Across the Creek - September 2010
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Transcript of Across the Creek - September 2010
COVER
September 2010
Today’s genera-on of students post links to their Facebook pages, pick fights with trolls on YouTube, and thousands contribute their unique exper-se through blogs or Wikipedia. And the ques-on remains, why?
I recently read an interview with authors Daniel Pink and Clay Shirky that explains the benefits our genera-on has considering what these two deem the Cogni-ve Surplus. Basically, in the 1960s, spare -me was spent watching television, whereas in the 21st century, our genera-on no longer passively consumes; instead, we are engaged with social media that requires input from users.
All of the aforemen-oned ac-vi-es promote communica-on that goes beyond solitary consump-on. Our genera-on is able to spread messages and ignite trends very quickly because we spend our spare -me engaging.
The ques-on is why anyone bothers. No one’s geSng paid to spend hours upda-ng Wikipedia or for instruc-ng the world on the intricacies of hamster racing, so why are approximately 1000 million hours of human labour being invested in such things?
It’s because people are intrinsically mo-vated. The guy wri-ng Saved by the Bell fan-‐fic-on online does it for the sake of doing it. Because it’s fun for him, and because he gets to be an expert in a realm he controls and creates.
Just consider that for years the only way businesses had been trying to get people to do things had been to wave a reward in front of people to mo-vate them to produce results. Ul-mately, this narrow approach is too simplis-c and doesn’t account for all types of behaviour.
Our ac-ons as a community changed to become more engaged over the years because of the avenues made available to us. We
now have mobile phones designed to allow us to capture streaming video and make informa-on available to our networks. These types of opportuni-es have made connec-ng easy, instant, and provide us with a different kind of reward.
And so, it’s with the cogni-ve surplus in mind that I ask you to spend your spare -me being an expert. Pink and Shirky have confirmed for me that you’ve got this -me on your hands and I’d love for you to contribute whatever you’re passionate about to this publica-on. My intent is for AtC to become a crea-ve outlet for whatever makes you -ck.
I thank all of experts in this issue and I hope that they inspire you to consider contribu-ng or making the AtC a permanent staple of your spare -me.
All the best,Jen Pepper -‐ AtC Editor
Here’s your pep Talk...I Need you to be an Expert
[AtC]Across the Creek is a crea-ve publica-on funded by the St.
Jerome’s Students’ Union.
[In this Issue]
The AtC Bulletin - You’ve got mail! (from the SJU admin) [2]
AtC Feature - Life in 4 by 6 - Are you Broadcasting yourself? What’s the deal with YouTube fans and what is everyone watching? Our columnist, Samantha Grayson, provides some insight into the appeal of this popular channel. [3]
Why I Like to Travel- a blog excerpt from Rashesh Kumar, University of Waterloo recent graduate and traveller. [4]
Restaurant Review - Vincenzo’s: An Authentic Experience - All you foodies lookin’ for good eats need to check out Aleena Khan’s review of Vincenzo’s. [5]
AtC Featured Artist - Check out amazing artwork by SJ’s own Sarah Southcott-Whyte! [6]
A September Soundtrack - Music recommendations by Andrew Liu [7]
The Gift of Running - Richard Moran shares his experience and some advice. [8]
Society and...Children’s Sports - sociologist student Caterina Van Herpt reveals the benefits of letting kids be kids. [9]
Word Salad - poetry by Jessica Van de Kemp [10]
Zombie Librarian Cover Design by
Mel Martins!Mel Martins is a quirky science student by day, saucy fem cee by night, and totally didn’t write this about herself in the third person. Her turn ons include disco, good grammar, thick glasses, and the living dead. Mel hopes that someday the dean of admissions for McMas te r ’ s med i ca l p r o g r am accidentally places her application in the ‘accepted’ pile, so she can become a doctor. Until then, Mel will continue to hang around UW’s engineering buildings, hoping to marry rich.
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[Le9er from the Editor]
1
Hello students and welcome back for another exci-ng year! A special welcome to our first year students as you start the next chapter of your life here at St. Jerome’s!
