was quiet. I looked at all the houses with
the cars out front and the chimney lit. I thought of all the other
fathers and their kids, putting toy trains and home entertainment systems together, moms looking on,
their eyes as soft as their sweaters. I drove a long way, out to the
highway, without meaning to.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">When I got back
home, Christmas had awoken. Warm air and music hit my face.
Clattering sounds and the smell of melting butter came from the
kitchen: my daughter was helping my wife, asking little questions: </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>is
it ready? Not yet, honey.</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I
just stood there in the doorway, warming up. My wife sashayed out to
see me. She gave me the most tender, most moist loving look that
transcended all apology. She wrapped herself around me, curved into
me. As one, we walked into the kitchen. My little girl hugged my
legs. This was Christmas, I thought. I had never been so grateful for
everything, everything I had. Everything that was or could be. I held
her a long time, while pots steamed. She had to tear herself away for
the sake of the chestnuts. Our hands stayed linked, as though in a
dance.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">My son flew
into the other room. In his hand, he piloted a new brilliant sleek
starship: it’s engines roared and glowed. Near him, my little girl
played hide and seek with a little tan stuffed bear. She made the
bear peek-a-boo with me, too. He was a cute little fellow with dark
considerate eyes. He was wearing a wristwatch. That was odd, I
thought. It was a nice, if conservative wristwatch. She made the bear
check the time. “Where did he come from?” I asked. “Santa
brought him,” she said.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I felt cold, then hot. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif; line-height: 150%; text-indent: 0.25in;"> I walked into the kitchen. My wife flew
among the pans with alacrity. When she turned she had a cute little
bit of flour on her cheek and hair. I loved her so. Around her
beautiful neck, nestling between her collarbones, I saw it. It was then I realized that she had gotten changed.</span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I did not get
drunk at the strip club, that is, I did not feel a single drink go in
me. I didn’t feel anything for the girls, so it’s surprising that
they threw me out. I slept in my car, which is good, I guess, or not
so good, because I threw up more than once.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">My wife was
very gentle, and tender. Some this, I am sorry to say, was fear. She
took the vomit stained clothes without a word. She had cleaned up all
the wreckage at home. She put me to bed and kissed me on the
forehead. “Get some rest,” she said. Tenderly. And then: “I
love you.” Sadly.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I didn’t do
anything but lie there for the next couple of days. Reconciliation
was easy, everyone was concerned for me. My wife held on to me
like she had held on to our son when he had broken his leg. That
night, she got on top of me, deliberately. I came softly. She kissed
my neck and told me how much she loved me. She talked and talked and
cried and apologized, over and over. I said I was sorry too. I said
not to worry, that next year Christmas would be like it always was. A
pealing note of joy rang out of her. She grinned with her whole body.
She ran over me, over and over with little kisses everywhere, each
kiss saying: </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>thankyou
thankyou</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">.
I loved her so. I loved my family. It was my family. I was not going
to let them be taken from me by anyone.</span></span></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">*</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I counted the
days to this Christmas. I made a list. My enthusiasm was genuine. I
loved shopping. I got everything we needed: a new set of lights, a
real wreath, milk, cookies, candy canes, duct tape, egg nog, rum,
cloves, cable ties, figgy pudding, a yule log, cheese ball,
chestnuts, stuffing, fresh cranberries, melon baller, wire cutters,
wire.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div align="CENTER" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">*</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">When I leveled
the 12 gauge at Santa, I realized it was not the first time for him.
He was very cool about it. He was right. I didn’t want to do this.
He was Santa. He was Christmas. I, too, had loved him as a child. I
had written him letters. I had sat in his lap. My will and the sights
wavered for a second. This was crazy. Then I remembered what Santa
had done to me, done to my family, </span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>to
my wife</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">.
I held that in focus. This made me able to do what was necessary.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">As my cock slid
out of Santa’s mouth, I was amazed I was still hard. I had shot
several times into Santa’s face and mouth, but I was still so hard
it hurt. I had wanted my wife to watch, but she wasn’t watching.
