Off-Centre
Turns out
that eccentrics, compared to the rest of us
lead happier lives
are longer lived.
So that's what it's like
to be unaware
of the opinion of others;
to be utterly
impervious.
Who will tut-tut, and judge,
lumping you in
with the cat ladies, nut cases
that eccentrics, compared to the rest of us
lead happier lives
are longer lived.
So that's what it's like
to be unaware
of the opinion of others;
to be utterly
impervious.
Who will tut-tut, and judge,
lumping you in
with the cat ladies, nut cases
plain old luckless.
Except we are all a little off-centre,
Except we are all a little off-centre,
the nonsense, we tell
ourselves
the wobble when we walk.
The shameful secrets, subversive thoughts
we keep from others
no matter what.
If only we had the passion
and clear-eyed certainty
of these strange amusing creatures.
Don't be so serious, they seem to say
about conventional life,
approval, belonging
the social climb.
Like wild flowers
they appear in the garden as if by grace.
Bursting through snow
in early spring,
a single bloom
against the white monotony.
Hardy perennials
in inhospitable soil,
they persist
amidst the gaudy annuals,
The shameful secrets, subversive thoughts
we keep from others
no matter what.
If only we had the passion
and clear-eyed certainty
of these strange amusing creatures.
Don't be so serious, they seem to say
about conventional life,
approval, belonging
the social climb.
Like wild flowers
they appear in the garden as if by grace.
Bursting through snow
in early spring,
a single bloom
against the white monotony.
Hardy perennials
in inhospitable soil,
they persist
amidst the gaudy annuals,
firmly rooted
inured to scorn.
A beauty that's subtle
but hard to resist.
No doubt, such oddity gives us pause.
Yet we envy their singularity
admire their toughness.
Like ugly ducklings
hoping for swans;
as if we too
might learn to love ourselves
and who we are.
There was an item on CBC Radio's The Current about eccentrics. They interviewed a film-maker about his latest documentary, and a psychologist who has written the book on them. Apparently, there is 25 item checklist which they linked to on-line. I didn't take it, but suspect I'd rate pretty highly! (Or am I mistaking misanthropy, alienation, and nihilism -- a different kind of difference -- for eccentricity?!!)
He mentioned such common features as non-conforming from childhood, curiosity, originality, and idealism. They often have several happy obsessive pre-occupations going on at once. In general, they are of above average intelligence, are opinionated and out-spoken (but not much interested in the opinions of others), and have unusual living arrangements and eating habits. They tend to have a lively mischievous sense of humour, and this makes them good company and appealing to others. Unfortunately, they also tend to be single or divorced, and drink too much.
I vaguely recall a previous poem -- many years ago -- about eccentricity: far enough in the past to make it worthwhile having another go at it. I think the crux of this poem is that we secretly envy and admire eccentrics, even though we'd be too scared to emulate them. Because who wouldn’t want to be impervious to stigma, judgement, social exclusion? And that inside -- where we all think we're a little weird, anyway -- maybe we're frightened to have our hidden eccentricities revealed: the inner lives we all keep to ourselves.
I'm not so sure if the metaphors/similes that appear in the 2nd last stanza work. Because the wild flower appears out of the blue. And worse, the metaphor becomes mixed when the ducks and swans enter.
A beauty that's subtle
but hard to resist.
No doubt, such oddity gives us pause.
Yet we envy their singularity
admire their toughness.
Like ugly ducklings
hoping for swans;
as if we too
might learn to love ourselves
and who we are.
There was an item on CBC Radio's The Current about eccentrics. They interviewed a film-maker about his latest documentary, and a psychologist who has written the book on them. Apparently, there is 25 item checklist which they linked to on-line. I didn't take it, but suspect I'd rate pretty highly! (Or am I mistaking misanthropy, alienation, and nihilism -- a different kind of difference -- for eccentricity?!!)
He mentioned such common features as non-conforming from childhood, curiosity, originality, and idealism. They often have several happy obsessive pre-occupations going on at once. In general, they are of above average intelligence, are opinionated and out-spoken (but not much interested in the opinions of others), and have unusual living arrangements and eating habits. They tend to have a lively mischievous sense of humour, and this makes them good company and appealing to others. Unfortunately, they also tend to be single or divorced, and drink too much.
I vaguely recall a previous poem -- many years ago -- about eccentricity: far enough in the past to make it worthwhile having another go at it. I think the crux of this poem is that we secretly envy and admire eccentrics, even though we'd be too scared to emulate them. Because who wouldn’t want to be impervious to stigma, judgement, social exclusion? And that inside -- where we all think we're a little weird, anyway -- maybe we're frightened to have our hidden eccentricities revealed: the inner lives we all keep to ourselves.
I'm not so sure if the metaphors/similes that appear in the 2nd last stanza work. Because the wild flower appears out of the blue. And worse, the metaphor becomes mixed when the ducks and swans enter.
Incidentally, the opening is true, according to that expert psychologist: they do tend to be happier and longer-lived. So clearly, there is much to be said for congenial non-conformity.
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