Outspoken Day

[Boss]

Outspoken day
I reach into
your pledge.
I rummage about.
How can you
put it on me?
I am nothing -
of no concern.
I haven’t the
fortitude nor
inclination.
I am unworthy
unworldly, weak.
I know not of
men’s hearts.
I am greedy
callous, ego.
I am nothing
in your wind.
I can’t stand
and fight.
I am coward.
I fear the pride
in their eyes.
The evil
in their laughter.
The violence
of their thought.

Outspoken day
do not hound me
in my solitude.
I am so, ‘just
another man’
no Superman
no prophet
a sinner
but no saint.
Yet you still
harass me
follow me
call out.
You insist
you order
you demand.
I cannot commit
my ordinary day
my loneliness -
I cannot

They scare me.
You scare me more.
You bruised me
inflicted bipolar
left me in want.
Killed my father
three siblings
my dog.
You took her
just as I
was opening
to love.
You put her
in a frame
by my bed for
seventeen years.
I remain
fallen apart -
I so miss
the dance.

I have no money
no mortgage
no shares.
No children
no friends
no desire.
I don’t
walk streets
late at night.
I still blush
when I talk
with women.
Often I see
people who
are ‘something’.
I choke on
the hopeless
predicament -
the possessions
wasting in
garages
the boring holidays
to Spain
the children stuffed
behind X-Boxes
and arguments
and day care
the infected
relationships
the perfect chaos
the crush every
natural impulse
for money
no, for ‘quiet’.
I hear the lies
they tell
themselves
so capably
believably
for certain.

I wonder of truth -
where it fits.
If love can be
understood
unfurled and
empowered.
By those of us
who profess it.
By those of us
who need
to see stale
family life
reinvigorated.
By those of us
who know sacred
from profane.
And by those
of us who can
give.

Outspoken day
you knew this
all along.
I reach out
toward you.
You smile -

I make haste.

[Violet]

.. I've read this only once so far.. but it pulls you all the way through.. and it's a kind of dread to recognize some of these things.. and in the end, to know some of that hope too..

.. and so I know it's good..

my best to you,
v i o l e t

[Boss]

ThanksVioletthe20thofNovember13,700,000,023itends/itbeginsthewaitofhalfalife10a.m.Jerusalemtime20-11-23…don’teverlet’emdissuadeyou--thisisforeternalLove,actually...Boss

[Gullivor]

I love it because it is all to true!

[Violet]

ThanksVioletthe20thofNovember13,700,000,023itends/itbeginsthewaitofhalfalife10a.m.Jerusalemtime20-11-23…don’teverlet’emdissuadeyou--thisisforeternalLove,actually...Boss

.. wow.. if this indeed is a string of signs, I think I could be busy for another life time trying to decode it.. (!).. [Gullivor, let's talk]..

.. oh.. as I read what I wrote again, it sounds like I meant it was a dread to know some of that hope, though that's not what I meant.. I meant that I recognized the hope.. Language is funny that way.. Freud might say I meant the dread part.. I guess one might dread having hope, as it's almost too painful sometimes.. but I'm not sure I've arrived at such a place as yet.. (I HOPE)..

.. e t e r n a l l o v e ' s v i o l e t...

[Boss]

Dear Violet and Gullivor,

As Robert Plant would say, "This is a song of hope"

Mankind needs a day of rest, a Sabbath. A day of not working, a day to reflect. Muslims have Friday, Jews Saturday, Christians Sunday. I have Monday - the moon's day, Diana's day. It is strictly observed from midnight to midnight - daylight saving is not taken into account (ie. the Sabbath for me starts at 1am Monday morning AEDT -- one day we will rid the world of daylight savings!) We need a special day to replenish, to recuperate. We need a special day just to 'breathe'. There will be no shopping - the world will rest.

Sit tight hey,
Boss

[imaginary friend]

Boss,

Lonely as it may be, I wonder if not being fettered – by children, a house, a mortgage – even a partner,
offers a kind of freedom; to choose the day of rest that you (and no-one else) decides on...

Happy Monday (from 1:00 am AEDT Nov 02).

I would like to ask you to explain what begins on Nov 20? And are the numbers that follow the Jewish year?

Sheila

[Boss]

Imaginary Friend I respect you very much but right now I can only say one thing - think outside the box.

In peace,
Boss

edit on Sunday night/Wednesday night: I was wrong. The Sabbath begins at sunset Friday and ends sunset Saturday. Something will begin on the 20th and thankfully something will end - it's just a personal milestone, that's all.

Peace

[Boss]