She just cried, and cried and begged and said the same thing, over
and over. I looked down at Santa. He was still trying to play this
whole thing out as a jolly old elf. I had to admire that, but he had
no idea what was coming. I felt drunk, but I knew it could not be the
eggnog, because I hadn’t drunk much. Santa’s breath felt hot
against my balls. The air felt hot like the house was on fire. I
wanted this moment to go on forever. I mean, I had Santa. I had all
the fucking toys in the world sitting on top of my house. Flying
reindeer pawed impatiently on shingles I had bought from Home Depot.
I had what I wanted; I wasn’t going to stop until I was finished.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">Afterwards, I
wanted to let the kids out of their rooms, but I knew that was a bad
idea. I wanted to say goodbye. More importantly, I wanted them to see
what their father had become. I glittered, I glowed: like a Christmas
tree. I felt cool and wet all over. I crawled over to my wife. I
lifted her damp head and kissed her so tenderly. I loved her, but I
loved everyone now. I told her this. What I said was: “I am
Christmas. I am Christmas, now.” Her breathing was shallow and
irregular. I cut her free and tried to make her comfortable.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">The fur felt
good over my naked wet skin. It smelled like him. The sack was heavy
but the burden was mine. It was late. I had places to go. So many
houses, so many homes and families waiting this night, their faces
bright on their pillows.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.04in; text-indent: 0.25in;">
<span style="color: black;">“</span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Merry
Christmas to all</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;">” </span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;">I
cried, “</span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times-Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>and
all a good night!</i></span></span></span><span style="color: black;">”</span></div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-90866953067094781302008-12-15T19:21:00.004-05:002008-12-15T20:21:26.671-05:00Tom Ronca's Xmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_r_tij1w1QPdiQWOsBVju_A_I3OWc7SP3QIcf1uT98XqjYBKHiKHF6y9eMLXQ4brEwG8rW8qz7y_DITQvNaYfxWHIPw7TN1ECMqRyOXko2hBqIBzCspltpH1T4KH4U-PKDPGu4EEGrJg/s1600-h/SantaVsGaira.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 310px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_r_tij1w1QPdiQWOsBVju_A_I3OWc7SP3QIcf1uT98XqjYBKHiKHF6y9eMLXQ4brEwG8rW8qz7y_DITQvNaYfxWHIPw7TN1ECMqRyOXko2hBqIBzCspltpH1T4KH4U-PKDPGu4EEGrJg/s400/SantaVsGaira.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5280177672833850002" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Illustration from</span> "Santa vs Gaira-Hint: Santa Does Not Win And Is Eaten Along With His Elves" <span style="font-style: italic;">by Tom Ronca</span><br /><br />To love Tom Ronca is to love the creature that destroyed your village, then to realize that it was you who created the monster, but not the monster's bride, which you then resolve to create, but don't necessarily get around to it until you are older and a little more focused and settled down with a steady income, but then you finally make the monster's bride and it doesn't really work out, for a lot of reasons, but you <span style="font-style: italic;">tried</span> and in the end you end up spending more time with the monster's bride than the monster (for a lot of reasons), until one night you're watching <span style="font-style: italic;">Frankenhooker</span> together and it just feels right and the next day you realize you've made a terrible mistake, because what are you going to say to the monster now? Then you ask yourself if <span style="font-style: italic;">you're</span> the real monster, because you have, after all, just made it with the monster's bride, but then you look at yourself in the mirror have a good long look with natural, not florescent, lighting, and you think, no, the monster is probably the monster, though maybe you will lose the 'tasche now that Brad Pitt is doing it. So it's a nice day and you do for drive and you try that new healthy place and you realize you don't really want to be that healthy and you pretty much dump the monster's bride, too, after a couple of weeks because, after all, it's really fricking weird having made her and everything, and so she ends up taking this really dumb job that she hates, like, to spite you or something, and dating this Indian doctor who's actually kind of a jerk and so you drink too much at their Christmas party and drop things, catered things, into their infinity pool because since when do Indians and monsters celebrate Christmas together anyway, and this you really <span style="font-style: italic;">do</span> do, just to spite them and you do a bunch of other stuff and it ends up with you being called a racist and totally ruining your pants falling down a steep hill and it's then, it's <span style="font-style: italic;">then</span> that you see the monster, staggering out of the flames of their shattered place, brave, triumphant, unstoppable and it's then that you call to him, like a father, to carry you to your car.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-29675436590076377832008-12-08T01:00:00.001-05:002008-12-08T01:00:01.182-05:00OverdoseHe asked them for a real love potion. He had wanted her forever: <span style="font-style: italic;">stuck-up bitch</span>. She looked at him differently. He had a room reserved. He wanted to make her do things but couldn’t get hard. She wouldn’t stop kissing him anyway.