Introsight

CALVIN COOLIDGE was selected to be the vice president under William Harding. It was during this time he acquired the nickname, “Silent Cal,” partly due to his ability of telepathic communication. It is said that during an interview, CALVIN COOLIDGE set a journalist’s hair on fire with his mind. During this incident, it is recorded that the only sound he made was a presumptuous “Humph.”

I’d rather be alone by myself than alone with others. I’d also rather be alive than dead, rather be right than wrong, rather be happy than depressed. I’d rather be on my way than going in circles. I think realizing what I’d rather be is the biggest step towards actualization. I’d rather feel hollow than in my sorrow wallow. I only know what’s in my head, so I know a lot about nothing, and nothing about math. Orange + Turkey = Hurdy-Gurdy? Makes sense to me.

I glued the eyes onto his head using great care. If I glued them crooked I couldn’t start over and he’d be all crooked-eyed and goofy-looking and I wouldn’t be able to take him seriously. The next step was very difficult because I wasn’t sure if anything else was needed. I decided nothing was, and glued his head to his body. He yawned. His feathers were stuck together from the glue dripping around. I’m not very good with tiny things like him, my hands are so big. And he’s so little. He needed feet, so I found some in the box and glued them onto the brown puff of his body. After several tense seconds he curled the talons on his new feet and I sighed. Maybe I should have given him something else.

Those damn charlatans, with stringy fingers
and hips like a harlequin’s,
dancing deftly-
Through cunning ruse and Jack-In-The-Box tricks lingers
An oppression grin and oft-shorn kin-
I hear that:
All the fun is in how you say a thing

I think making up random, completely unbelievably ridiculous facts about famous or historical figures is a great idea. Others may or may not agree, but I find it absolutely hilarious. I guess it’s essentially rewriting history for my own amusement. Remember, the victors write the history books, but with a little DIY attitude you can too.

Contrary to what a reader may assume, this passage actually represents for me a moment of clarity. This is my thought process. This is what goes on in my brain. I’ve reread this little bit of wordmush several times to remind myself how to translate my thoughts. It’s like a magnifying glass.

Things like the bizarrely absurd fascinate me. While writing this I felt like I was putting to paper something representative of my interests. I suppose this passage is included here because it is mildly inspirational to me. It reminds me that even if no one reads it, what was written was what I wanted to write.

This poem-chunk, upon further rumination, is exactly what I have been trying to say (with varying degrees of eloquence) all along. The last line, “all the fun is in how you say a thing.” That’s the point. The crucible! It’s all in the tone, the inflection, the word choice, the diction, syntax, language, breath or breathlessness. A whisper or a scream, a chortle or a snort. This passage represents me.