Here's the first in my new series from my journals:
October 13, 1981
The topic that I choose is locked away in my imagination. Behind the barriers that I have created. The topic can not escape. The doors leading to it are barred, saving it from the weather. The topic is a timid one, when it has been free, it has hidden in the corners. This topic thrives on reality. it lusts for emotion. Someday it will manifest, but only when it is ready. It has been burned before. It has learned from its mistakes. It watches, it waits, it comtemplates in the inner-most region of my mind. It is spontaneous. It cannot, will not be monitored. It has buckled under pressure. It will not again. My topic is a secret. It is locked away in my Imagination. Someday, the doors will fling open and my topic will escape. Pray you're not there. It cares for no one. It steps on anything that gets in its way. It will get out and create havoc. It won't get out, I forbid it. It may be present, but it won't rule me. It may speak through my mouth but it won't work through my hands. My topic is frightning. Someday I will die. Then my topic will be someone else's. Maybe they will lock it away too. Maybe…..
…To which the teacher grading the thing said only "How Clever!"
4 Comments
And I have to say I admire your courage. I can't think back to most of what I was without cringing. If I had kept any of it, I'd have to call it diary of a ditz.
Do you supose "How Clever" was code for "This entry makes me nervous"?
Nah, me neither.
*Is dizzy from the wonderfulness of the stickers*
This is from one of the Journals from Boeger's Creative Writing Class, so I assume "very clever" was her comment. You remember how she used to write a word or two on several pages whenever she graded them.
And, assuming it was Boeger, then "How Clever" probably sits somewhere between heavy sarcasm and pure genius. Of course, it was early on in the year and she hadn't been fully exposed to how crazy we were all going to get, so the sarcasm might not have kicked in, yet.
Hind sight, and all that.
"How Clever" meant "I have no idea what he's saying here, but I have to write something so he'll know I read it."
Your logic is inescapeable as ever, Miss Diane!!!
Look at it this way, at least he's not wishing he could grow up to be a rapper.
*runs away, ducking the rotten veggies Diane throws**