<br /><br />She called every hour:<span style="font-style: italic;"> I feel crazy; I must see you</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">You gave her too much</span>, they said. Every day she found a new reason to love him: he thought: <span style="font-style: italic;">bullshit</span>. Their spouses left. She gave up everything; he came prematurely. She would stay outside his door all night. When she killed herself, he thought: <span style="font-style: italic;">what a rip-off.</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-33062799641569608892008-11-26T21:14:00.003-05:002008-11-26T21:29:16.692-05:00The Turkey Within<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil79iEK5YqqrqQlRzjWsLNyOdf_kshVK2TBnidHqPJDrxXfBYzChpEMjSChG0fFfvuQ5gnJVNLkg-YoLiKIEOVgbl69woOOhmVH_vldYwwFxPu9I-UzGTCuQYK3GihB7_6AI6aUV4XlvU4/s1600-h/IMAGE_534.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil79iEK5YqqrqQlRzjWsLNyOdf_kshVK2TBnidHqPJDrxXfBYzChpEMjSChG0fFfvuQ5gnJVNLkg-YoLiKIEOVgbl69woOOhmVH_vldYwwFxPu9I-UzGTCuQYK3GihB7_6AI6aUV4XlvU4/s400/IMAGE_534.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5273158254997915154" border="0" /></a><br />For those of you who have not had the pleasure of dining with me, I am, in addition to being a charming and dashing dinner companion, by universal account, also a wonderful cook. In fact, around this time of year, family and friends, wives and mistresses often ask me “what is it that makes your turkey so perfect?” and “why is my cranberry sauce so inferior, why am I unhappy?” and “is this pumpkin pie –or a god?”<br /><br />I can only answer them simply and trivially with the words I learned from my master: perfection comes from within.<br /><br />My master himself learned this from something on a tea box. The tea box itself already came enlightened for that was its name, “Enlightenment Tea”<br /><br />The secret to a perfect turkey every time, without effort, stress or worry is to remember that the turkey is the picture of the human soul, your human soul. The turkey is you.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Occult and Hidden Origins of Thanksgiving</span><br /><br />As we all know, Thanksgiving comes from the Indians, that is, the ancient doctrines of esoteric Indian ascetics that were taught to the Pilgrims –themselves self-denying seekers after purity, to consecrate the inevitable destruction, consumption and mutilation of a pure and prior state of consciousness, namely the Americas.<br /><br />This is the true meaning of Thanksgiving: it is a harvest festival, a time celebrating the appropriate time for destruction and consumption, acknowledging that all things are subject to change and decay, that all things are consumed, like breath, and that all things are, as Heraclitus observed, exchange for fire.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your Turkey and Self-Understanding: The Science of Turkey Reading</span><br /><br />It is from this esoteric tradition that we get the occult science of turkey reading.<br /><br />The turkey is oneself, the picture of what we will, for the sake of convenience, call one’s “soul,” the great bird within all of us that seeks to take flight. Every year we carefully prepare and offer our turkey dinner, that is our very soul or self, as a sacrament and sacrifice to those who love us, our family and friends; because of this, it can truly be said that how our turkey and fixings come out is a great indicator of our true spiritual condition.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Undercooked Turkey</span><br />For instance, if your turkey is cold, hard or frozen on the inside, this is a good sign that you may have trouble with procrastination and are afflicted with sloth, topor or depression. The center of your turkey remains cold and gelid, because your mind also remains unprepared and frozen.<br /><br />To counteract this, begin the training and preparation of your mind and turkey as early as possible. You and your turkey must leave bed and refrigerator early, without hesitation, so as to better thaw out properly.<br /><br />Let the acts of proper concentration and right mindfulness be the rosy dawn that breaks early within the oven, preheating it. You will then find the emptiness of the oven, the emptiness within you, warm and receptive.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dry Turkey</span><br />A dry turkey is indicative of an overheated character overtaken by wrath, anger or otherwise unaware or failing in mindfulness.<br /><br />The antidote to this kind of character is meditation on loving kindness, or metta, in the form of regular and generous basting. If your turkey or soul is naturally too dry, you may add broth or butter, but be careful not to overdo it, as there is nothing quite as nauseating as a soul or turkey that is too oily and unctuous. Be sure to add lots of herbs and seasonings to the basting, so as not to wash away all the flavor in the process.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Late Turkey</span><br />If your turkey soul comes out later than it should, vexing guests and loved ones, this may be because you check the oven too often, losing valuable time and heat energy. If this is the case, you may suffer from doubt and anxiety, a form of intellectual restlessness that destroys its object by checking on it too often.