Students’ Union has been working hard this summer and is excited about the year planned and our three major events. You can look forward to star-ng the year off with our Trivia Night. You’ll have a chance to team up with staff, faculty, and SJ Alumni to win great prizes and own bragging rights! Our second event, now an official SJ tradi-on, is the Parade of Lights held around Christmas, and finally, the year will wrap up with the biggest party of the year at the St. Jerome’s Gala. The Gala is a chance for everyone to come together and celebrate the year with a dinner and dance.
Also, I am thrilled to announce that the student catholic community, Residence Life and Students’ Union will be teaming up this year to hold community service days. Stay tuned for more informa-on about when and where you can come out and give back to the Kitchener-‐Waterloo community!
Students’ Union does more than hold events; we represent all of you academically by serving on various commi[ees such as College Council and the St. Jerome’s Board of Governors. To represent you to the fullest extent, we will be holding monthly informa-on sessions where you are free to come and ask ques-ons or raise concerns. You can also come visit any member of Students’ Union during office hours in room 2010.
I wish all of you a successful term both academically and socially! If there is anything that I or my team can do to make your year be[er please let us know and we will get to work on it!
All the best,
Andrew LessardStudents’ Union
President
The summer flew by and a brand-‐new
academic year is underway. Welcome
to all of our first-‐year students who are
beginning their university studies! We
are happy you are here and look
forward to geSng to know you be[er
in the coming months. And welcome
back to all our returning students. We
hope you had a good summer and are
ready for another great year.
During your -me with us, you will be
learning, studying, building friendships,
and exploring new interests. This is an
amazing -me in your lives – one that
you’ll never forget. St. Jerome’s will be
a big part of those memories you are
crea-ng. As one of our alumni, Doug
Jack (BA ’80), told a group of students
one evening last winter, “Most
students won’t recognize the impact
SJU has on their lives un-l they
graduate.” At our SJU Alumni events, I
hear stories from people who were
students here 20, 30, or 40 years ago.
These graduates went on to have
interes-ng careers, raise families, and
pursue other adventures, but they s-ll
remember their -me at St. Jerome’s as
an important period of their lives – this
is the place where they discovered a
passion for something that led to all
kinds of opportuni-es aeer gradua-on.
I encourage you to get involved in
ac-vi-es beyond the classroom while
you’re here. There is something for
everyone – sports, cooking classes,
clubs, fitness, local excursions, the
University Catholic Community, and
ways to serve others here in Kitchener-‐
Waterloo and abroad. The list is
endless! Find an ac-vity that matches
your current interests or try something
new. You’ll make friends, have fun, and
learn more about yourself along the
way.
Best of luck se[ling in to the new year
at St. Jerome’s. See you on campus!
Dr. David B. Perrin
President and Vice-‐Chancellor
The Time of your Life
Shout out from Students’ Union
“To every thing, there is a season, and a Fme to every purpose under heaven”(Pete Seger, paraphrasing Ecclesiastes 3:1)As we look forward to the new academic year, we close the door on the summer. For those of you coming to SJU for your first year, you close the door on your high school experience. For me, this academic year marks my last year as Vice President/Academic Dean, so I will be closing the door on this phase of my career and opening the door back into full-‐-me du-es as a member of faculty.
All transi-ons, like these, fill us with expecta-ons for the future and memories of the past. So as I look forward I wanted to reflect with you on some of my memories of the past which allow me to say that SJU is one of the best post-‐secondary ins-tu-ons in the country. I have been on faculty in three different universi-es and have directly experienced, for brief periods at least, three others. All of those experiences have had their posi-ve elements. However, SJU is something special! My first taste of the SJU spirit came during a visit to the campus aeer being hired, but not yet having started: it was Awards Night. I was overwhelmed by the camaraderie and spirit of the students – it was breathtaking. Although an occasion marking par-cular achievements of individual students, the atmosphere was magical and the sense of
solidarity and community celebra-on unparalleled. It is an experience I remember, but also re-‐live at every Awards Night: although we mark individuals, there is no jealousy, no envy – it is a community that rejoices in everyone’s excellence and effort. In a similar vein, I recall when one of our graduates received a scholarship to do graduate work at Oxford University. Once again the en-re community celebrated in unison: he had a[ained an impressive academic milestone, but it symbolized our communal pride in the level of academic excellence at SJU. Academic excellence which was front and centre this past spring at Convoca-on when our SJU students received a propor-onally high number of academic achievement awards in Arts.So, these memories fill me with joy and pride, but they also fill me with expecta-on of another great year of academic excellence and community celebra-on. We are going forward into an academic year that will have its challenges, but it will have more successes, it will have many achievements, it will demonstrate that you are all SJU-‐ers both by your academic achievement and your community commitment. Get ready….it’s going to be a great year!
