Youth is the true Saturnian Reign, the Golden Age on earth again, when figs are grown on thistles, and pigs betailed with whistles and, wearing silken bristles, live ever in clover, and cows fly over, delivering milk at every door, and Justice never is heard to snore, and every assassin is made a ghost and, howling, is cast into Baltimost!2009 Update: The apex of a life when all hardship lies behind, every error ahead and wisdom glistens like gemstones in every orifice.
—Polydore Smith
Redefining misanthropy for a fresh generation. Standard posts begin with a definition from Ambrose Bierce's The Devil's Dictionary followed by a modern adjustment. Miscellany on Wednesday and storytelling on Saturday.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Youth
YOUTH, n. The Period of Possibility, when Archimedes finds a fulcrum, Cassandra has a following and seven cities compete for the honor of endowing a living Homer.
Youth: Smooth skinned, energetic, and omniscient.
ReplyDeleteSo, you're saying that the amount of wisdom in any given person is proportional to the number and gaudiness of their body piercings? No wonder. Of course, I would have considered that to be an inverse relationship, but what do I know? I'm no longer young.
ReplyDeleteYOUTH, n. An optimist's view of a young person and the object of his attentions. The curmudgeon's, of course, is MEETH. Arlen Spector's, too - and he's 80.
Youth is what we measure in time instead of density.
ReplyDeleteCliche but true:
ReplyDeleteWasted on the young.
yes youth
ReplyDeletewhat thoughts it conjures up,
uncle sam enjoyed the day 100,
of new improved youthful government,
will continue to observe
with a youthful
outlook--
looking for the
possibilities
the angles
but most importantly
to embrace life
Peace
Bear, you're an inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYOUTH, n. The magical elixir of existence that allows one to approve an unannounced low-level flyover of New York City, and escape copping the blame for it.
One more and I'll stop, Actonbell.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the difference between a youth and parents?
The youth knows everything.
The parents "no" everything.
Since you liked this so much over at my place the other day, I thought I'd repeat it here:
ReplyDeleteElsewhere
Teenage strife
clashes with parents
tomorrow lurks beyond the moon
and life
seems about to happen
elsewhere….
CLA
Know-it-alls.
ReplyDeleteWait until they hit 36 and realize they know nothing. NOTHING!!! That'll learn them.
Youth are only as young as youth feel.
ReplyDeleteWe were young once, I think, can't remember. Was it the dentist or gynecologist that came home after work and said "I had a hard day at the orifice."
ReplyDeleteThat for which we are all nostalgic.
ReplyDeleteThe young are wonderful. They still have hope and ideals. They haven't given up on changing the world, one parent at a time.
TLP, the older I am the more I realize how defenceless the young is, they don't believe all those bad things can hit them like they do others, like in bull-fight, when the bull enters the ring and is curious, fast and angry, and believes things are going to go by his own rules soon. We should keep the generousity of youth when we get old. :)
ReplyDeleteJD, sort of annoying, too, right?
ReplyDeleteActonbell, counting money, though, is a special area of expertise.
Amoeba, Specter's just getting started.
Very good, Ariel!
Little was ever wasted on me, Cheesemeister.
Bear, it takes a mature man to believe in the young. Or a forgetful one.
Amoeba, that was an amazing story that didn't get enough coverage. Wow.
That's the distillation, Quilly.
Jenn, you're a prodigy.
Hah, Nessa. Sadly for me, that's true.
Icy, when you forget your first youth, you're ready for the second.
Funny, TLP. Now sit up straight.
Ariel, can we just keep the bull?
Youth: Never appreciated by the young - only by the old.
ReplyDeleteIndefinite period of callowness.
ReplyDeleteIf only the rose remained perpetually bloomed.
ReplyDelete