<br /><br />The best therapy for this kind of turkey related failing is as follows:<br /><ul><li>Turn the oven light on; observe the turkey in great detail and how it is doing. </li><li>Then turn the oven light off and continue to visualize the turkey. </li><li>Place the mental image of the turkey, not in the oven in the wall, but in the empty space within your abdomen, two finger lengths above your navel. </li><li>Focus on this mental image, keep the turkey inside of you and your turkey will always be ready, aware and awakened at the proper time, perfect and juicy without stress or worry. </li></ul>When the turkey is ready, you will simply know.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Stuffing</span><br /><br />Individuals who cook their stuffing inside the turkeys have a fear of nothingness and nonbeing when what they actually should fear is salmonella. They attempt to counter this fear of nothingness and nonbeing with breadcrumbs and walnuts, but the results are often soggy and undercooked.<br /><br />The enlightened way to prepare stuffing is to prepare and bake it separately.<br /><br />To be enlightened is to realize that this seemingly auxiliary and accessory dish is actually the most important and most beautiful part of Thanksgiving. It is designed to fill a hole that it never actually fills; it is the supplement, that, as Derrida observes, is actually central to the whole, and because it is so critical it is totally unnecessary and full of excess carbs.<br /><br />And so to be enlightened is to give away this precious stuffing that is not stuffed with the seriousness of Prince Gautama giving away his wife.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dessert</span><br /><br />Those who focus excessively on dessert are afflicted with sensuality or what Aristotle called an appetitic personality.<br /><br />For such individuals, it is recommended that they meditate upon a rotting pumpkin for thirty days to perceive the loathsomeness in all food and the nature of decay. For this purpose, the Halloween jack-o’-lantern should be retained.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">If you Eating Tofurkey Or Turkey At Shelter</span><br /><br />Those eating Tofurkey or receiving their turkey through alms are already Enlightened;<br />Tofurkey eaters have no attachment to the pleasure of eating and eat to sustain themselves only.<br /><br />They have realized that the Turkey is the self; there is no actual turkey; there is no actual self.<br /><br />Just as a wheel is defined and organized by the empty space for the axle, or the donmut by the hole that prevents it from being a mere beignet or Berliner, the turkey is defined by the empty cavity within it: it is created, organized and made real by the non-being it contains.<br /><br />This emptiness that is the turkey, is, in turn is placed within another emptiness, the oven; this placing of an emptiness inside another emptiness represents the mind and the universe, which are both empty and infinite for 3 hours at 450 degrees or for all time with no heat, no light and no motion<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">In Conclusion</span><br /><br />“What is the nature of Thanksgiving?” you may well ask. The nature of Thanksgiving is leftovers.<br /><br />The turkey, like all things that are, is destroyed and consumed. Yet the things that compose the turkey, its component matter and energy cannot be destroyed or consumed, only change their state and organization.<br /><br />They live on, through the law of Karma, in form of turkey sandwiches, turkey soup, turkey casserole, and so on, until one realizes that it is one’s attachment to the illusion of self-turkey that propels its endless iterations and binds us to the realm of Being.<br /><br />May your Thanksgiving be well and happy, and free from suffering, attachment and delusionAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-9805682778035432862008-11-24T01:00:00.004-05:002008-11-24T01:00:00.611-05:00PoisonTabitha told Shelly she put poison in the dinner. They giggled. They were called to the table. Everyone ate and drank a lot, especially Uncle who had to drive so far. Auntie got a bad stomachache. Shelly looked at Tabitha. Uncle started yelling at Poppa: Poppa had had enough, too. Somehow money came up. Now Mom felt sick. When Uncle came back from his truck, he had his gun. He demanded the antidote. Mom said he was crazy. Poppa told him to go fuck himself. <span style="font-style: italic;">But there’s no poison, no poison at all</span>, Tabitha told the officer. She died last.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Happy Thanksgiving Everybody! </span><span>(does not count toward word total)</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-65708238232653800412008-11-19T21:46:00.002-05:002008-11-19T21:48:51.260-05:00The Even Newer, Even Lazier Method<img goomoji="342" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; width: 29px; height: 29px;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/342" /> <img goomoji="538" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; width: 34px; height: 34px;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/538" /><br /><br />(self-explanatory)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-58807208533744484202008-11-19T21:01:00.005-05:002008-11-19T21:51:10.688-05:00EMOTICA: A TALE OF PURE EMOTION AND IDEAS<img