Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Three Things About Me


1. I would sit forever on an empty beach, watching the hypnotic dance of waves, as they weave their lace of lather on the sand, listening to their monotonous rustling, pierced occasionally by the caw of seagulls. The air is pure salt. The light is harsh, almost painful. The waters sparkle, reflecting maybe the hidden cities in the depths. Cities of octopuses, of course, or of Atlanteans.
The sea is a repository of all mysteries. I recall one of Robert Silverberg’s brilliant novellas, “Homefaring”, where the hero is sent forward in time by a million years, among intelligent lobsters, and wise octopuses, who by then have inherited the Earth.
Time stands still on this beach of mine; the world is just beginning or has just ended – I will not move for I know that, if I did, just a little further up the beach I will have to fall on my knees in front of the Statue of Liberty…
Even better, I’m outside of Time, untouched by it, its cruel arrow aimless, myself a contemplator of the absolute…

2. I’m afraid of bees, and wasps, and all their relatives. I suppose it has something to do with their buzzing. When I hear it, I feel it burrowing into my brain, and all I can do is crouch and hide my head, foolishly hoping I’ve become insignificant enough so that they won’t notice me anymore. It worked so far – I never got stung by one. And, I like honey.

3. I think that all life is beautiful, invaluable, miraculous. We are all very much the same, built by Nature, or by chance, or by somebody else, to the same patterns. No creature is repugnant to me, be it a worm, a rat, a snake. I love bats. I couldn’t kill a fly. If I find a spider in my house, I catch it with a cup and take it outside. I have a hard time pruning my plants. My hypocrisy is great, though: I’m an omnivore. I eat, and my heart sheds silent tears…

8 comments:

Jon M said...

Wasps make me nervous, I've been stung loads of times. I found one in my sock once!

Poetess said...

Hi there

Loved your poem in a title. What a novel idea.

Back soon

Poetessxxxxxxxx

Anonymous said...

I'm going through a little ocean withdrawal.

Congrats on the Shameless Lion award!!

Vesper said...

Jon, ouch!

Poetess, thank you. The idea of sorted books comes from Words From a Wordsmith - I just put these ones together. Thank you for your visit and, please, come again.

Colleen, thank you so much.

Mediterranean Views said...

Hi Vesper,
Liked Three Things About Me! IT's an isnpiring prompt to write from and a personal insight for others into who we are. Loved the muses about the beach and time.
Amy at Mediterranean Views

Anonymous said...

Three very nice, relealing and lovely things. Numbers 2 and 3 work well with each other, surprisingly enough.

Taffiny said...

yes that is how I like the beach, I'm not much for beach volleyball, I like to be still and watch, and go somewhere other, deep and far away, yet right there.

I find a great many people are afraid of bees. But they only tend to sting, if you step on them, and then really, can you blame them? So continue to duck and cover and I am sure they will leave you alone. I do have to fess up to finding certain noises unnerving though.

Yes, I too am a hyprocite. I was a vegetarian for years and years, and then stopped because I got bored. Morality doesn't change because one gets bored, or at least it shouldn't, but apparently mine does.

cute bat- fruit, or fox, or?

Vesper said...

Amy, hi! Thank you, it's good to know that you're visiting...

GoodThomas, thank you! Yes, they do - I wouldn't harm the bees.

Taffiny, I thought it was a fruit bat, but I'm not so sure anymore.