Dialogues

Published in Spring, a journal of E.E. Cummings Society

Dialogues

1.

—RSVP ASAP

— OK

Some time later:

—ALAS

—Excuse me?

— ALAS

— When?

— Two days ago.

— My condolences.

2.

—I have no more ribs to share

and no more time to spare

— eat that apple then

3.

—   I can’t figure it out!

—   You take this and move it there

then you take that and move it here.

You march and demarche,

chant and disenchant,

you decuple couples — that’s inevitable vitality;

you mimicry & cry,

you decry & you decree

any decrement of mobility;

you mobilize mob & demobilize demos

or vice versa

you mobilize GOP & utilize GOR & GDP and

you recruit NYPD and re-route GOPD —

united we stand

divided we lie!

Oh, say, can’t you see

it’s as simple as that!

— I could have applauded

if I haven’t been appalled.

You’re a roosting chanticleer!

Give me a break through! 

Give me another example, some kind of a decurrent event.

—   Everyone is someone else

and someone else is everyone.

Life is such a splendid mess:

up & down and down & up,

updown and downup,

sometimes more and sometimes less,

you define and defy,

you defray and defraud,

increase IQ & APR

you lost gain but gained loss.

—   But that’s a fabulously ineffable fable!

You’re a demoniac maniac.

Don’t you have practical advice?

—   Keep a low profile on a high-paying job.

Save a brainy day.

Stick to your own stick.

Stick to your own shit.

Join MLA or just MP

NJDL or just njg.

Act at your own indiscretion.