goomoji="35D" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/35D" height="22" width="81" /><img goomoji="801" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/801" height="26" width="26" /><img goomoji="35C" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/35C" height="28" width="28" /><br />I was working on a pornographic movie<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="33A" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/33A" height="24" width="32" /><img goomoji="33A" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/33A" height="24" width="32" /><img goomoji="1E3" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1E3" height="22" width="49" /><img goomoji="801" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 51);" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/801" height="26" width="26" /><img goomoji="341" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 0);" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/341" height="21" width="30" /><br />when suddenly things just went way too far<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="369" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/369" height="26" width="33" /><img goomoji="4EF" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/4EF" height="32" width="32" /><br />It turns out, the whole thing was an experiment run by some robot from another planet sent to observe<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="369" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/369" height="26" width="33" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><br />The problem was, he had started drinking<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><img goomoji="982" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/982" height="28" width="28" /><br />somewhat heavily<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="35E" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/35E" height="19" width="19" /><img goomoji="53B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/53B" height="24" width="24" /> ____________<img goomoji="7E4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle; width: 24px; height: 24px;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/7E4" /><br />I knew at once what to do. I left for the airport.<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="360" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/360" height="25" width="20" /><img goomoji="800" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/800" /><br />And flew to Nashville to start my singing career.<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><img goomoji="338" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/338" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" height="12" width="12" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><img goomoji="B2B" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B2B" /><br />It met with a really mixed reception<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="81F" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/81F" /><br />You can still hear some of my stuff on corporate radio.<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="983" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/983" /><img goomoji="326" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/326" /> <img goomoji="81F" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/81F" /><br />I don't really care, though.<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="369" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/369" /><br />and the robot?<br /><br /><img goomoji="B60" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/B60" /><br />I suppose he went home<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="014" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/014" /><br />to his planet<br /><br /><br /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="322" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/322" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><img goomoji="1C4" style="margin: 0pt 0.2ex; vertical-align: middle;" src="https://mail.google.com/mail/e/1C4" /><br />WHICH WAS RUN BY APES!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6862066558850838055.post-70347149992840111732008-11-10T01:00:00.005-05:002008-11-14T19:46:07.052-05:00Drunktown<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6jPgwrGSaIkhMeQJw-daxJ1QY-kH9OdOi2p5W4QuEMm1148ZqFEbks86bN8xMA2AR-p6k1pXVp08wGcSLPEPSISfaVS09uvCE8fFcG15X0sAaHCiP4MKuRfXdh5dk8ZRVvZpdSqqoNrT/s1600-h/drunktown_welcome_graphic.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6jPgwrGSaIkhMeQJw-daxJ1QY-kH9OdOi2p5W4QuEMm1148ZqFEbks86bN8xMA2AR-p6k1pXVp08wGcSLPEPSISfaVS09uvCE8fFcG15X0sAaHCiP4MKuRfXdh5dk8ZRVvZpdSqqoNrT/s400/drunktown_welcome_graphic.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250137852585539202" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Everyone had a brown paper bag and all their directions were different; often they told a story. Generally, it was like the song “Brandy” only with additional verses about county jail and community college. We called our friend: we were at a discount liquor place. He said they all were. Then he laughed and something fell over. It got dark. We stopped at a bar to eat. It was happy hour; then dancing; finally new friends and their paper bag. Going home she started crying because we never found our friend. I ran over a banjo on the way home.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04533646053810954842noreply@blogger.com0