“If they give you lined paper..."

[PrinceMyshkin]

“If they give you lined paper
write the other way.”

Wm Carlos Williams


And if they offer you
the sun, the moon and the stars,
ask for a biscuit instead.

“Yes, a plain, dry biscuit, please.

And thank you very much...”

[hillwalker]

I suppose it might confound them. Not perhaps the same level of rebelliousness encouraged by WCW's lines - but with a certain humour nevertheless.

H

[Lumiere]

Interesting little thing.
I saw this as mocking the WCW rebellion-for-the-sake-of-rebellion quote. I may be off.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Hillwalker:


I suppose it might confound them. Not perhaps the same level of rebelliousness encouraged by WCW's lines - but with a certain humour nevertheless.

I wasn't out to compete with WCW's advice; mine is more re the multiple efforts on the parts of various agencies to buy our good-will, so really I think there's a fair amount of rebellion intended in it


Interesting little thing.
I saw this as mocking the WCW rebellion-for-the-sake-of-rebellion quote. I may be off.

Not at all my intention! (See above). I whole-heartedly endorse the WCW quote.

Thanks to both of you.

[Haunted]

It feels good to go against the grain, I really like the attitude you instill in this little poem.

[Delta40]

lol - When life gives you lemons, insist on coffee?

[tailor STATELY]

v. snicker

[PrinceMyshkin]

Thanks Haunted, Delta and Stately.

My thought was that if anyone offers you something outrageous or that they couldn't possibly deliver, they have improper designs on you.

I heard once of a pawnbroker in an impoverished area of San Francisco who had a sign in his storefront window


Souls bought & sold

People would come in, desperate for money. He'd present them with a document, by virtue of which they signed their soul over to him and, once they had signed it, he would advance them something like $25.00

He counted on the fact that enough of these would later be so freaked out that they would somehow collect the $40.00 or $50.00 required to buy back their souls.

[Jerrybaldy]

I doubt he made any money. But its a good yarn ;) But just incase there are any disappointed young ladies reading I have virginity for sale here at 20 Quid a go.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I doubt he made any money. But its a good yarn ;) But just incase there are any disappointed young ladies reading I have virginity for sale here at 20 Quid a go.

Ladies Beware! The virginity of which he speaks is 2nd or 3rd hand!

[PrinceMyshkin]

The inspiration for my poem was the short story by Y.L. Peretz, "Bontche Shveig" (Bontche the silent) in which, after Bontche dies, the interrogating angel offers him any reward he might wish for a life lived in abject, uncomplaining poverty. After reflecting for a while, Bontche asks:

"Anything?"

"Yes, anything," the angel replies.

"Well, in that case," Bontche says after some more reflection, "could I have a hot buttered roll?"

(Which, if I remember correctly, brings tears to the angel's eyes.)

[ucello]

I've read a number of your thoughts and poems here, Prince, and chose this, for its irresistible power of resistance to all that's accepted and just for the sake of it. Love what you write and love plunging into your intellectual mind. Your concision is often breathtaking and your contents always encourage a new way of approaching this or another reality. I'm not a great poet, even less a critic, but wanted to comment anyway. Thanks a lot.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I've read a number of your thoughts and poems here, Prince, and chose this, for its irresistible power of resistance to all that's accepted and just for the sake of it. Love what you write and love plunging into your intellectual mind. Your concision is often breathtaking and your contents always encourage a new way of approaching this or another reality. I'm not a great poet, even less a critic, but wanted to comment anyway. Thanks a lot.

I flatter myself at times that I write principally for myself, to exercise my soul, as it were, but comments such as yours tell me that the preceding isn't entirely true: that I write in part for myself but in equal measure to make the sort of connection that I have made with you... Thanks. A lot.

[everyadventure]

I have read your explanation of this poem, but I'm going to give you my initial impressions anyhow. This poem spoke to me of meekness; it implied that the narrator didn't feel himself worthy of what life offered him, so he settled for much less. The ending line seemed to grovel a bit, as though the narrator didn't feel he deserved even a dry biscuit.

Again, I read your footnotes, but that's how I initially interpreted this poem.

