My dentist and my hairdresser like to engage in chit chat while they perform their job. My dentist takes great care in asking questions that I can answer with a grunt. She takes the tools away from my mouth sensibly when she expects a longer answer. In this way the whole teeth cleaning process is very civilized, though I’d much rather close my eyes and get it over with.
Slightly different with the hairdresser. I have gone to her only three times in two years but she remembers that I teach piano and I am a poet. She remembers my father and my children. We speak as if we have known each other for years. Only sometimes I wonder if it is at all necessary to talk.
If we run into each other in the street chances are we would just say hello.
Can’t hear with the waters of. The chittering waters of. Flittering bats, fieldmice bawk talk. Ho! Are you not gone ahome? What Thom Malone? Can’t hear with bawk of bats, all thim liffeying waters of. Ho, talk save us! My foos won’t moos. I feel as old as yonder elm. A tale told of Shaun or Shem? All Livia’s daughtersons. Dark hawks hear us. Night! Night! My ho head halls. I feel as heavy as yonder stone. Tell me of John or Shaun? Who were Shem and Shaun the living sons or daughters of? Night now! Tell me, tell me, tell me, elm! Night night! Telmetale of stem or stone. Beside the rivering waters of, hiterandthithering waters of. Night!
…Ho, talk save us!
Tellmetale…