Dr. Myroslaw Tataryn Acting Chair, Dept. of History and Vice-President and Academic Dean
You’ve got mail...from the SJU administration!
{AtC Admin Bulletin}[AtC] September, 2010
2
Life in 4 by 6Samantha GraysonYouTube Columnist
• • •August 29th 2008 I did something a li[le weird. I commented on a YouTube video and when the creator of that video commented back I took a screen shot and set it as my desktop background.
Perhaps not the most shocking confession of the century, but apparently it’s kind of a kooky thing to do.
The video I commented on wasn’t a music video or something posted by a mainstream personality. Instead it was the crea-on of a lone individual, filming himself, at home. So how did he get me to giggle like a 13 year-‐old with (sigh) Beiber Fever? Ah the power of YouTube.
While this reac-on makes complete sense to me, if you’re like my friend’s co-‐worker, named here, “Clueless Joe,” you may not be buying the concept.
Aeer being stuck in a cubicle with Clueless Joe for months on end, this inevitable exchange occurred with my friend, a fellow YouTube addict.
Joe asked, “so like, what else do you do?”
“I dunno, watch YouTube.” An honest reply, but what followed was far less transcribable.
Joe actually burst into laughter and proceeded to ques-on the sanity of my dear amigo. “What do you mean watch YouTube? You just go home at night and scroll through pages of videos? Who does that?”
Yikes, apparently not everybody gets excited about an endless spectrum of User Generated Content (UGC for those in the biz).
In the defense of unbelievers, it is tricky to explain to your roommate why they walked in on you watching a video of someone ea-ng wine gums, applying makeup, or mowing their lawn. Yet, my life would not be the same without all
these strange and wonderful fragments of life.
Most people I know see YouTube as a place to watch random clips of earthquakes or people flipping over in ATVs. While I can’t personally deny the appeal of a good ki[en video, what makes YouTube really special is the immense crea-ve community that the site has produced, something I am proud to take advantage of.
As a student, YouTube is a form of entertainment ideally suited to my lifestyle. It’s free, except bandwidth, but who’s really coun-ng? Most content is rela-vely short and makes for the perfect study break. What I like most, though, is coming home to a buffet of entertainment, custom-‐made for my own interests. By clicking “subscribe” on my
favorite channels, each video that channel uploads goes directly to my subscrip-on box for my viewing pleasure.
This descrip-on of convenience may lead you to believe YouTube is about siSng at home watching videos alone, but while Clueless Joe may not have understood my friend, I really really do. It gives us something to laugh about and share. It gets us talking about things we never would have.
When it is my turn to be asked that inevitable ques-on again, “what else do you do,” you can expect a fully-‐loaded answer. “I watch YouTube, don’t you?” If they seem confused, I may have to direct them here. There are more lessons to come. Don’t you wish you could just click subscribe?
Channel Surfing...[what’s Sam Watching?]
youtube.com/user/WHATTHEBUCKSHOW
Michael Buckley is the poster boy for
success on YouTube. He was one of the
first to make online video a full time job,
and after watching him satirize celebrities
for a video or two you will understand why.
Not sure where to start? Check out these two channels that should help you to clue in to the awesome powers of the YouTube community.
youtube.com/VlogBrothersThis channel is a staple of the community (these brothers ran the first ever conference for online videos this summer). I picked this channel for the simple fact that it oozes love for our favorite video sharing platform.
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Some people travel because it's a break from their normal flow of life. Some people travel because they like to expose themselves to new places, new food, and new cultures. Some people like to travel because it makes other people feel jealous. Some people like to travel for the sake of traveling. Just because they can.
