Entertainment For Lively Minds
Poets, help needed!
A few years back I was at a low ebb, my business had folded and I was in turmoil. My girlfriend’s fortunes could not have been more different and she was flying high in her media career, quite literally, 1st class trips to New York, had a wide social circle and close family. Going places.
She told me I was a ‘loser’ and left me. I took it stoicly I like to think and we still keep an eye on each other’s affairs, so to speak.
Fortunes have changed of late however and while mine are flourishing she has lost her job and now joined what she used to call ‘the workshy’.
She doesn’t know I know, yet, so I’m sending a card to commiserate and offer support. Maybe a picture of colourful Puruvian kids smiling, in an envelope, with just a short verse on the back. I’m thinking something like;
In my hour of darkness
You offered me light,
You said I was a ‘loser’
Of course, you were right.
Now the shoe and the
foot have changed, So it seems
those words, like your job’s
Just a old memory.
My capacity for shadenfreude isn’t matched by my poetic skills as you can see, so any help on that front gratefully received. Given the sensitivities though can I suggest words like ‘shit/shite or crap’ be used ONLY in reference the difficult situation she finds herself in, and not, say, to describe character traits like empathy, for example.
Goodness me, the last thing you want when you’re down is for someone close to strip away at your self esteem!
Answers on a postcard please …
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Rise above it.
Treat the exercise like one of those bitter, angry emails that you type out a hundred times and yet never send. In fact, write it out in full if you need to, then burn it.
Write it
but don't send it. Please.
Rise above and remain the better person.
Keep it simple
Roses are red
Violets are blue
You behaved nastily once
So now I am too
Roses are red...
...Violets are blue
Some poems rhyme
But this one doesn't.
Bugger the poem, there’s a film in this!
In keeping with current practice, we’ll obviously be forced to get some American actress to play the female lead but who would you like to play you?
there'd be a lot of
bedroom scenes. So uma thurman as her and well, only I could do the role justice.
Two years ago I got fired
( unfairly I thought ) by a Welsh TV show. I wrote a novel about it and savaged some of the people there ( thinly-disguised! ). It got published- was Welsh Novel of the Month for July and was number two in the Welsh best-seller chart last month. This week I've heard that the programme has been axed. Send the poem.
I've considered the same
funnily enough but didn't finish the book. Can you share the title? I'd be interested in that.
Sure thing...
but, er, it's in Welsh. It's called 'Dyn Pob Un'.
Could be
this one? http://www.gwales.com/bibliographic/?isbn=9781847713667&tsid=1#top
Tis indeed.
Currently working on a new one and a possible translation of this.
Looks great
My Welsh rellies will enjoy that!
If you translate it
I'll buy a copy. I used to be able to read Welsh but after 27 years away I don't think I'd get on that well with it in the original.
Send her a Little Feat CD....
Sunrise
Sunset
Since the beginning it hasn't changed yet
People fly high begin to lose sight
You can't see very clearly when you're in flight
It's high time that you found
The same people you misuse on your way up
You might meet up
On your way down
Vintage wines from the year '62
It's your thing, it's your thing
It pleases you
You got to frown when you cross town
You think it's an honor just to have you around
It's high time that you found
The same dudes you misuse on your way up
You might meet up
On your way down
You think the sun rises and sets for you
But the same sun rises, sets and shines
On the poor folks too
I don't mind you turning round
I myself would even like a little higher ground
It's high time that you found
The same people you walk on on your way up
You might meet up
On your way down
On your way down
Sending someone a copy of Dixie Chicken
is hardly an act of scorn.
I am, however, firmly in the 'rise above it' camp.
It wasn't suggested that it be given as an act of scorn.
It was as a vouchsafed gesture, with a little moral bomb enclosed. Hardly scornful, more pitiful, laden with the same smug satisfaction as the OP.
Wow, deep!
Still, send her Time Loves A Hero instead.
Then she'll have to sit through Day At The Dog Races.
That'll teach her.
You're well rid of her
Anyone who uses the word "loser" without even a shred of irony is beyond the pale, as far as I'm concerned.
Before you embark
on a journey of revenge,
Dig two graves
(Confucius).
have you
been reading my 'true crime' thread?
To be fair her mum was alright. So Im not gong there, yeah.
She hurt you. And that was awful of her.
But why hurt her in return? I'm sure you're better than that.
you're right
maybe something more conciliatory and sympathetic.
That way she'd still know that I know and I'd have the moral high ground.
Let me think about it.
The moral high ground
is a deeply satisfying place to occupy.
maybe
a wreath sent to her address with a little card with something like;
'sorry to hear the tragic news about your career'
And then maybe 'give me a call if you need to talk to someone'.
I think you're right,
I think you're right, niscum. You should say to her exactly what you needed to hear when you had it rough. I think you'll look back with more pride on that than on any putdown, however eloquent.
Have to agree, I know its a temptation
but just leave it. She'll hear about your success soon enough and her own reflection should do the rest. No need to sully your own self image.
Offer to help.
Ideally, sincerely. Do what you can to help her recover from this time of difficulty. Be a shoulder to lean on. Dont be judgemental, but do offer to share any insights you gained from when you were down to help her get back up where she truly belongs.
It will drive her nuts. And you occupy the moral high ground.
Win-win.
Paul
that's a blokes name right? Where did you learn that stuff? I'll wager it wasn't on the playground with a football at your feet.
Respect.
family
Being brought up in a family of manipulative women with no meaningful male input I think. But I'm not complaining (seriously).
