Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Anostalgia

The only things that never change
Are comfort food, drink and the pupal stage.
As you prepare to meet the new
Here's a guide for what to do:
Change can be managed by attrition,
Says the paper's short edition,
Or enjoyed by those upon the ocean
As long as there's not too much motion.
It's healthy now and then to shed,
Or molt or shave or give up bread.
Epiphany came to the walrus,
The Manson clan and Saul of Tarsus,
But real change comes without warning,
When we wake up every morning.

CHRYSALIS, n.  The static stage in the life cycle of a butterfly, symbolizing change. 

25 comments:

Minka said...

You looked in the mirror didn't you?!

Lila said...

Nice piece! And timely, what with Advent and all.

Mo'a said...

Wonderful poem...and I think I actually understand it :)
I had seven weeks of the Chrysalis stage...Dr. called it pneumonia...I called it a waste of time.....now I feel like a butterfly that needs to get a lot done in such a short time.
By the by, isn't the Chrysalis Stage called Nessa?

Anonymous said...

So you're saying that mornings are the change machines of existence? What if somebody forgot to fill them overnight?

Nice work.

Minka said...

I just re-read teh piece and feel sorta foolish for my first comment. But I am used to that feeling, so the first comment stands.

On second thought, however, I thought this was grand and shouldn't be subject to any teasing whatsoever.

Chrysalis,n. the calm before the storm

TLP said...

Chrysalis: a stage called Nessa.

Logophile said...

If only metamorphosis worked out as well for us as it does for your average butterfly. Might make it easier to get out of bed in the morning.

Hobbes said...

Mutatis mutandem.

Nessa said...

Mo'a and TLP know me; D

I like to annoy people by saying the only constant in life is change.

I feel like a Queen today, Doug, you know, like a Monarch. He, he.

Jamie Dawn said...

I'm changing my life by learning to speak Spanish.
How do you get your computer to do the Spanish symbols - the accent marks and squiggly line thingy??

The thing that often bugs me about the whole Change Theme in politics is that change can go either way... good or bad. Change in and of itself is not inherently a good thing. Candidates for change need to clarify that their changes will turn us in a better direction, not a worse one.

Good poem. Your hitonious couch is a hallowed place of inspiration. You'd better keep that horrid thing, but a sofa cover might be in order so as not to offend visitors.

javajazz said...

i think ultimately change
can be a good thing,
whether it be gradual, sudden,
loose or spare.

Jim said...

Change? How does this hit you:
"w00t""
..
I may make it my word of the year. If only I knew how to use it, that's my blog question of the day (maybe all year long!)?.
..

Ariel the Thief said...

So finally, there is no guide, is there? Beautiful poem.

Katie McKenna said...

Lovely read, thank you!

Doug The Una said...

Minka, how many eyes did I have the last time you saw me?

Tight, Sis. Sort of an advent thingy.

Bless your heart, Mo'a. Glad to hear you feel better at last.

Anonamoeba, no problem for me. My card's invalid.

Thanks, Minka. I admire your ability to see things as above teasing.

TLP, a stage we all go through now and then and named after Nessa, sure.

Logo, it might make wool taste better, too.

Hobbes, translatum por favorum?

Enjoy, Monarch Nessa.

JD, if you use a Mac I can help. I don't know how to do things like that on a PC. I agree about change in politics, although right now we have two parties as bad as dirt in a marshmallow, so change for the worse might not be impossible but it will be a heck of an accomplishment. Oh, and I had a female-ordered couch cover for years until Walela thought it might be hiding bacon.

Right you are, JJ. Speaking of couches.

Jim, I don't think Bierce did an entry on that one so please let me know.

Ariel, the floors and basements of aging cities teem with guides. Most use meter and rhyme and aren't very helpful. Some eat crumbs.

Thank you, Katie. I'm honored.

Minka said...

Don't know...last time you wore that darn ape-suit all day...the fur was blocking your eyes and you dancing the Macarena distracted me a bot too much...so i am going with 5!

Tom & Icy said...

When we get old, our memory goes and when we wake, everything is fresh and new, don't know if it changed or not, just accept another day of life.

javajazz said...

its very kind of you to share
the secret source of true abundance...

Doug The Una said...

Oh, good, Minka. Thanks.

Icy, if we were wiser in our youth, we'd have done it that way then, too.

JJ, nothing for me, all for you all.

Thanks, Actonbell. Enjoy your cruise and I hope there isn't too much motion.

Charlene Amsden said...

A static state of change? Rriiiiight. It really does sound like our government.

mireille said...

I liked this a lot. The quality of stillness in motion. You're a good poet, D. xoxo

Hobbes said...

"Mutatis mutandem" means "things being changed." This made me think of it because it is usually used when one wants to say that, with changes made, the same thing applies again. So it is sort of close to "the more things change, the more they stay the same."

Doug The Una said...

Quillie, I never was afraid to be oxymoronic.

Thanks, M. I prefer the title Metered Grouch.

Thank you, Hobbes. I'm not bad with Latin roots but the endings require actual study. The more things change, the more they change.

Doug The Una said...

Well, ok, I'm not bad with cognatic Latin roots. OK, I speak English. Somewhat.

tsduff said...

If nothing changes, nothing changes.

The only thing that changes around here is the date.

You are changing into a poet.