Two French students of philosophy

 

November 24, 1992  (I was 48)

 

         Two French students of philosophy, Jacques and René,

were on their way to the university to take an examination on the

principles of the Cartesian view of the mechanistic clockwork of life. 

They had studied long, and success in the test was essential to the

students’ academic advancement.

         Passing a brothel in route to the university, Jacques was

suddenly overtaken by libidinal desires.  He decided to forgo the

examination to satisfy this more basic passion. He urged friend René

to accompany him to the den of inequity. René demurred, and left for

the school while Jacques entered the “établissement de l’amour.”

         In the examination room, the professor inquired of René

regarding the absence of his fellow, Jacques.  René replied, “Alas,

Jacques is always one to put the whores before Descartes.”

Action at Hapuna: just like a commercial

 

August 18, 1992  (I was 47)

 

Action at Hapuna:  just like a commercial

 

She was just another young blonde on the beach

trying to keep certain local boys just out of reach

but most certainly standing within their sight

They panted long enough to hope she also might

 

She thought she was cool as a rule

knew how long she could tease and fool

sifting hair in the breeze putting lotion to her legs

She doesn’t notice any Kane who sits up and begs

 

She wants the hunk hunched over plate lunch

knows his indifference is the coolest of stunts

She ambles nearer keeps the pack at bay

and thinks she knows exactly what he will say

 

Then a long brown nymphette in a g-string

hands a Coca-Cola to the Real Thing

“She’s so So-Cal, mama Hawaiian, she only 16”

whispers muttered by the dogs on the scene

 

The couple dash with boards to the surf

the blonde takes a towel to old people turf

You’d think some gentle kanaka might

hula on over with a lei and a Sprite

 

August 11, 1992  (I was 47)

 

Now that I’ve spent much time doing little

there seems to be quite a bit less to do

A life of intense sporting pre-occupations…pastimes

The stunning arrogant occupation of teaching

is now humble efficiency –a way to get a little money

unencumbered by much moral compromise

The teenaged knight of Catholicism

tries to be a good guy now

and succeeds on isolated occasions

 

Sooner or later the kids need less watching

and start to watch you with some chagrin

that every age they are you’ve already been

Everything I learn about the world

makes the world bigger and life smaller

I’ve read too much to understand anything

can’t even make a long distance phone call from a pay phone

Good thing there is nobody I want to call

I never knew ambition and would never consider him a friend

Real Work

 

July 18, 1992  (I was 47)

 

         Real Work

I am trying to formulate a metaphor

         (when it probably should be discovered)

a metaphor of small rooms and solitary occupations

         (not a metaphor of cells and incarcerations –nothing penal)

a metaphor of security and containment –doctrinaire

a clandestine smoky environment absolutely exclusive

There is pursuit involved that might be obsessive

         (if it were not pursuit of disinterest)

a pursuit too casual to be academic

too peripheral to be intellectual

         (yet time consuming nevertheless)

a pastime more of impression than expression

It is the lazy animal consciousness

of a mammal with a roof over its head.

Two French students of philosophy

November 24, 1992  (I was 48)

         Two French students of philosophy, Jacques and René,

were on their way to the university to take an examination on the

principles of the Cartesian view of the mechanistic clockwork of life. 

They had studied long, and success in the test was essential to the

students’ academic advancement.

         Passing a brothel in route to the university, Jacques was

suddenly overtaken by libidinal desires.  He decided to forgo the

examination to satisfy this more basic passion. He urged friend René

to accompany him to the den of inequity. René demurred, and left for

the school while Jacques entered the “établissement de l’amour.”

         In the examination room, the professor inquired of René

regarding the absence of his fellow, Jacques.  René replied, “Alas,

Jacques is always one to put the whores before Descartes.”

Action at Hapuna: just like a commercial

August 18, 1992  (I was 47)

Action at Hapuna:  just like a commercial

She was just another young blonde on the beach

trying to keep certain local boys just out of reach

but most certainly standing within their sight

They panted long enough to hope she also might

She thought she was cool as a rule

knew how long she could tease and fool

sifting hair in the breeze putting lotion to her legs

She doesn’t notice any Kane who sits up and begs

She wants the hunk hunched over plate lunch

knows his indifference is the coolest of stunts

She ambles nearer keeps the pack at bay

and thinks she knows exactly what he will say

Then a long brown nymphette in a g-string

hands a Coca-Cola to the Real Thing

“She’s so So-Cal, mama Hawaiian, she only 16”

whispers muttered by the dogs on the scene

The couple dash with boards to the surf

the blonde takes a towel to old people turf

You’d think some gentle kanaka might

hula on over with a lei and a Sprite

Now that I’ve spent much time doing little

August 11, 1992  (I was 47)