Though it would probably have been helpful to know how to give people a thump occassionally rather than being all passive aggressive.
What are you trying to achieve?
You trying to get back with her? Sounds like it.
Irrespective of your desired outcome, the correct thing to do is ............. absolutely nothing. You completely ignore what's happened to her, and get on with your own life. Don't even mention it. It doesn't exist. She'll be on to you before you know it.
Or you could grow a vagina and send a poem.
Can you grow a vagina?
Is there a kit you can buy?
I can think of a million different uses.
One main one, though.
.
Genuinely, don't bother.
Move on. No-one ever got happier by holding a grudge.
Toucans
Hello Niscum,
How are you? I believe that I've successfully condensed the complex emotions in your original post into a poem that I call Toucans. You are more than welcome to sign your name on the bottom and send it to your ex-girlfriend. Really, it is the least that I can do.
Toucans
Once there were flocks of Toucans
Stretching as far as the eye could see.
We were in love
and owned a lot of Toucans.
Some we found in Regent’s Park.
Others were given as gifts by friends.
Remember that Christmas
when we both bought each other Toucans.
Remember how we both laughed.
Then you went away
and you took the Toucans with you
Why did you do that?
They were as much my Toucans
as they were yours.
You laughed in my face.
and called me a loser of Toucans.
You said: “I can never love a man
who cannot compel a flock of Toucans
to remain faithfully by his side.
I shall journey to a South American country
And take a lover who will inspire
loyalty and fervour in my Toucans.
We will have seven children together
and drive around in a people carrier.”
Now it is half-past seven pm,
on the 30th August, 2011.
My Toucans have come home to roost.
See their resplendent midnight plumage
and gaily coloured, banana-shaped beaks.
It is you who is a loser of Toucans now
for yours are nowhere to be found.
Each morning I am dressed by Toucans.
A Toucan pours me out a bowl of Rice Crispies
while a different Toucan spreads
marmalade on my toast.
The Toucans are a metaphor for our love
but they are also actual Toucans.
Seriously, I’ve got fucking hundreds of them.
Oh Backwards
we are not worthy
that Confucius was a wise dude too
That
backwards7 is fantastic. I can't stop smiling, Thank you.
You've done this before haven't you?
I feel .... honoured!
:-)
Toucan reply
The Toucan
Remember this from way back - can't remember why but apposite reply to great poem.
Tell me who can
Catch a toucan?
Lou can.
Just how few can
Ride the toucan?
Two can.
What kind of goo can
Stick you to the toucan?
Glue can.
Who can write some
More about the toucan?
You can!
Mr Toucan,
WH Auden once said that 'poetry is the only art people haven't yet learned to consume like soup' By which I think he meant that it isn't quickly digested and forgotten.
Your poem is like a fine meal that I'm still savouring.
Ta.
Re-reading
I wish I could thank this twice. It's sublime.
Now THAT is how to do it!
Brilliant, I just wish I had someone to send that to.
EDIT: Darn, seems I replied to the OP by mistake, In case this post gets lost down the page, I refer, of course, to B7s masterpiece.
Let it go
Don't do anything is my advice. Let it go.
This is right of course
Schadenfreude has a nasty habit of biting you on the arse. I was in a very similar indeed position 20 years ago when a high-flying ex lost her City job and I managed to resist the tempatation to say or do anything nasty. I'm glad I did.
But if you can't resist it
Roses are red
Violets are blue
You've lost your big job which inexplicably you thought gave you the right to be horrible to me.
Karmic retribution - bummer eh?
Or, if you must,
Long version....
You got a lotta nerve
To say you are my friend
When I was down
You just stood there grinning
You got a lotta nerve
To say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on
The side that’s winning
You say I let you down
You know it’s not like that
If you’re so hurt
Why then don’t you show it
You say you lost your faith
But that’s not where it’s at
You had no faith to lose
And you know it
I know the reason
That you talk behind my back
I used to be among the crowd
You’re in with
Do you take me for such a fool
To think I’d make contact
With the one who tries to hide
What he don’t know to begin with
You see me on the street
You always act surprised
You say, “How are you?” “Good luck”
But you don’t mean it
When you know as well as me
You’d rather see me paralyzed
Why don’t you just come out once
And scream it
No, I do not feel that good
When I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief
Perhaps I’d rob them
And now I know you’re dissatisfied
With your position and your place
Don’t you understand
It’s not my problem
I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment
I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You’d know what a drag it is
To see you
BAD idea
Easy to say I know, but unfortunately best thing to do is also the hardest thing to do. And that's to try and look at it from the other persons perspective. How would you feel if your career had just taken a dip, and the person that you once called a "loser" decided to send you an mocking email with a kind of poem that shows nothing more than they are still thinking about you? The kind of person that she clearly is, would most probably think "he's even more of a loser than I thought."
Those people are best out of your life. Look on it as a benefit.
A zen story
Two monks were on a pilgrimage to a holy site. As part of their sacred vows they were not supposed to speak to laity as they walked. One morning, they reached a river. Waiting there was a young woman, she told them she couldn't cross the river because it was too deep. The first monk spoke to her and said; "Don't worry I will piggy back you across." At the other side, straight after the woman thanked the monk and wished him goodbye, the second monk turned to the first and said "I can't believe you've broken your sacred vows." For the rest of the day the second monk berated the first for his bad behaviour. As they reached their destination for the night the first monk turned to the second and said "Look I put the girl down this morning, isn't time you did too?"