But recently I realized that I like to travel not for any of the above reasons but because I like feeling lost. I like the discomfor-ng feeling of not knowing where I am. I like having to figure things out by looking at a map. I like not knowing where I'm going to be having lunch or dinner un-l it's -me for lunch or dinner. I like losing track of -me and not knowing the day of the month or the week of the day. In short, I like not having an agenda.
I actually like maps a lot. So much that I once considered becoming a cartographer. That explains why I like spending so much -me on Google Maps. There was once a -me in 2006 when I used to spend more -me on Google Maps than on Facebook. And on every Google interview I've had, when the interviewer would ask me what team I'd like to be on, I'd instantly reply "the maps team!"
The other reason I enjoy traveling is because I like it when I have no idea what people around me are talking about. I guess this is a feeling I'm really used to having grown up in Dubai. Everywhere I went in Dubai, people around me used to speak in Arabic, Malayalam and Sindhi, none of which languages I actually have any knowledge of.
So I guess I can't really tell people I like traveling. It would be more appropriate of me to tell people that I like visi-ng foreign places instead. Because visi-ng foreign places puts me outside my comfort zone. Except this means that I wouldn't want to spend more than 2-‐3 days in any city while traveling since aeer that I will have accustomed myself to the city, figured out my bearings, and figured out the public transit system. At which point things get boring quite quickly.
That's why I'm glad that when we went on our tour of Europe this summer, we only stayed in each city for a maximum of 2.5 days. Constantly changing ci-es every third day was fun. And by the end of the trip we got really good at figuring out new ci-es, really good at reading maps, and really good at figuring out how the public transit system worked.
There's nothing like being lost in a random city half-‐way across the world where everyone speaks a language you don't. And that is the true experience I get from traveling.
FROM THE EDITORRajesh recently graduated with a degree in nanotech engineering from the University of Waterloo. If you liked this blog excerpt, be sure to check out his other UW related posts
at: www.meetrajesh.com
Why I like to Travel
{AtC Discovers...}
a blog excerpt from UW alumni Rajesh Kumar
"VisiFng foreign places puts me outside my comfort zone.”
[AtC] September, 2010
4
Aleena Khan - Restaurant critic
LocaFon: 150 Caroline Street South, WaterlooPhone: (519) 741-‐1437
Website: vincenzosonline.com
Vincenzo’s is a gourmet grocery store and restaurant located in Uptown Waterloo. I got to know of this place a few months ago when they relocated and expanded their store. They offer hot foods, deli style sandwiches made with unique breads, cheeses and toppings, and their bakery is a
true hidden gem.
The store’s appearance can be misleading because upon entering it looks like a regular grocery store, but the restaurant is in the back. The grocery sec-on has various sauces, snacks, pastas, and other ethnic ingredients from countries such as Italy and India, for example. Vincenzo’s varie-es of cheeses and breads are definitely unique in the KW area. They offer deli sandwiches for about six dollars, so the price is definitely worth the new and different tastes.
The reason I have ended up at Vincenzo’s again and again is the ever-‐changing selec-on at their bakery. They offer tradi-onal -ramisu and cakes for special occasions, but what sets this bakery apart from the rest in the area is the fact that there is no generic baked good in the store. The cupcakes come in flavours like cookie dough and hazelnut, and their pastries look like something right out of a café in Italy. The mini treats are reasonably priced for those who are looking to try something new. If you’re not feeling too adventurous, they also have real Italian gelato. Another thing to note, however, is that Vincenzo’s is not open on Sundays, which limits us busy students a li[le.
Vincenzo’s is not as well known as it should be because of its loca-on, but this restaurant has not yet ceased to amaze me, so if you are ever in the area it is definitely worth dropping in for a quick mul-cultural experience.
Vincenzo’s
Try the smoked turkey on a croissant with swiss cheese and bruchetta - one
of the best sandwiches I’ve ever had. Less than 6 bucks and it’s packed with
fresh ingredients.
For dessert, try Dulce le leche mini cheesecake. (Although I’m not the biggest fan of caramel, it was the
perfect size with coffee flavoured chocolate pieces on top!)
