With the title, it remains a bit ambiguous who's speaking what, although I guess it's poor old Elidus being ticked off & attacked at the end...
Either way, the situation reeks of sad familiarity, Lawrence.
Doug
On 2013-02-20, at 4:20 AM, Lawrence Upton <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>
> Well, not forgotten if it's said to you, I suppose.
>
> I'm thinking now about how he might react. Not for this poem /
> meeting, but generally. He might learn from it, but that's unlikely.
>
> I know myself how upset I get when someone says "I'm sorry that you
> think our customer service is below the standard that you have a right
> to expect", thereby implying that it's my failure not theirs. That's
> where this came from. But apart from his anger (my anger) at some
> smart arse playing with words, there's his righteous anger.
>
> I recall, having obliged someone by agreeing to jump through a
> pointless security hoop, I asked what had been served. She turned her
> head away and wouldn't answer. Chap behind me said _The more you
> challenge her the more right she'll feel._
>
> & he was right.
>
> Belief is a terrible thing.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Poetryetc: poetry and poetics"
> To:
> Cc:
> Sent:Wed, 20 Feb 2013 11:08:25 -0000
> Subject:Re: Elidius and the nature of sorrow
>
> Memorable last line
> P
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Poetryetc: poetry and poetics [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> On Behalf Of Lawrence Upton
> Sent: 20 February 2013 11:04
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Elidius and the nature of sorrow
>
> "I'm sorry that you think I've let you down.
>
> I do my best, you know, and do want to.�
>
> But you're not sorry that you really did.
>
> I"I am. I said so.�
>
> No, you did not, Sir.
>
> You said you're sorry that I think you did.
>
> "It is the same thing.�
>
> Very far from it.
>
> What I hoped for's believable sorrow,
>
> an apology that is unambiguous,
>
> for the damage that you had caused to me.
>
> Ah, no response; a fabricated face.
>
> You might have made a more adequate reply.
>
> Perhaps you maintain you are not lying
>
> if you seem to say what you are not saying.
>
> Let me reaffirm that it is a lie
>
> if you mislead someone.
>
> "Spare me sermons.�
>
> You try to be an automaton, my son.
>
> "If you wish, you old fool; but just fuck off.�
>
>
Douglas Barbour
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