[PrinceMyshkin]

I have read your explanation of this poem, but I'm going to give you my initial impressions anyhow. This poem spoke to me of meekness; it implied that the narrator didn't feel himself worthy of what life offered him, so he settled for much less. The ending line seemed to grovel a bit, as though the narrator didn't feel he deserved even a dry biscuit.

Again, I read your footnotes, but that's how I initially interpreted this poem.

Thank you for this astute and candid reading of my poem, a reading that shocked me into examining the politics of my subconscious. I began the poem in a spirit of delight at the stubborn rebelliousness of the Wm Carlos Williams quote and I believe, in retrospect, that I intended to continue in that anti-authoritarian mode. And yet somehow in the depth between conscious and subconscious, open rebellion got changed into shrewd negotiation. Authority was perceived not so much as trying to compel one as to bribe one, and the response I advocated was not to refuse them outright, but to offer to accept a lesser bribe, such that they might not feel they had bought one outright.

In doing so I feel I aligned myself with those Jews who went like lambs to the slaughter in the WWII concentration camps!

[Hawkman]

The writer's primary concern should be what is demanded in return for the biscuit!

[PrinceMyshkin]

The writer's primary concern should be what is demanded in return for the biscuit!

Indeed, and the witer in question no doubt assumed that a good deal less would be required of him in exchange for a biscuit than if he were to accept the sun, the moon and the stars.

[Delta40]

You think he endeavours to avoid responsibility by settling for a biscuit instead?

[PrinceMyshkin]

You think he endeavours to avoid responsibility by settling for a biscuit instead?

Let me turn the question back on you: If someone you hardly know offered you the moon the sun and the stars (without stipulating any reciprocal obligation on your part), would you acept?

[Hawkman]

As the saying goes, Caveat emptor! 1st I'd want to know he had the authority to offer them, and then I'd want a survey done to make sure they were sound. Lastly I'd get a legal search performed to make sure someone wasn't going to demolish them to make way for a hyperspace bypass!

Live long and proper - H

[Delta40]

Let me turn the question back on you: If someone you hardly know offered you the moon the sun and the stars (without stipulating any reciprocal obligation on your part), would you acept?

Probably not but the beauty of your lines is that they can be read through a number of cynical lenses.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Don't take on board more than you can carry.
All that glitters is not gold

etc etc. Genius!

[Bar22do]

“If they give you lined paper
write the other way.”

Wm Carlos Williams


And if they offer you
the sun, the moon and the stars,
ask for a biscuit instead.

“Yes, a plain, dry biscuit, please.

And thank you very much...”


I'd end it at "instead". And would only ask for good people's lives to last...
A fine poem, Prince, and Ucello, thank for retrieving this.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Hawkman:
As the saying goes, Caveat emptor! 1st I'd want to know he had the authority to offer them, and then I'd want a survey done to make sure they were sound. Lastly I'd get a legal search performed to make sure someone wasn't going to demolish them to make way for a hyperspace bypass!

Oh? And do you remember the part in the OT where Moses asks God his name?

Delta40:
Probably not but the beauty of your lines is that they can be read through a number of cynical lenses.
If it looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Don't take on board more than you can carry.
All that glitters is not gold

But an awful lot of us, I’m afraid, would always prefer the glitter to the authentic but scuffed gold.

Bar22do:
I'd end it at "instead". And would only ask for good people's lives to last...

Indeed, the sense of it is complete if I ended it where you suggest, but surely you’d allow the poet a bit of fun in extending his whimsy?

[MystyrMystyry]

I liked it :)

Further to Delta's astute comment:

Never look a Trojan horse in the mouth because it may be a gift from a Greek!

[Bar22do]

... but surely you’d allow the poet a bit of fun in extending his whimsy?
goes without saying! especially if you ask for it so kindly!

[Hawkman]

Hawkman:
Oh? And do you remember the part in the OT where Moses asks God his name?



Exodus 3:14, I believe. However, my recollection of scripture would seem to indicate that the kind of offer you describe would be more likely to come from the fallen angel. :reddevil:

[PrinceMyshkin]

Exodus 3:14, I believe. However, my recollection of scripture would seem to indicate that the kind of offer you describe would be more likely to come from the fallen angel. :reddevil:

Even the Devil may quote Scripture.... and frequently does.

[Hawkman]

I always try to avoid it, and people who do :D