{Aleena’s Picks
An authentic experience
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Featured Artist:
Sarah Southcott-Whyte
[AtC] September, 2010
}{The pain-ng to the right is en-tled
SJ 1209: A Memory of Home
“Where some of my best UW
memories were made” -‐ Sarah
6
Society is... well we know what it is-‐ a diverse and assorted mix of people, groups, cultures, things, ideas, beliefs, places, and most importantly it is whatever defines society for you. As a sociologist I can tell you it is important to view society through different social and cultural contexts, such as technology, religion, media, or work. Some contexts may bring more insight than others but what is important is the different insight each context brings. I think you have to look no further than games of hockey, baseball, and soccer everywhere to find one very cri-cal perspec-ve.
I am talking about sports. They are a facet of everyday life which contains a wide framework of contexts which must be split into more specific contexts in order to gain insight into society. These athle-c ac-vi-es may be looked at as they pertain to issues and controversies such as violence, deviance, gender, race, or ethnicity (all very healthy fare for sociological study). However, one type of spor-ng remains oeen overlooked despite its incredible poten-al for all kinds of insight. Children’s sports are not usually viewed as an issue or controversy; however, looking at them cri-cally can allow us to understand things about society which we would have not considered before.
To provide a background for this argument it is important to note that a majority of youth sports today are organized by adults and parents who are becoming increasingly involved in their child’s par-cipa-on in organized sports. This trend could possibly be explained by a new defini-on of what a good parent is: being involved in your child’s life, keeping your child safe by knowing where they are and what they are doing all the -me, keeping your child healthy by encouraging physical fitness, and ins-lling good values such as -me management. Each of these can be achieved through par-cipa-on in organized sports and none of them is necessarily bad. However, the issue that arises is that of the child’s experience.
Many people can say that as a youth they met new friends, had fun, learnt valuable lessons, and gained respect for sport, all generally posi-ve experiences, which many parents hope for when signing their child up for organized sports. However, with the common focus in many organized sports is on winning,
coaches and parents are constantly encouraging children to improve, become be[er, and win, which does not always lead to fun or fair play.
If we look at informal children’s sports (such as tag or street hockey) in contrast to organized sports, we can be[er see the dis-nct difference in the child’s experience. Formal sports emphasize strict rules, set posi-ons, guidance by adults, forced involvement, winners and losers, and most valuable players. In contrast, informal sports, organized by children themselves, emphasize personal involvement, “do overs”, rules created and changed by the children, arguments solved by the children, crea-vity, and friendships. The outcomes of informal sports are things such as crea-vity, coopera-on, problem solving, and a more rewarding experience for the child. However, the outcomes of formal sports emphasize rela-onships with authority figures, and knowing how to learn rules and set strategies. Much of the child’s ac-ve involvement (other than playing the sport) is lost in organized sports and the focus is on the adult or parent and following what they say.
By being cri-cal of children’s sport we have gained deeper insight into a specific dimension of society; although on the surface children’s organized sports look beneficial for the children, they are oeen more beneficial for the parent. Children’s sports themselves also reinforce a fundamental way of looking at our society.
Maybe we can start to perceive society and our social environments in a way similar to the way we perceive informal children’s sports. Each player (individual in society) has a valued perspec-ve, there are no final words, and everyone gets a chance to play. If there were a guide book to sociology, this would probably fit under the first rule.
Society and...
Children’s Sports
arFcle by sociology student CATERINA VAN HERPT
images curtsey of colvin.ca and hysa-‐tn.org
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One morning in March of 2007, I woke up unable to walk without excrucia-ng pain in the arch of my lee foot. I was confused. I had gone out for an easy 8 mile run the night before to get my mind off of some par-cularly frustra-ng personal issues, but I felt perfectly fine before, during and aeer my run. I was extremely fit, and had never had a serious running injury.
I a[ended all of my classes that day, including those at Wilfrid Laurier (to which I, stupidly, walked). When I finally made it to the doctor later that aeernoon, my fears were confirmed: I had a nasty case of plantar fascii-s. The doctor recommended physiotherapy, and gave me a prescrip-on for 15 days of meloxicam, a strong nonsteroidal an--‐inflammatory drug. Briefly, I did all of the right things. I went to physiotherapy, took the meloxicam religiously, did the necessary exercises while studying, and even cut my running mileage way back.
