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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 23 of 23. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Atticus on December 20, 2004, at 18:20:12
Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws
Cat slips through the vertical mercury
With a supple, stippled ripple,
A glissando played on a keyboard of claws.
Flashes a sinner’s grin and switchblade whiskers
Sliced from the land behind mirrors
As he prowls on paper storybook paws.Hits the street feeling sweet, purring
“Murder is meat,” as winter’s cold sun
Sparkles off the spectacle of his jaws.
Alice has been beckoned to a Starbuck’s on Second,
And at this royal scene of the Queen
Of Caffeine, he’s lost his grip on Wonderland’s laws.Claws are retracted, the feral grin is compacted,
He orders a mocha espresso
And considers his many flaws.
Alice enters the café door precisely at four,
And a Cheshire kitten, now shy,
Floats a cowed “meow” after a tiny but hesitant pause.
-- Atticus
Posted by Jai Narayan on December 20, 2004, at 19:25:33
In reply to poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws, posted by Atticus on December 20, 2004, at 18:20:12
your meeting with crushedout?
my god you are so awesome.
I love the poem it cuts into me like refracted light.
so bright and piercing.
you speak my language.
it's funny but sometimes I think I see you in the holiday crowd.
A man with an interesting face....
he cocks his head and I just wonder....
is it you Atticus?
I am enveloped by this mystery.
what is it about that which we do not know?
mystery has such power.
Silly me all of life is such a mystery
Ja*
Posted by Atticus on December 20, 2004, at 19:38:53
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws, posted by Jai Narayan on December 20, 2004, at 19:25:33
Hi Jai,
Yeah, this is about my meeting with crushedout, and how my confidence on this site quickly evaporated during a face-to-face meeting. It was almost like leaving a place where you have a kind of magical power and tumbling into the real world. And as is often the case, I used my alter ego, the Cheshire Cat, in my attempt to capture the emotional and psychological experience. Ta. ;) Atticus
Posted by Jai Narayan on December 20, 2004, at 20:06:40
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on December 20, 2004, at 19:38:53
well it is a brilliant poem and I think you are quite a person.
wish it could have been me.
I am green with envy.
Ja*
Posted by crushedout on December 20, 2004, at 21:32:27
In reply to poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws, posted by Atticus on December 20, 2004, at 18:20:12
Wow, I like it. I'm so impressed. And honored to have a part. ;)
Posted by Atticus on December 20, 2004, at 21:43:10
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla » Atticus, posted by crushedout on December 20, 2004, at 21:32:27
Glad you enjoyed it. ;) Atticus
Posted by alexandra_k on December 20, 2004, at 23:35:51
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on December 20, 2004, at 19:38:53
> my confidence on this site quickly evaporated during a face-to-face meeting. It was almost like leaving a place where you have a kind of magical power and tumbling into the real world.
Yeah, I think I'd be the same. I wonder if some of the quieter ones on the boards would be some of the noisier ones in real life. I can imagine you shy. It really was brave of you guys to meet.
I don't know that I'd do it.
Posted by Jai Narayan on December 21, 2004, at 7:38:10
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws » Atticus, posted by alexandra_k on December 20, 2004, at 23:35:51
I would love to meet you all.
I can be shy too. It always surpises me when it happens.
everybody here is so important to me.
I'm even shy about giving my real name.that was a very special poem Atticus.
Ja*
Posted by Atticus on December 21, 2004, at 12:13:58
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws » Atticus, posted by alexandra_k on December 20, 2004, at 23:35:51
Well, even though we only spoke for 90 minutes, crushedout strikes me as a very nice person, and that made the chat very pleasant. (No need to worry about PBCs either, which is a good thing.) We were also in a very busy Starbuck's on Manhattan's Upper East Side, as wave after wave of weary X-Mas shoppers came in for a caffeine hit and a nosh, and the blur of surrounding activity may have been reassuring to her considering she was meeting some guy she didn't know from Adam. I've had the same feeling I describe in the poem on blind dates, too, actually. I just wanted to capture that sense of how quickly built-up confidence can implode in social situations. I thought others could relate. Ta. ;) Atticus
Posted by crushedout on December 21, 2004, at 12:17:49
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws » alexandra_k, posted by Atticus on December 21, 2004, at 12:13:58
We even used CURSE words, I think, once or twice. Like, we said the [dramatic music...] A-WORD. It was crazy fun.
