Month: November 2013

The Curse: a parable for M and a few other people I know

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So there was this frog who hopped out of a pond one day as a lovely young princess was walking by. Because he could talk, he convinced the lovely princess that a curse was upon him. It seems this wicked witch, the frog explained, had, out of jealousy and spite, condemned him to this ugly shape until the day a lovely princess, like herself, would lift the curse by kissing him. Then, and only then, would he be restored to his original shape: that of a handsome, rich, well endowed young prince.

The lovely princess, having been raised on fairy tales, buys into the story, takes the frog into her soft, lily white hands, and kisses him with a passion even she did not know she possessed.

Lo and behold, nothing happens. The frog remains a frog .

The princess blinks, confused, and asks the frog what happened. He shrugs, hops down, and goes back to the pond from which he came.

The wicked witch, though, who is not quite as wicked as rumor has it, does appear to offer what little comfort she can to a disillusioned lovely young princess. She pats her on the head and says the curse is on our own eyes that we do not see the value of what is before us and cannot recognize a frog for a frog, and a prince for a prince.

And that is not so much a once upon a time tale but a tale of this, and all, time.

from Haliz

/ zdunno03 / 5 Comments

Only great poems can capture the hearts of those who don’t read;
So poets, sing! Let the God-of-Oceans fill your mouths with pearls.

O Haliz, if you are seeking the pearl of union, do this:
From tears, make yourself an ocean. . .and then dive!

translated by Thomas Rain Crowe

Dorothy Parker on her writing method

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Q: How do you actually write out a story? Do you write out a draft and then go over it or what?

Parker: It takes me six months to do a story. I think it out and then write it sentence by sentence–no first draft. I can’t write five words but that I change seven.

Q: How do you name your characters?

Parker: The telephone book and from the obituary columns.

Q: Do you keep a notebook?

Parker: I tried to keep one, but I never could remember where I put the damn thing. I always say I’m going to keep one tomorrow.

Q: How do you get the story down on paper?

Parker: I wrote in longhand at first, but I’ve lost it. I use two fingers on the typewrtiter. I think it’s unkind of you to ask. I know so little about the typewriter that once I bought a new one because I couldn’t change the ribbon on the one I had.

Tennessee Williams on Young Writers

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“If they’re meant to be writers, they will write. There’s nothing that can stop them. It may kill them. They may not be able to stand the terrible indignities, humiliations, privations, shocks that attend the life of an American writer. They may not. Yet they may have some sense of humor about it, and manage to survive.”

After the Rain by Cevat Çapan

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This time
I brought with me
the chill of the streets
in which we once walked.
Your breath and gaze will be filled with
shadows of the eaves falling upon us
and the smell of sweet basil outside the windows
if you hold my hand.
At this crossroads
where everything is lost
and found again
when we are face to face with all that crowd
you will realize
the further
time takes you away from me
the closer
it draws me to you.

translated by Zeyney Bağcı and Suat Karantay

Neil Simon on women

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“I never feel threatened by women. I have enormous respect for them. I would also usually rather be with them than with men. I’m not much of a male bonder. I have male friends, obviously, I belong to tennis clubs. But in a social situation, I’d generally rather talk to a woman because it’s like a play: you’re getting the opposite point of view. You talk to a man, you’re getting your own point of view. It becomes redundant. But when you’re with a woman, that’s when the sparks fly, that’s when it’s most interesting.”

the dead of night: for JKW

/ zdunno03 / 3 Comments

there will be times
when all the words you said
all the acts you committed
will come crashing down around you
and at those times
in the dead of night
no one will be there
to save you
from your consequences
and in answer to your question
there will be no one
to forgive you
either
on this side of the world

company: for Maureen

/ zdunno03 / 1 Comment

we learned not to eat pizza
in restaurants run by Vietnamese
and buying by the slice
was the best
at that one place with the hot young guys
they called you lovely lady
and you were, are
charming them all
even me, still
as you separated the ham
from the carbonara sauce
and slid your plate over
and like me
relished spaghetti with black ink sauce
I drank white wine for you
old friend
and I hope you appreciate the sacrifice
but it was worth it
to have your company
once again