Doing Battle
This thing, this love I slowly kill,
seems reluctant to expire.
It battles me and thinks it shall
win by branding me a liar.
I’ll keep my word (I always do),
to destroy my own construction,
and afterwards begin anew
the fine art of my destruction.
I entered college at age 35.
When I applied for admittance the interview process involved an authoritative academic figure commenting on how I appeared to be a rather “late bloomer.” To which I replied: “No ... just really busy.”
The first day of my initial foray into higher education found me standing in the parking lot of the college, waiting with other students for the doors of the institution to open. I began to read (a book always at hand), and passed the time pleasantly until discontented murmuring broke my concentration.
I became aware that there were now many more people waiting with me in the lot, and they were building a nice grumble.
“Late”, “Figures”, “Tired of waiting.” Given enough time, torches and pitchforks would probably have been produced.
Checking my watch, I saw that it was, indeed, 15 minutes past the assigned time.
I closed my book, and as I stuffed it into my purse said to the assembled, “Has anyone actually tried the door?”
The small crowd went silent and parted as I made my way to the entrance. I opened the door, entered, and thus began my arduous trek to a degree.
The crowd filed in behind me, and never did like me very much after that.
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I found it very funny, and also very true, I like to read story like this, that happen very often, anywhere, for any reason.
Chantale.
Oh, don’t you hate that? When everyone decides to resent you just because you thought of something first? I mean, you’d think they would take into consideration that you were at least silly enough to sit there with the rest of them for 15 minutes.
Congratulations on starting college! Good luck, too! It’s never too late to learn something new.
now this is Millay all the way – u still can’t have her , she is MINE !
wow – do I really like this ! this is absolutely sublime !
great title !
is this fiction ?
Great… Great… GREAT!!!!! I love how you can see the simple in everything and make it yours. I would have loved to be there standing in that lot with you. Instead of getting mad I probably would have laughed till I peed myself. Good Job
I like this, largely because of how it can reflects our society. People are so sheep-like and willing to let others do everything for them. However, they tend to frown upon those who see things differently and, thus, are more innovative. The irony being that they need these innovators if they want to see progress and change in the world.
I don’t particularly understand the poem at the beginning, nor do I understand how it pertains to your subject matter, but it’s still nice.
Overall, very well done =]
Excellent piece. Hit me before I’d even started to second guess the outcome.
Areas you could dress up…
1. A little stiff in the delivery (eg. 15 minutes past the assigned time), and
2. In the opening para I’d move the word “shall” from lie 3 to line 4 – and rework line 3.
I like the blog and think the poem has great rhythm. I don’t see how they relate. Not even a little. Almost seems like an oversight to include them together.
To focus on the prose; it, for me, came across almost as commentary the wisdom real live experiences give you over what you’ll get in college. For sure everyone lined up after you because you were the first one there and they assumed that was the correct order. Ironically, you, who caused the problem in the first place, were the only one smart enough to think up the obvious solution.
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