However, I did not con-nue to be smart for very long. Within weeks, I was back trying to run the kind of mileage to which I had become accustomed. I clearly had not learned my lesson: aeer coming down with a serious overtraining injury, I was back overtraining.
Two years, countless plantar fascii-s relapses, and a not insignificant amount of weight gain later, I am back to running. It has been a long and frustra-ng journey to this point, but this -me, I am doing it the right way. I am building my mileage slowly, listening to my body, and running a more consistent schedule. The pain in my plantar fascia has taught me many valuable physiological lessons. More importantly, though, it has taught me to be thankful for the privilege of running, and the gies it gives me every single day.
It is oeen claimed that running is the largest par-cipatory sport in the world. I have no idea if this is true or not, but I sincerely hope that it is. Over the years, running has provided me with more benefits than any other single ac-vity. The physical benefits
are undeniable. As a person with a family history of heart disease, I am extremely thankful to running for the weight control it provides, my strengthened aerobic system, and the countless other ways in which it has improved my health.
However, I am even more thankful for the mental and emo-onal gies that running has given me. My runs provide me with perspec-ve when life gets overwhelming. Whether it is an easy 45 minutes, a two hour long run, or running hard repeats at the track, running is the most effec-ve stress buster I have ever tried. During and aeer a run, I achieve the kind of clarity that I need to perform my best academically. I find myself with increased pa-ence and understanding in my rela-onships with others. In short, running makes me a be[er person.
If you are physically able, and you have never tried running as a recrea-onal ac-vity, I implore you to join the world’s largest support group. It doesn’t ma[er what your goals are. Whether you want to lose weight, increase your fitness for other sports, enjoy the aforemen-oned emo-onal benefits, or just get that elusive beach body, there is a place for you in the running community. Whether you want to race 5Ks, 100-‐mile ultra-‐marathons, anything between, or not race at all, the running community will support you. Fast or slow, young or old, tall or short, male or female, the running community wants you to be a part of it.
I won’t sugarcoat it: running is hard. It is going to hurt. There are days you won’t want to get out the door for whatever workout you’ve planned. Just remember that running is one of the absolute best things you can do for your mind, body, and overall life. I am, admi[edly, not an inspira-onal person, so I will leave you with a quota-on from George Sheehan, former columnist for Runner’s World : “The more I run, the more I want to run, and the more I live a life condi-oned and influenced and fashioned by running. And the more I run, the more certain I am that I am heading for my real goal: to become the person I am.”
A September Soundtrack
by Andrew Liu With school star-ng and everyone transi-oning, things can get a bit depressing. We all miss the great weather, the -me spent with family and friends, and the unforge[able memories. But lucky for you, I’m here to make that transi-on a li[le bit easier. Here’s a playlist that I created from the songs that I’ve been listening to for the past couple of months. All the songs have amazing beats, singers, lyrics and memories a[ached to them. This list includes a couple of my new favourite bands like The Temper Trap, Example, Vampire Weekend, and The Wombats. The Temper Trap, whose album has been stuck on repeat on my iPod, is an alterna-ve rock band from Melbourne, Australia. The band recently released their first debut album called Condi<ons which had Jim Abiss (produces the Arc-c Monkey’s albums) flown in to help create the record. Having Abiss take the lead has created amazing results with songs that echo and haunt you even aeer you finish listening to the album. I hope you enjoy The Temper Trap, but more importantly I hope you enjoy this playlist and that it’ll be a cure for any summer blues!
In the Club – Just InPony Pony Run Run – Walking on a LineExample – KickstartsThe Temper Trap – FaderDavid Gue9a, Chris Willis, Fergie & LMFAO -‐ GeSn’ Over YouPendulum – Watercolour Vampire Weekend – CousinsCharlo9e Gainsbourg b. Beck – Heaven Can WaitUffie b. Pharrell Williams -‐ ADD SUVThe Gossip – Pop Goes the WorldThe Wombats – Kill the DirectorLilly Wood & The Prick – Down the DrainBiffy Clyro – BubbleArcFc Monkeys – Brainstorm
The Gift of Running
by Richard Moran
“I achieve the kind of clarity that I need to perform my best academically. I find myself with increased patience and understanding in my relationships with others. In short, running makes me a better person.”
