The Strength To Force The Moment To Its Crisis (571 hits)
Category: NoneRating: 1.01 on 18 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by Eleanor_Rigby (View user info) at 2006-06-07 02:50:27 EDT
It was a boring Saturday night. Nothing to do for college students who have almost no money. We're pseudo-intellectuals, we don't like the bar scene, and we freely admit it. English majors. We get a kick out of literary references, and make grammar jokes on whims. But even the most vitriolic criticism of Dan Brown gets old, and we seek adventure beyond writing and reading.
The three of us piled into my car. Let's go somewhere, let's go... but where? The only place to go in this town is to drive down main street and see if you can avoid hitting the drunks. We could go to Taco Bell. No, we may as well stay here if we just end up at Taco Bell... though as I recall Pat had a hankering for a burrito. Suggestion overruled.
The beach.
Ah yes, the beach. And on a beautiful night, no less. It would be almost romantic, were it not for the fact that we're all bonded platonically, and any potential for feelings between myself and the fellows is strictly suppressed. Usually at least.
Fifteen minutes and twelve miles later, we had parked the car. The drive north had been nothing to speak of, save for a lovely group rendition of some shitty alternative rock song that had come on the radio. We'd laughed and demanded something more than this semi-charmed kinda life.
The feeling of just stepping out of the car was something indescribable. We quieted. A strong wind was blowing off the water... but it was dry. It was hot. We glanced at each other as the air whipped across our faces. Almost wordlessly, we walked out the path to the water across the sand. The wind changed directions, blowing stronger, warmer, as dry as the light sand we turned up with our flip flops. Looking ahead, the moon hung low over the water, in perfect roundness. It was bright, and not a cloud obscured the view of the night sky being reflected upon the unusually churning waters. The heavens were opened, stars twinkling so closely I felt if I only reached far enough, I could pocket one. I paused as they continued to walk into the brightness, nearing the water, and rolled up my jeans, flicking off my sandals. Suddenly, I couldn't handle the silence and awe anymore. It was weighing on all of us like a heavy mantle... it needed to be rent.
I gave a yelp and sprinted towards the water, shattering the silence, the reverie. Legs flying, arms pumping, I leapt into the shallow tides laughing maniacally. I turned to my friends, eyes gleaming. The sound of my own voice pealed across the area, challenging the blowing wind and crashing waves. I beckoned for them and in a moment, they understood. With matching yells, shirts were off, shoes were thrown to the side, and bodies hit the water with loud splashes. We were exclaiming now, frenzied almost, rambling about the temperature of the water, the brightness of the moon, the dry heat...
Oh Jesus guys this is so weird. Have you ever seen it like this? No no I haven't. Oh look at that.
Turning, we looked at the shore. Sand dollars and perfect seashells lined the waters edge. We scrambled toward the shore, picking up the illuminated circles and examining them. The glowed bright for us, and we marvelled. We pocketed shells, rocks, sand dollars, like we were four years old again, hunting for treasure on a family trip to the beach. John flicked wet sand at me, and laughing I gave chase, heels pounding rhythmically as I reached a hand out to tousle his hair and wipe wet, sandy hands on his sweatshirt in return. He made a grab, restraining my arms, and I struggled. I could smell his skin... salty, a mixture of soap, cigarettes, and this beach. I shoved my body into his, knocking him off balance, now able to seek my revenge for having wet sand thrown at me. My hands rubbed all over his head, hair getting wet and matted. There. I'll show you.
We ran back to Patrick, having settled himself into the sand, letting the water reach his feet and pool. How long had we been here? Moments? Hours? He asked if we would make it back in time before Taco Bell closed, a wry, teasing smile spreading across his face. I grinned back and shook my head telling him that indeed there would be time. With a wink, I settled behind him, and John chuckled, continuing on with the poem. Oh, here it was. English majors on a weird night reciting poetry on an other-wordly beach. There will be time, there will be time to prepare a face for the faces that you meet. I joined in: A time to murder and create. A time for all the works and days of hands that lift and drop a question to your plate. Patrick: Time for you and time for me and time yet for a hundred indecisions, for a hundred visions and revisions... before the taking of a toast and tea.
Silence settled over us again. Broken by a question. More poetry. It's just how we communicate I guess. Do I dare disturb the universe? In a minute there is time for decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse. John sighed and shifted... I really do love this poem. It's fitting for tonight you guys. I know. I should have been a pair of ragged claws scuttling across the floors of silent seas. Said with emphasis, staring out over the water. Trying to kid, but the laughter had long died. Patrick. Another eternal question. Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to each a peach? I shall wear white flannel trousers and walk upon the beach. I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each.
Together: I do not think that they will sing to me.
More silence... and then a solitary voice. I have seen them riding seaward on the waves combing the white hair of the waves blown back when the wind blows the water white and black. We have lingered in the chambers of the sea by sea-girls wreathed with seaweed red and brown. Till human voices wake us, and we drown.
That night, we were woken. That night, we drowned.