Posted by Atticus on December 21, 2004, at 12:24:11
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws, posted by Jai Narayan on December 21, 2004, at 7:38:10
Thanks again, Jai. I've known a number of stage actors (they do off-Off-Broadway stuff) who become very shy without a script and a character's persona to inhabit. I think in a poem or post, I pick a literary "voice" to express myself. But the sheer physicality of an unscripted face-to-face in-the-flesh meeting with someone about whom you know virtually nothing (and vice-versa) is so different. Still, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. It was a fun adventure and I enjoyed her company. Let me know if you're ever in NYC. Ta. ;) Atticus
Posted by Atticus on December 21, 2004, at 12:33:59
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla, posted by crushedout on December 21, 2004, at 12:17:49
That's true. It was a potty-mouth-arama. Dr. Bob's ears must have been burning like hot coals. Bits of the conversation were quite catty. Everyone around us was blushing at the language. Normally you only hear stuff like that in something like a PG-13 movie. Very naughty, indeed. Well worth doing. And thanks again, crushed, for trekking all the way from another borough. Your pal, Atti ;)
Posted by crushedout on December 21, 2004, at 12:41:05
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla » crushedout, posted by Atticus on December 21, 2004, at 12:33:59
No problemo. It was worth the trip. For the cursing, if nothing else. (It's soooo hard to find a good cursing buddy.) ;)Boy am I silly.
Posted by alexandra_k on December 21, 2004, at 14:56:58
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on December 21, 2004, at 12:24:11
I had a friend who was an actor. He was a big guy, kind of imposing, perfect for shakespeare. He was larger than life and very boomy on stage, but in person he was broody and pretty quiet and softly spoken. I asked him once if he could live his characters. Put on a role and go into town. He said he couldn't really. If they were extreme characters then you could pull it off for a while, but aside from that he said it was more about the script and the setting.
I know that some actors can live their roles for days. Me, well there is enough drama in my life and I have an intense fear of acting.
'All the worlds a stage'
Why complicate things with layers?
Posted by Jai Narayan on December 21, 2004, at 20:01:18
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws » Jai Narayan, posted by Atticus on December 21, 2004, at 12:24:11
you are so cute....my goodness.
I might go to NYC just to see you.
I hate the city so much.
the smell....I have an over developed sense of smell.
the crush of human bodies...
I get frightened.
but I would brave it all just for a chat over coffee with you.
You know I am an old woman, right?My birthday is on Martin Luther Kings B-day.
I will be even older...
alas this aging never stops.
Or if you are ever in Vermont?
it's a thought.
Our coffee's delicious.
Ja*
Posted by crushedout on December 21, 2004, at 20:11:50
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Claws, posted by Jai Narayan on December 21, 2004, at 20:01:18
jai,i used to live in vermont.
how old are you? are you exaggerating? you feel younger than an old woman.
Posted by Jai Narayan on December 22, 2004, at 18:14:12
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla » Jai Narayan, posted by crushedout on December 21, 2004, at 20:11:50
thanks for asking
tonight I feel like a Centarian but my birthday will bring the age 57. More than 1/2 way to 100.
I do seem to be aging.
how old r u?
Ja*
Posted by alexandra_k on December 22, 2004, at 18:19:27
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla, posted by Jai Narayan on December 22, 2004, at 18:14:12
You aren't old Jai. Older than most of us, perhaps but not old. I figure 70 or 80 is old. you are a long way from that.
Posted by crushedout on December 22, 2004, at 18:34:36
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla, posted by Jai Narayan on December 22, 2004, at 18:14:12
that's so strange. i never would have guessed. but it's not old. well, the older i get the more old "old" becomes to me. at this point, i'm at around 70. it probably used to be 40 (a long time ago, when that seemed far away).i'm 33. and i feel old, too. but supposedly i look young.
Posted by alexandra_k on December 22, 2004, at 23:10:10
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla » Jai Narayan, posted by crushedout on December 22, 2004, at 18:34:36
I remember our standard 4 teacher asking the class how old an 'old person' was. I suppose we were around 9 or 10. Guess what we decided:
40
Ha! When he told us he was 44 we nearly fell over. We didn't think he was old...
Posted by crushedout on December 22, 2004, at 23:22:26
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla » crushedout, posted by alexandra_k on December 22, 2004, at 23:10:10
i thought it was funny that you wrote 70 also as old since that's what i said. (i hadn't read your post when i wrote that.)what about you, alexandra? what's your age?
(we needed to get redirected to social a while back. dr. bob's not keepin up.)
Posted by alexandra_k on December 23, 2004, at 0:53:39
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla » alexandra_k, posted by crushedout on December 22, 2004, at 23:22:26
26.
But I am starting to feel a little old myself.
Too much smoking makes the skin dry out
I am getting smile lines and crinkles by my eyes.
And I can't walk as well as I used to.
Aaaah the good old days ;-)
Posted by alexandra_k on December 23, 2004, at 0:55:26
In reply to Re: poem ... Glissando Played on a Keyboard of Cla » crushedout, posted by alexandra_k on December 23, 2004, at 0:53:39
And cause I can't walk so well
(the only form of exercise I am not morally opposed to)
My thighs and a*s are now just pools of flab
Oh wah wah
Woe is me ;-(
This is the end of the thread.
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