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Sport 16: Autumn 1996

The Wedding Call

The Wedding Call

Anything wise to say, I said to my uncle. (He’d rung
to wish us well). But he just laughed and said:
What can I say to the likes of you!
You know well enough
that with the rose
comes the thorn,
that happiness is shared solitude,
that in grievance scorn is the ultimate weapon—
and easiest avoidance! You know all that stuff.

No, there are others to tell you how to
explore your inner child,
to speak to you of the wisdom of sunsets and anger,
of how much paint to apply to your house
(and face)
and just when to buy it
(the house).
They will tell you
(truly)
that hard work is noble—and is either the secret of success
or the best sleeping pill, I just forget;
that humour lessens
as self-importance increases,
that if God is affection
then God is love. Stuff like that.

No, there’s nothing I can think of to say to you
except … two can live
more cheaply than one!

page 165

Oh, and I read somewhere that the Chinese
(who seem to know a thing or two)
stress fishing and gardens (in that order)
and have their uncles pop out of wedding
crackers to say
‘Never be boastful—
someone may come along who knew you as a child’ …