"Truth disappears with history and gossip tells us in the end nothing of personal relationships. There are stories of elopements, unrequited love, family feuds, and exhausting vendettas, which everyone was drawn into, had to be involved with. But nothing is said of the closeness between two people: how they grew in the shade of each other’s presence. No one speaks of that exchange of gift and character—the way a person took on and recognized himself in the smile of a lover. Individuals are seen only in the context of these swirling social tides. It was almost impossible for a couple to do anything without rumour leaving their shoulders like a flock of messenger pigeons."

—Michael Ondaatje, Running in the Family

“how they grew in the shade of each other’s presence.” oof.

"

You said, this
doesn’t happen so quick
I must remind you of someone

No,
though I am seduced
by this light, and
frantic arguments on the porch,
I ain’t subtle
you run rings
round me

but this quietness
white dress long legs
arguing your body away from me

and I with all the hunger
I didn’t know I had

"

—Michael Ondaatje, The Cinnamon Peeler

For my creative writing class, we were to take our birthday, turn it into a page number, and write about the respective poem (which was apparently supposed to be telling about us). All numerical combinations of my birthday (5/24) were blank pages. I was born at 1:24 AM (the same time Elizabeth Taylor died). This poem was on page 124. 

basically: yuuuuuuup. 

I ain’t subtle / you run rings / round me

and I with all the hunger / I didn’t know I had