Serendipity, surely? Did I listen to Charlotte Gainsbourg’s 5:55 first or was it overhearing Sharanya and kG at Seksan’s discussing the futilities of 55fiction? Curious, I step into my Judy Garland ruby-reds and take the rainbow over to such blogs that fifty-five. “If you fifty-five me, I’ll fifty-five you.” For my mothers, click the minutes.
1:55
I am not telepathic. I don’t know who you are and how you would see me humbled. I know not your tastes though I suspect they are prurient, perfect. I have never won a Grand Slam, but sure I have lost before, lost big, lost hard. New York Nagaram means nothing to me, unlike you.
2:55
She sits in her bower, like a bird whose paradise has been found. The sweetmeats, the incense, the scents of a wedding – these all encircle her like smoke rings, like shadows, like a fortune given, never asked for.
A bride remembers her husband’s first face. Dark eyes, sharp beard. This life is forever, she smiles.
3:55
He won’t come home at night. There must be something wrong with me. Am I not a good wife? Am I not subservient enough? He doesn’t take interest in my body. Perhaps I should lose some weight, but his mother likes my hips. They’ll bear me grandchildren, she says. Yes, maybe then he’ll love me.
4:55
I am in the mirror; I am in the picture frame. I am in nights uneasy, sleep unobtained. I am who they whisper about behind your back; they fear upsetting you, you see. I am the reason our family and friends received no Christmas cards this year, but they don’t mind. They send their condolences.
5:55
Rules are meant to be broken, they say. How many “I love you’s” can you mutter anyway, before the heartache turns a litany profane? So they never really cared for each other. Does it matter if it’s a lie? I’d return you my promises and my spite but you know I never meant them either.
44 Comments
N.B. The cover to Charlotte Gainsbourg’s 5:55 was originally a dreary, desaturated creature; I pumped it up somewhat with colour — ruby-red, of course.
loved the cover that u edited..i checked out the original cover..yours i must say has that alluring, mysterious feel to it. ;o)
Kenny,you are a darn good writer..again i wonder, why is it that u have not publish a book yet? hehe..;o)
ohh, thanks for sharing the 55fiction thingy. never knew such thing existed. *blush*
Wow, I guess bloggers are really hardworking! I thought of linking to the original cover but was too lazy too. (Didn’t want to diss the original cover designer either; I’m just in a bright RED March sorta mood.)
I have to be honest, Spiffy, I wouldn’t normally redo the cover like this, perhaps a tad too garish. However it seemed to suit the silent fury of the five protagonists of my 55fics. If you click the times (e.g. 1:55), you’ll find the original/mother 55fics.
And why is everyone asking me why haven’t I published a book yet? There’s Broken Mornings, what.
…maybe I’m planning a top-secret project of my own. (Given how lazy I am, quite unlikely though. Sigh.)
hahah…ur one of the most hardworking ones i’ve met..tht’s for sure. ;o)
yep, have clicked on them..din go through each one yet though..hehe..
hahahha…yeah yeah, u still hav Broken Mornings. ahh..u’ll know who to go to, to share top-secret secrets with right?? *hint* *hint* =P
Ah yes… But if I go round sharing my top-secret secrets, how could they be top-secret anymore?
Top-secret in my book means only one person knows: Me. Hahahaha…
yalar yalar….blekkkk…!!
As in baa baa blekkkk sheep? Though I do know a story involving a priest, a black sheep, and a pair of handcuffs…
Futility? I think what I said was *FUN*!
hahaha…u leave me speechless again, Kenny. hmm…i wonder what story is that? =P
Sharanya, my dear, so you did. But I believe kG was grousing some what about how troublesome it was to fulfill the rules of the 55fiction.
Me? I just make sure it’s 55 words. I ignore every other rule. I’m dangerous like that.
Spiffy:
Once there lived a priest who owned a black sheep. She was called Martha, after his wife. Unfortunately, his wife was still alive, so this often caused confusion. Also, she had steadily refused to divorce him in the past 20 years since he entered priesthood. For appearance’s sake, he handcuffed Martha to the bed. (Which?)
hahah….Thanks for writing the 55fiction for me. honoured-nya…lolzz…=)
Actually, if you’re OCD enough, you’d notice that the intro/explanation before the picture is also 55 words…
aiyor…i’m definitely not OCD enough. hahah… =P
No worries, I’m certainly OCD enough for the two of us; in fact, I’m OCD enough for everyone who visits my blog so it’s all good.
hello!
thanks! you are too kind. really appreciate it though. i was just telling some people how afraid i was that the play would just fall flat and no one would want to invite me to readings anymore :p nice pics and writeup by the way!
well, i’ll make sure i let you know of any upcoming readings/plays
(i just realised it would work better if i left this at your blog instead of mine heh)
Oh! I’m glad you dropped your comment here. Quite a headache to hop from blog to blog esp. since everyone’s on a different platform - Wordpress, Blogger, Xanga, LiveJournal, etc.
I’m such a fan, Pat, and after one monologue! It’s weird how giddy I am here with admiration. Really hope to see more of your plays in the future!
Oh my. You proactive punk of the literary kind.
