short stories

Adam Dynasty was waiting for Eve Stemma in front of the eastern door of the Hawthorn Art Gallery, and while he was staring at the great poster of the virtual exhibition of the Pantheon, he thought that his greatest interest in participating in the training and competition in the creative writing course of Professor Wiseman, probably that had been his acquaintance with Eve.

Although he learned many things during the seven weeks of this training course, he even managed to write a story for the first time in a tidy state, which it includes in the list of ten selected stories luckily, and this, of course, was very much cherished and valued for him. Even the acquaintance with Professor Wiseman was considered to be honour for himself, and greatly appreciated for ability to attend his classes.

But becoming acquaintance and friendship with Eve was something else, something far more cherished than all the achievements of this training course. For him, Eve had become a clear image of dame May Gibbs, an Australian creative writer and illustrator of children book, who which meaning and concepts of any single words and images of her stories influenced on booklovers, and went to the depth of the lives and thought of her kids and adults’ readers.

And Adam Dynasty felt that had learned a lot of things from Eve Stemma gradually. Has learned how like a Gumnut Baby seeing everybody and everything, and enjoying the positive thinking of the spectacular environment and sharing them with the others.

Adam remembered the first day and the moment of his visit with Eve, and this reminding, make his face full of pleasant smile. That day, in fact, the first day of the beginning of the creative writing classes, he came a few minutes earlier than the beginning of the class, and sat somewhere at the end of the lecture hall, waiting for the arrival of Professor Wiseman and the beginning of the lesson, and with a sensation of curiosity, watching all the space of the class and people were there. The people who probably numbered more than one hundred and twenty.

It nearly said that from all age were present in the class, there were very young girls and boys, even men and women who seemed old, although their eyes were bright and curious. And it was good to see them in conversations with other students as well. Many of them were talking and listening to each other and had excited conversation, such that the crowd sounded had filled the classroom. And in the midst of this loud whispers, the professor's assistant was also distributing pamphlets among students, checking their names and marking them on a sheet.

When Eve entered the classroom, almost all the seats were filled, and there were only a few vacancies in the last tier. Her slenderness stature seemed tall with upright position in khaki coat and trousers and it showed her a little bet taller than what she was. She wore an embroidered dark olive colour hat and had a large hanging purse which both their design and colour were similar to her shoes and hat. Her light and woven golden hair beautifully swung behind her shoulders with any movements of her head and neck, and she was embraced a book like a precious object.

That day, Eve stumbled on the edge of the classroom, she stared at wide across the classroom with her big emeralds eyes and then she walked from the middle of the hall to the bottom of the classroom. She stood Adam’s adjoining chair while she still hugging her book, then asked Adam with a beautiful smile “can I sit here”.

Her soft voice and polite behave led Adam necessitated to rise from his seat gladly and invited her to sit “sure, please, it’s your seat at all … at least until the end of this period” Adam said humorously and both were laughed.

Later, she sat down and handed him out and introduced herself, “Hi, I’m Eve Stemma” and Adam squeezed her hand warmly and said “Hi, I’m Adam Dynasty and I’m very happy to see you”.

Adam really was happy and moment by moment he inhaled the gentle fragrance that raised of Eve existence, the kind of very spirit smell which Adam found that’s life-giving and he felt and focused on her attractive presence with his every breath.

Eve put her book out on the handle chair and beat on its cover rhythmically assumed she played a piano, and Adam stared at her fine fingers and in his imagination pay attention to the melody which she played by her fingertips. Meanwhile he looked at the seductive image of the cover book, which it was found and hidden frequently under the fingers of Eve.

The image on the cover book was a fantasy painting of a few baby’s face that hidden themselves behind some gumtree leaves and stretched them heads out and looking to the front of their space with amazement by exaggerated big eyes meanwhile wore cute green hats.

Adam lift his looks from Eve’s book and cast an eye on her face. Feeling of how much Eve’s eyes and her hat were similar with the baby’s faces which painted on the cover book, made a big smile on Adam’s face. Such plain that Eve fathomed it and took off her hat and clawed it on her lap.

Then Eve opened first page of her book and turned it through the Adam as he could see that and said “I love this book … Gumnut Babies is amazing book and Dame May Gibbs just only with one sketch and a short paragraph had created a something which in my opinion it’s immortal” then gazed at Adam’s eyes and asked “have you ever read this book”?

Adam was enchanted, he had stared at her charming eyes unobtrusively and replied slowly “I didn’t, I never knew May Gibbs until before” and he added quickly “could I ask please read this short paragraph for me” and Eve, without saying anything, stroked the bold letters with her fingertips which printed on the front page of the book and read it with a very pleasant voice.