8
Anhedonia: Dragging herself through the peyote streets at dusk: a li[le bleak of brain, like a lost ba[alion. The heterosexual dollar humping the hand of a friar. A rye field’s dark whisper falling upon tarnished taste buds. God lying in a galaxy, dead as a doornail. The madhouse pilgrims begging for a quick-‐fix lobotomy. Waving breasts and manuscripts at misogynis-c men.
Adulthood: Five dollars and forty-‐three cents: gratethecheese gratethecheese gratethecheese. The grim, the grime, the gemma fixed star. Please master, please pater, please mater: soeness. Push back my legs from this kneeling breech birth. Kiss me on the throat chakra, the solar plexus, the root. Twenty-‐one years old and hoping your liver will hold.
Innocence: The bus terminal. The $1.99 all-‐you-‐can-‐eat breakfast special. Bags buzzing in the electric air before a storm. The baggage. I knew a woman who was tender in her bones, a quivery sort of sorrow. Some-mes I can almost see the souls of children, indigo and blue, circling above our heads. Only my mouth takes in your scent: ambrosial. May we sail through this: a dream so white it whispers. The unborn stars of the distant other.
Silence: A cat named Quietus. The Stoic whose slender smile could wither nightshade. The bowing of the teapot's extraterrestrial spout. We glance at each other, wordless, wringing our hands: two white savages ea-ng Chow Mein noodles on a Monday. Understanding rivers. The vo-ve candles: lit, as if by themselves. On your knees, repen-ng.
ICU: The name on the marker board s-ll says "Bill." Did they even change the sheets? Bags of IV-‐fluid hanging overhead like baby mobiles. Nurse says, “Just a li[le prick.” In the examina-on room: pulling down my gown in front of an intern. I should have shaved my legs before I tried to kill myself. Looking up at the ceiling with bright, Van Gogh eyes. The paramedics who don't know which floor the Psychiatric Ward is on. The fourth, you idiots. Lying pell-‐mell on a gurney, sad faces floa-ng by. I think I know them.
Feminine: Ma[resses of moss, writhing. Girl in the bathroom stall too embarrassed to take a piss. Girl who doesn’t want to be a mother. Hearts flicked into -n can ashtrays. Mary losing both breasts to cancer. Mary geSng a hysterectomy. I don't even know if she's a woman anymore. I just keep telling her to forget Joseph’s tongue at her nipples.
Thinking: These are my bones breaking, my muscles tearing, my body splayed like a luminescent locust. Bald cranium bathing in the starlight. Living in the Corpus Callosum, the white-‐ma[er in-‐between, aphasic. There's one clean cup lee in the cupboard. The door fell open and my ghost almost rapped again. I’ve forgo[en who I was supposed to be this morning.
Masculine: High collars. Ties like li[le nooses, eager to feel the guillo-ne's grace, the death erec-on. That blessed bundle of nerves. Making love to a Seraph, some-mes holding her shoulders. Feeling like a violent star in the presence of a pebble-‐bearer. PuSng another notch in Orion’s belt. The first half-‐twist container of fire.
WriFng: Everything is sdrawkcab. Words from constella-ons, marshes. Words from dei-es, dreams. Think this: we have burned our bodies. Think this: we have burned our bodies and the souls within them. Think this: we are Buddhist Monks. Write this: Memento Mori. Write this: this sentence is my mouth. Write this on the walls.
Memory: Method of Loci. Immortality: a dolorosa room. An aSc full of Navajo’s. A closet. A con-nent. Airplanes, like Icarus, that fly too close to the sun. Taking my skull and bashing it into a wall on Georgian Bay, when the moonlight moves under the co[age, and Nyx stands on poles. Sensing two worlds at once. Dropping my body on the cobblestones.
Life: Urinals. Mixing in the peas with the potatoes. Drawing up divorce papers just to see if she loves you. Microwave bu[ons. Garbage truck wake-‐up at 6:30am. Pulling out the ice-‐cube tray just to find it empty. Lilies closing at dusk. Hushed cicadas. Bu[erfly clinging to the window screen. Error message.
Word Salad }by Jessica Van de Kemp
[AtC] September, 2010
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