the trumpets of Germinal

[incandescens]

Another week over, another weekend here, and it's only a week till my birthday. How time flies. I still don't feel like an adult.

---

A BALLADE OF SUICIDE

The gallows in my garden, people say,
Is new and neat and adequately tall.
I tie the noose on in a knowing way
As one that knots his necktie for a ball;
But just as all the neighbours — on the wall —
Are drawing a long breath to shout "Hurray!"
The strangest whim has seized me... After all
I think I will not hang myself today.

To-morrow is the time I get my pay —
My uncle's sword is hanging in the hall —
I see a little cloud all pink and grey —
Perhaps the rector's mother will not call —
I fancy that I heard from Mr. Gall
That mushrooms could be cooked another way —
I never read the works of Juvenal —
I think I will not hang myself today.

The world will have another washing day;
The decadents decay; the pedants pall;
And H.G. Wells has found that children play.
And Bernard Shaw discovered that they squall;
Rationalists are growing rational —
And through thick woods one finds a stream astray,
So secret that the very sky seems small —
I think I will not hang myself today.

ENVOI

Prince, I can hear the trumpet of Germinal,
The tumbrils toiling up the terrible way;
Even today your royal head may fall —
I think I will not hang myself today.

-- GK Chesterton

Comments

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

I can relate, I'm nearly 56-years-old, and I STILL don't know what I want to be when I grow up.... O__o

Have a wonderful weekend!

[incandescens]

Thanks. ;)

[archangelbeth]

!!! What do you want for your birthday????

[incandescens]

An invitation to visit you in a month and a half? :)

[archangelbeth]

Yay! But what should I have when you get here? O:D (I assume you have McGuire's Ashes of Honor yourself already?)

[incandescens]

I do indeed have Ashes of Honor incoming from Amazon. I don't have Captain Vorpatril's Alliance yet, but that doesn't seem to be out till November anyhow. Tough, very tough . . .

[incandescens]

Actually, there is one thing that I can't get over here which I would rather like.

I can't get hold of any of Ursula Vernon's Digger books over here, not even via Amazon. Any of them would be welcome . . .

[archangelbeth]

Oh-ho! I shall see what I can do!

[incandescens]

In a linked line of thought... you know that I like to be knitting something while we're hanging out together, but I suspect that by now I may have overloaded you with shawls or scarves. (Unless you'd like some more...)

I was considering what to be doing this year. If I remember correctly, Walter's too allergenic for me to make anything for him -- well, unless I can somehow find some sort of totally hypoallergenic fibre. Would Iolanthe like a scarf or shawl or something? Or would you? Or a new pair of gloves? Or...?

[archangelbeth]

Walter's more in the "...why should I wear scarves? I have a coat" side of things. Unless you can make a stretchy hat or something. (That, or warm gloves/mittens for the kid, would be about what might be needed...)

It is sadly true that I have more yarnbent stuff than I can wear all at once! Or even display! But it keeps the bed nice and warm...

[incandescens]

I do have a rather nice little fingerless glove pattern somewhere... and there are probably mitten patterns around the place... :)

[archangelbeth]

For an ice-skater, mittens might work out, possibly. Not sure. She gets fixed ideas about what she wants to wear, sometimes. O:/

[incandescens]

It's this pattern - http://knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/PATTfetching.html

Or I could just knit another shawl for both of you to share. Nothing wrong with more shawls, right? :)

[archangelbeth]

Shawls are fun! O:D

I'm pretty sure she wouldn't wear fingerless gloves. She pretty much only wears gloves at all for ice skating or going out in the snow, and they do get lost at times... *sigh*

Hm! Maybe a shawl for the Mother In Law? Have we done that yet? (I wouldn't get emotionally invested in it, if you know what I mean, because there's no telling where it might wind up if she decides someone else needs it more than she does...)

[incandescens]

That could certainly be done. If I remember correctly, your mother-in-law likes shades of brown and red? (And yellow/gold?)

[archangelbeth]

That's my mom, actually. The M-I-L... I don't know. Nor does her son. Quite possibly "whatever you think looks good." She's got those ivory-beige sofas, and that's about the extent that I know of her tastes. (Oh, and she likes owls.)

[incandescens]

Whoops, right. Hm. (ponders) Let me see what I have in my stash that looks good. I fear I may not be able to knit owls, though . . .

[amethyst-hunter.livejournal.com]

ADULTHOOD IS OVERRATED.

(Says she who will hit #36 next month) >;)

[incandescens]

Everything is overrated, perhaps . . .

[summer-queen.livejournal.com]

Eek! Here I was thinking I had more time to find you something. This year is flying by so quickly!

[incandescens]

It is! (And don't worry. :))