I am interested in 3.55
You’re interested in bearing grandchildren? But… don’t you have to bear children first? And you don’t exactly have the equipment for bearing anything, right?
*looks around innocently*
By the way, if you head over to Eric’s blog, he has my new poster up, for the 2nd Breakfast Club.
(And no, I’m not gonna risk putting up a link to his page here, not after what happened the last time…)
hi again,
thanks for the kind words.would love to publish something someday but i think it will be a long journey from here.i just try to write what i feel and frankly cant seem to write longer poems coz i will get lost halfway.
Sometimes it’s self-doubt that makes the journey seem longer, Enah. And short poems are fine — it’s the quality that matters, not the length of the writing.
Speaking of Judy Garland, there is an exciting new group on Yahoo called The Judy Garland Experience. The group features dozens of ultra rare audio files, rare photo’s, lively discussions, and more! The extremely eclectic and large membership includes fans of all levels and ages, Garland family members, people who saw, worked, with, and, or knew Judy. Historians, authors, film makers etc. It’s quite the little Judyville, and everybody in the group is extremely nice. Please be sure to stop by and check it out, but be warned, you may never want to leave.
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/thejudygarlandexperience/
Thanks for the “response” to my 55. It was great and you can see a definite story reflect between your 55 and mine
Daniel,
Interesting, but I’m not sure if we’re on the same page for Judy there. I’m not so much a fan as in she’s a nice cultural reference point. Still, great work comes from great passion. Keep it up!
Errantking,
Happy to do so. Usually, in fiction, it’s the new husband that’s blissfully unaware and his wife rueful and miserable. Glad we had a chance to turn the tables together.
Interested in how your husband takes no interest in your body, rather. Now why would anyone commit such a dumb act? I wouldn’t
Ah kG, you’d be surprised how many women go unsatisfied by their meandering husbands. I believe I read a recent newspaper article about asexual people (not interested in sex, as in at all) and weirdly enough, asexual couples. Now wouldn’t that make a fun story?
That’s one story that I ain’t going biographical on.
Tee hee.
Took me five seconds to figure out what you meant. Yes, I am that slow.
What about your other story then, the one you can go biographical on? Hmm?
P.S. I’m beginning to gather that your Readings are quite explicit. Dash! that I’ve missed them. When’s the next one, bro?
And which story might that be, mister?
Explicit literature, O’how i love thee! I don’t know when my next reading is, especially now that Indie Scene Cafe has closed.
Hoping to get a reading soon!
Haven’t heard of the Indie Scene Cafe before. I guess I am really a newbie to all this.
And which story? Nothing in particular. You should email me one. We’ll see if I blush, blanch or do some other bl— action.
P.S. Good luck with getting a reading! Do. Not. Forget. To. Inform. Me.
—
Hi!
Found your musings, writings and designwork through your profile link in a response to Sharanya’s blog.
What a wonderful find! It’s a trove of little delights, both reading and viewing.
How is the bodyworks instructor training coming along?
Oh, I’m pretty much a budding digital illustrator and writer myself though I’m just developing my illustrative skills to another discipline and have only just began writing scripts for theatre.
Designing is more my trade although I am looking for a good job … still.
Gary
—
My blog: http://lesserconfusion.blogspot.com
My art: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v163/Aikuchi/Art/bronzed_fin2.jpg
Gary,
The BodyBalance instructor training commences good and proper during the second half of next week, but I’m prepping for it now. Tough though, given my mad schedule.
I think it’s cool that you are developing your work in different disciplines. Keep at it.
I’m gonna go have a gander at your blog now…
—
Pat is so wonderfully huggable! Whee, and shes a nice personality too, if you HAVE to know!
She wrote another short play, that The oral stage (http://theoralstage.blogspot.com) is performing another one of her smash short 10 minute plays WOOHOO! Yea!
Oooo, so when do you gradute in Training and stuff?
mad Schedule? For training?
Goose.
For your gander.
—
O yes she is! (Wonderful I mean, haven’t had the pleasure of hugging her yet.)
Ted Mahsun and I have formed the Pat Low Appreciation Fan Club (PLAFC). He’s the President and I’m the Secretary (which, naturally, is the better position since everyone sleeps with the secretary).
Must attend her next play, yes I must. Ted will bring the bandanas.
P.S. And I have no idea when I will “graduate”. It’s more of a freelance/for pleasure sort of thing. On average it takes one six months to be a fully certified instructor.
That’s when I begin to inflict my yoga mojo on the public…
P.P.S. Mad schedule for that and everything else. Design work, writing assignments, setting up a new office for my new CEO, et cetera. No one said Life was easy for beginners…
hahaha - i am excited also - must be there! you need a mak cik blur to walk around in the ring with a card? Count me in!
We’re all excited, excited! *jumps up and down*
ahahahha!
ok, now i am afraid. GARY YOU GOOSE how can you put people’s hopes up so soon? what if this piece sucks? then i will have no more fan club. sigh. no more fans in bandannas. double sigh.
Hahaha… Gary is a goose, but a good one that sings your praises, Pat. And rightly so. He can join PLAFC (Pat Low Appreciation Fan Club) with effect immediately.
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