Alright, alright maybe I’m being elusive. I’ve been that way on these boards for four and a half years – but I had no choice. I don’t think anyone gets me; perhaps a few, perhaps. God knows I tried – but hey, I’m not even sure of this confession. If you do understand, I am sorry that my heart hasn't always been in it. I’ve waited too long. I’m tired. I don’t really care when the Sabbath is, I don’t really care about much at all. I am not strong enough. I’m tired, really tired. And I am so, so scared – so damned scared. Anyway, I haven’t got a hope. The world is far too full of hate and sarcasm and bitterness. We here on this forum often intellectualize/hypothesize/theorize; usually about unimportant stuff, usually to get noticed. What are we really doing, though? We have so much, we are so blessed. When I travelled to Alice Springs in the Northern Territory two years ago I had a glimpse of Aboriginal Australia and it was very sad indeed. As I walked by with a full wallet, an iPod and new boots I felt so good. But in my tent at night I realized the injustice, the horror of it all – and Mr Marlboro, Mr Johnnie Walker they just ran off with the loot. Life on Earth is skewed – there are those who have, and there is the majority who don’t. We can do more. Much more. We can save people’s lives. The West could produce miracles – it just has no direction, no rudder. Leonard thinks it will emanate from the States; I think he’s right. But what would I know? I am pretty simple and straightforward actually; but I’m quick at spotting lies. In person, I am very shy. Although I share accommodation, I have been single for many years. Each night I am alone – I have no lover to hold, no one to confide in. The last time I saw Jackie was in a courthouse on the 7th of October, 1994. We last kissed on the 26th of November, 1992 at the Melbourne Airport. I went to the Galilee; she was finally ‘free’. Jackie is the only woman for me. I have the feeling that life is going to change fairly explosively for us all. And it is going to happen shortly [but I may be wrong!] I’ll end here except to say two things: a) I really do care about the Sabbath – it stays where it traditionally sits but I still get Mondays off! and b) give to charity, give all you can. Don’t buy jewellery or a new car or souvenirs; just give all you can. Let’s turn this world on its head. Thank you.

[mat james]

Life on Earth is skewed – there are those who have, and there is the majority who don’t. We can do more. Much more. We can save people’s lives.

"We can do much more".

What is all this "We" business, Boss?
What "much more" are "you" doing?

Mat.

[Boss]

Kol tov, Mat

[Cate]

Adam your writing style is one that often invites the reader in to a very personal space in way most writers do not – it’s brave writing .

What are we really doing, though?

Sometimes I want to try and communicate something often I just want connect with somebody else. It’s like when your out and you start talking small talk with a stranger; ‘damn it’s cold – eh’ really I could care less about it being cold. I just want to say something to that person, to have eye contact with them and share some space for a moment.

Out of curiosity I looked up Alice Springs - seems like nice place.
Adam you deserved to feel good in your new boots, you deserve to sometimes feel happy.

[Boss]

Cate, you are a beautiful soul. Thank you.

Now Mr. James. I have 2 drafts for you:

Draft 1

Y’know Casey’s signature is spot on.

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms..." - Immanuel

There is a way for us - The Leonard Cohen Forum Charity. Why not? We could do it couldn’t we? I’m sure Leonard would give it his blessing and perhaps Jarkko could spare some room on the Index Page. We could give to a variety of causes – world hunger, illnesses, the environment. We could do it in our own inimitable way. We could vote in a president and treasurer, we could vote on which cause to support. We could simply give because we are able to. We could make this broken old world a better place.

Or is this place only for the worship of one man, talented though he may be? I’m sure he gives to those less fortunate. Why can’t we do it as a team? It would be worth it if we raised only a small amount. Or would such a commitment unsettle people? I thought so. Seems ‘giving’ is never flavour of the month. It was just an idea…

Draft 2

‘WE’ is the Sultan of Brunei, the emperor of Japan, Queen Elizabeth. ‘WE’ is Federer, Woods, Beckham, Judd, Ponting. ‘WE’ is Rudd, Brown, Obama, Putin. ‘WE’ is Nabisco, Tarax, Pepsi, Kraft, Ford, Toyota, Honda etc. ‘WE’ is Packer, Murdoch, Trump, Rockerfeller. ‘WE’ is anyone who eats at least twice a day. ‘WE’ is anyone who can afford a subscription to have the internet. ‘WE’ is us Mat, you and me, the rich, in this lopsided world; all of us reading this now! ‘WE’, the rich, could do so much more. ‘WE’ the strong could alleviate so much suffering, so much pain. ‘WE’ could change things. ‘WE’ could live in dignity.

I do what I can – I know I could do more. I support Child Rescue on World Vision (the number for World Vision Australia is 13 3240). They support children in crisis across the world. I pay once a month. I used to sponsor a child. He lives in Tanzania. I’ve been with World Vision since 2000 (I did have a break in there somewhere). I also intermittently give to the Brotherhood of St. Lawrence. I gave twice at local banks for the bushfire appeal. Mat, I am on a pension thus I cannot give much. But I try. And that’s what the whole world must do, from pensioners to multi-millionaires. We gotta’ turn this world on its head. If everyone in Australia gave one dollar that would equal $21 million. Think about it. You could set up heaps of farms in Tanzania with that!

Shabbat Shalom,
Boss

PS. Wouldn't it be good if there was no money at all?

[Violet]

.. well, Boss.. Adam.. it sounds to me like you're a very kind and generous soul, and I'm sorry for your troubles.. I'm sorry about Jackie.. it's both tragic sounding, yet terribly romantic too.. not everyone has just one great love, even if you can't be with her..

I don't know what else to say right now.. but if you feel strongly about this charity idea for this forum, perhaps it's something that can propel you, in a way.. it might give your life a kind of focus, and could catch on, and really turn into something.. I feel funny saying this, only because I don't feel able to do something like that myself right now.. not because I don't have such a desire to be of help, but because of other challenges I'm currently facing.. Anyway.. I say give it a try, if it's something that persists in your mind and heart.. and it might put you more in touch with others too.. those who feel similarly, and are looking for a way to act on such feelings..

my best to you in whatever you decide to do,

v i o l e t

[Boss]

Violet, maybe you are right...
It could spread!

I have a lot of thinking to do... a lot!

My best to you, too,
Boss