Somewhere in a dark room your eyes wander the ceiling counting the number of square tiles or devising an equation to account for the total number of holes in all of them and I know the number for both but I choose to remain silent Thanks for reading Paul’s Substack!
Thank you! I am the Liam Neeson in Taken of obscure Beatles jokes. I don't have a lot of money or skills, but if you need a recondite Beatles reference about counting holes, I am your man!
Paul, this one grabs because it puts you right there—in the same frame of mind you are when you are just lying there—counting the squares or the holes. It’s vacant.
It's interesting how often times I hate finding myself in boredom while on other times I crave it strongly. You'd think the best ideas come in boredom but sometimes they come (in my experience) when I'm busy in the middle of something different altogether. It's confusing. I like boredom, anyways.
I’ve counted like that. Even how many square ceiling tiles there are, and how many have spots from a water leak. It begs me to ask myself - why can’t I just be.
Well.This is a purely ironic analysis 😉: Love the bit about calculating number of holes in the ceiling. Confess to having done that in several math classes many e years ago. Of course, there’s always staring intently at the eyebrows of the speaker (or commenter, such as myself)! It can help with the listener’s focus.
Been there. Perfect picture.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Mary. I think we’ve all been there at one time or another.
Within boredom there is an opportunity for innovative discovery through attempts at easing it.
I read the news today, oh boy
Four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire
And though the holes were rather small
They had to count them all
Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall♪
Great Beatles reference!
Thank you! I am the Liam Neeson in Taken of obscure Beatles jokes. I don't have a lot of money or skills, but if you need a recondite Beatles reference about counting holes, I am your man!
It really is a great song tho haha
Now I know where to go!
Thanks for “fixing a hole where the rain gets in”,
and brightening my day,
as does the Sun that now comes!
Boredom, that great temptress!
Boredom can lead to trouble, M,M.
Wow! That ending grabbed me. So how many are there???????
The poem remains silent on this, Aaron. If you do any research, let us know—Thank You!
Paul, this one grabs because it puts you right there—in the same frame of mind you are when you are just lying there—counting the squares or the holes. It’s vacant.
“I choose
to remain
silent”
Swoosh.
Thank you, Sea - I think the poem is meant to capture a moment that most people can relate to.
Thanks for sharing it!
It's interesting how often times I hate finding myself in boredom while on other times I crave it strongly. You'd think the best ideas come in boredom but sometimes they come (in my experience) when I'm busy in the middle of something different altogether. It's confusing. I like boredom, anyways.
Thanks for reading and commenting, Trevor.
Ve haf vays of making you talk, Herr Wittenberger!
You assume the “I” in the poem is me?
Sprechen Sie Nicht!
Nein!
Zehn!
I’ve counted like that. Even how many square ceiling tiles there are, and how many have spots from a water leak. It begs me to ask myself - why can’t I just be.
Thank you, Monica
If a recount gives the same number
Reality hasn't shifted
Yet.
Excellent observation, Malcolm!
And when that check becomes compulsion,
We have modern society.
You continue to amaze me!
Thank you, Lique, I appreciate your comment!
Well.This is a purely ironic analysis 😉: Love the bit about calculating number of holes in the ceiling. Confess to having done that in several math classes many e years ago. Of course, there’s always staring intently at the eyebrows of the speaker (or commenter, such as myself)! It can help with the listener’s focus.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Patricia. I don’t remember counting holes but I do remember counting tiles once while I was in hospital.
I’ve done this - shamefully at an orchestral venue. Ceilings are stand-in’s for clouds after all…yes?
You may be right, Patris.
Perhaps your silence is most telling of all...
There is that, Sure
Boredom allows the mind to run free just for fun. Have counted ceiling tiles.
So have I, Richard.
A little boredom creeping in to the relationship, perhaps?