User Reviews
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-06-09 15:36:59 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Don't correct Jonny. He is always right.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-07 21:14:41 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-07 19:20:24 (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-07 17:08:39 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-07 16:52:39 (#)
Ranking: -2
oh Jesus....ANOTHER English major
--
*cries
------
don't cry Kimmie - the awful parade of adjectives and adverbs will stop soon, I promise.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Actually I said that because I'M an english major.
Submitted by eleanor_rigby (user info) at 2006-06-07 21:01:08 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
"How come you didn't alliterate to Milton? You ivory-tower fucks ALWAYS have to get your Paradise LOst on, it's what you do."
Perhaps you meant "allude", as in reference Milton? Because to alliterate is to write a phrase characterized by a repeating sound, i.e. "The wind whisked the willows, whipping and winding in waves" or some such nonsense. As far as I know, one can't alliterate a person.
When it comes to getting my Paradise Lost on, however... oh, I think I will save that for another post for another day.
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-07 19:20:24 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-07 17:08:39 (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-07 16:52:39 (#)
Ranking: -2
oh Jesus....ANOTHER English major
--
*cries
------
don't cry Kimmie - the awful parade of adjectives and adverbs will stop soon, I promise.
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-06-07 17:37:28 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Submitted by laika (user info) at 2006-06-07 03:52:40 (#)
Ranking: 1
"Till human voices wake us, and we drown."
im not really sure what this means. it doesnt quite seem to
fit the rest of the poem or your post.
so youre in some magical realm, but then
human voices return you to the ordinary world?
but why say drown? this seems a little overly dramatic
compared to the rest of the poem. and are other humans really
that bad?(dont use uber to decide that)
or, i could be interpreting this entirely wrong.
anyways, decent first post.
=======================================
Shut up.
Poem?
And you can't say "decent first post" until you've created a first post. It's the law.
Submitted by ConorJS (user info) at 2006-06-07 17:22:05 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
Auto -2 that fucking song.
And this wasn't really that great, don't let what everyone else says get your hopes up. Uber loves this kind of surrealist bullshit - I hate it.
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-07 17:08:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-07 16:52:39 (#)
Ranking: -2
oh Jesus....ANOTHER English major
--
*cries
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-06-07 16:52:39 EDT (#)
Ranking: -2
oh Jesus....ANOTHER English major
How come you didn't alliterate to Milton? You ivory-tower fucks ALWAYS have to get your Paradise LOst on, it's what you do.
<tonelessly> Welcome to Uber, enjoy your stay.
*clicking of turnstile*
Submitted by Zoidberg (user info) at 2006-06-07 14:50:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
"Till human voices wake us, and we drown."
its from "The Lovesong of J. Alfred Prufrock"
only skimmed the post but anyone who knows Eliot is alright by me
Submitted by Anansie (user info) at 2006-06-07 14:50:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I've never given an auto +2 before...
Auto +2 TS Eliot, especially for Prufrock.
Submitted by FilthyAssistant (user info) at 2006-06-07 14:35:23 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by eleanor_rigby (user info) at 2006-06-07 11:17:34 EDT (#)
Ranking: 0
Laika:
The meaning of the final line of the poem is debatable, and there is no one way to look at it. The most common interpretations of the meaning are as follows:
1. A reference to the sirens and their doings in the Odyssey. We all follow the siren song, only to drown upon reaching it.
2. The idea that the moment humans realize truth, the moment it all comes together, they die, as there is nothing left on earth to figure out. I can't remember exactly what thinker this draws on, but the final line could also be a nod in that direction.
I guess the line on its own doesn't make much sense... that's why I included it with the preceding stanzas.
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-06-07 06:48:43 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
solid +1.5
Submitted by hour_man (user info) at 2006-06-07 06:48:33 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
No Comment
Submitted by Berty (user info) at 2006-06-07 04:46:22 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
Yeah it's quite interesting there; Outside. It's full of poisonous spiders though. And murderers. And people staring at you with their eyes.
I was kind of hoping for hot threesome action.
Submitted by laika (user info) at 2006-06-07 03:52:40 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"Till human voices wake us, and we drown."
im not really sure what this means. it doesnt quite seem to
fit the rest of the poem or your post.
so youre in some magical realm, but then
human voices return you to the ordinary world?
but why say drown? this seems a little overly dramatic
compared to the rest of the poem. and are other humans really
that bad?(dont use uber to decide that)
or, i could be interpreting this entirely wrong.
anyways, decent first post.
Submitted by AsshOly (user info) at 2006-06-07 03:51:42 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
I really, really, really liked this. And I really, really, really want to go to the beach right now.
I have a feeling though that this is going to get torn apart by the champions of literature that proliferate here on ubersite.
I dont know why, but I picture you as Brooke Skye, the webcam pornstar.
Submitted by joedaddy (user info) at 2006-06-07 03:08:07 EDT (#)
Ranking: 1
"The feeling of just stepping out of the car was something indescribable. We quieted. A strong wind was blowing off the water... but it was dry. It was hot."
****
i remember that feeling
damn