Tuesday, May 17, 2011

3089. THE MOST POST

THE MOST POST*
Crenelated and twisted, as if
some architecture by Gaudi
had right now come to life, I
tried to look back from where
I'd just come. The strange form
of the Municipal Center, still dogging
my thoughts, seemed less a foil than
feint. How buildings can always deceive!
And inside, I already knew, those cheap
careerists with three-dollar ties and
bargain-bin suits try reading their
updates and bulletins and codes, they
still stood around probably yet gawking
at girls - the ones fresh from high school
last year, who'd gotten the job through a
family connection, that old battered aunt
who clerked for the judge, or the uncle who
stamped overtime tickets. Now they were
stuck in some far, other land - buying tight
suits and low-cut blouses to wear to work,
just to enliven the guy with the pen case,
bring him to life, otherwise a jerk. Egad!
What a stilted paltry life we can lead when
given first to choose. No brain of distinction;
nothing to bring forth the new flowers with
new petals of gold or new blossoms
of silver and silk.

[*from 'Iolanthe' - "The constitutional guardian I/of pretty young Wards in Chancery,/All very agreeable girls - and none/Are over the age of twenty-one./A pleasant occupation for/a rather susceptible Chancellor!"]

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