English as a second language.

Was reading Camus' "lyrical and critical essays" this afternoon as procrastination from the piles. Reminded me of the abstractions we get lost in. Rhetoric as seductive. The banter they use to argue with in the middle of the playground: "playful and whimsical," "Less economical," "a chance for more depth," "more sultry and better for escapism." I was talking to Charlie awhile back about this and she said she did it as well as a child in her journals. Codes and similes and allegories in order to make people work to understand where the center is/what the content actually is. Refuted as hiding, concealing, masking, splitting. I've always thought intertextuality had it right when suggesting there's no more allowances to use the word "sky" and "sun" and "the moon" and "the darkness" and "the sea" without falling brutally into those whispers of "horribly cliche" or "Fuck, that shit is just corny, yo!" Reminded me of something a dear friend told me one afternoon at a bakery in Somerville, MA (Someday cafe) after having told her about some stories of international students I taught in writing workshops (Boston) years ago. She was dry, impersonal, almost not present yet considering language and connectedness in such a subtle manner you're at once reminded why you should keep certain people within a stones throw:

"I suppose you had to learn how to talk in a different way, a way that maybe you're kinda awkward with...a way you're not used to...Straight forward."

Today, no constructions, no missed introductions nor talk of sandstorms, muses, curvature, curtains covering sound, vanishing treehouses or Satir's parts. Paint a picture for me. Use no brush. Synesthesia as a sole means to get your point across. "I feel," "I am," "this is what I mean exactly." What's being said in those moments? What's lost in the translations? Missing parts. Arms, legs, tongue, clavicle...She's right. It makes more sense to put it all on the table. Theory. Lesson one, day one, minute one: "Put your body into it. If they can't hear the songs, fuck em'." *Insert hypocrite here as well as the 10 year old you* But. And. So. Then again.