Now that I’ve spent much time doing little

there seems to be quite a bit less to do

A life of intense sporting pre-occupations…pastimes

The stunning arrogant occupation of teaching

is now humble efficiency –a way to get a little money

unencumbered by much moral compromise

The teenaged knight of Catholicism

tries to be a good guy now

and succeeds on isolated occasions

Sooner or later the kids need less watching

and start to watch you with some chagrin

that every age they are you’ve already been

Everything I learn about the world

makes the world bigger and life smaller

I’ve read too much to understand anything

can’t even make a long distance phone call from a pay phone

Good thing there is nobody I want to call

I never knew ambition and would never consider him a friend

Real Work

July 18, 1992  (I was 47)

         Real Work

I am trying to formulate a metaphor

         (when it probably should be discovered)

a metaphor of small rooms and solitary occupations

         (not a metaphor of cells and incarcerations –nothing penal)

a metaphor of security and containment –doctrinaire

a clandestine smoky environment absolutely exclusive

There is pursuit involved that might be obsessive

         (if it were not pursuit of disinterest)

a pursuit too casual to be academic

too peripheral to be intellectual

         (yet time consuming nevertheless)

a pastime more of impression than expression

It is the lazy animal consciousness

of a mammal with a roof over its head.

Two French students of philosophy

November 24, 1992  (I was 48)

         Two French students of philosophy, Jacques and René,

were on their way to the university to take an examination on the

principles of the Cartesian view of the mechanistic clockwork of life. 

They had studied long, and success in the test was essential to the

students’ academic advancement.

         Passing a brothel in route to the university, Jacques was

suddenly overtaken by libidinal desires.  He decided to forgo the

examination to satisfy this more basic passion. He urged friend René

to accompany him to the den of inequity. René demurred, and left for

the school while Jacques entered the “établissement de l’amour.”

         In the examination room, the professor inquired of René

regarding the absence of his fellow, Jacques.  René replied, “Alas,

Jacques is always one to put the whores before Descartes.”

Action at Hapuna: just like a commercial

August 18, 1992  (I was 47)

Action at Hapuna:  just like a commercial

She was just another young blonde on the beach

trying to keep certain local boys just out of reach

but most certainly standing within their sight

They panted long enough to hope she also might

She thought she was cool as a rule

knew how long she could tease and fool

sifting hair in the breeze putting lotion to her legs

She doesn’t notice any Kane who sits up and begs

She wants the hunk hunched over plate lunch

knows his indifference is the coolest of stunts

She ambles nearer keeps the pack at bay

and thinks she knows exactly what he will say

Then a long brown nymphette in a g-string

hands a Coca-Cola to the Real Thing

“She’s so So-Cal, mama Hawaiian, she only 16”

whispers muttered by the dogs on the scene

The couple dash with boards to the surf

the blonde takes a towel to old people turf

You’d think some gentle kanaka might

hula on over with a lei and a Sprite

Now that I’ve spent much time doing little

August 11, 1992  (I was 47)

Now that I’ve spent much time doing little

there seems to be quite a bit less to do

A life of intense sporting pre-occupations…pastimes

The stunning arrogant occupation of teaching

is now humble efficiency –a way to get a little money

unencumbered by much moral compromise

The teenaged knight of Catholicism

tries to be a good guy now

and succeeds on isolated occasions

Sooner or later the kids need less watching

and start to watch you with some chagrin

that every age they are you’ve already been

Everything I learn about the world

makes the world bigger and life smaller

I’ve read too much to understand anything

can’t even make a long distance phone call from a pay phone

Good thing there is nobody I want to call

I never knew ambition and would never consider him a friend

Real Work

July 18, 1992  (I was 47)

         Real Work

I am trying to formulate a metaphor

         (when it probably should be discovered)

a metaphor of small rooms and solitary occupations

         (not a metaphor of cells and incarcerations –nothing penal)

a metaphor of security and containment –doctrinaire

a clandestine smoky environment absolutely exclusive

There is pursuit involved that might be obsessive

         (if it were not pursuit of disinterest)

a pursuit too casual to be academic

too peripheral to be intellectual

         (yet time consuming nevertheless)

a pastime more of impression than expression

It is the lazy animal consciousness

of a mammal with a roof over its head.