“On all the big Gumtrees there are Gumnut Babies. Some people see them and some don’t; but they see everybody and everything. Possibly, that’s how their eyes have grown so big.

They love to sit in the sunshine, warming various parts of themselves while they think. They think of everything and wonder why; maybe came to look so solemn”.

Then she went on without looking at Adam, "It's so beautiful, isn’t it?" She didn’t wait for Adam's answer, and continued, "You knew the statue of the Baby Lizard Rider on the entrance of the State library is a statue of the Gumnut Baby."

And Adam, right at that moment, suddenly a spark lightened in his mind and he felt that he have found the idea and plot of his story, even immediately he choose a magnificent name for his story "Shakespeare's supper" and thought to himself “why not; it can even be a modern dramatic playwright”.

There were a number of sculptures on the outer courtyard of the Victoria State Library, and always when Adam went to the State Library he hangs about to watching and reviewing them for a long minute and each time suppose it’s a first time. He turned around them with pleasure and enthusiastic, he tried to understood all the artistic features of them or even theirs social and historical aspects; most of all he was the Judge’s Barry statue of interest.

Perhaps because Judge Berry was the founder and originator of the State Library. The statues of the La Trobe, Jan dark, and St. George also have their own artistic features. Or even an interesting Bunyip sculpture, the cute statue which originated from an aboriginal myth and a child story with the same name by Jenny Wagner with the gorgeous illustration of Bon Brooks and, of course, the Gumnut Baby Lizard Rider, that was something else, it was a very imaginative remarkable statue, it seems he run into the library eagerly.

And Adam when looked at them often imagined if these statues, or in fact, these historical characters that some of them are real and some of them just imaginary, one day want to discussion with each other what will be talking about; those who even do not have historical and spatial coincidence. For example, St. George and Bunyip or Judge Barry and Gumnut Baby; however, what can connect the world of fantasy and reality?

And that was the spark which came into the mind of Adam. Thought in the imagination that looks at reality, and writing of the reality that portrays the imagination.

On the highest level of the State Library, right underneath the great and attractive its dome, there is a beautiful stained glass artwork illustration of Shakespeare and seems he looking up to the magnificent middle-lobby of the library thoughtfully while he held a feathery pen with his fingers; a feather that in imagination arise a reality up to the heavens and in the reality arouse the subtlest imagination. And Shakespeare had stood at the edge of this dome and wrote this poem that can be the most beautiful literary interpretation of the world's reality.

“All the world’s a stage and all the men and women merely players”.

Adam rejoiced from vision and imagination of himself and quickly said, "truly It's beautiful ... Imagine a feast in the library that Gumnut Baby, Bunyip, Jan Dark, St. George, La Trobe, Judge Berry and Shakespeare have been invited, even Ned Kelly, ... All these statues and figures are in the library ... You know, I think this story should have twelve characters ... Thank you so much Eve, you gave me a good idea for writing a creative story”.

Eve was mystified by Adam’s imagination and idea and just with a sweet laugh said “my pleasure, although really I don’t know what kind of relationship Shakespeare can do with Gumnut Baby” and Adam had responded enthusiastically “of course, they have. They both see everything and everybody, and more importantly, they have serious and intimate look at the world. In fact, they think to everything and wonder why; maybe they came to look so solemn”.

Nevertheless, during the course, they both heard from Professor Wiseman and learned that one of the works of literature is establish a link between topics that in outward they don’t have relation together but their combination create the ideas that describe and record of them can change and develop the world.

However, these were all kind of reasons for them to be friends and during their seven weeks of creative writing course they willingly joined the Professor Wiseman lessons and helped each other in writing and editing their own stories friendly.

And now, Adam was waiting for Eve front of the eastern door of the Hawthorn Art Gallery to meet Professor Wiseman and other selected students of Creative Writing Course, for visit the virtual exhibition Temple of the Gods. An exhibition that in fact, he hasn’t a clear idea about its quality and circumstance of how it would be.

He just knew that in one of the galleries they can use the kind of special glasses, watches and gloves which theses make them able to observe and touch the remarkable antique artworks. He thought probably the glasses is for seeing and gloves for touching but about the watches he hasn’t any idea. And asking of himself “what’s the function of watches in this virtual exhibition”?

Although he was sure this should be a unique experience; touching the masterpieces of Michelangelo's sculptures, the statues were printed perfectly on the poster of the Temple of the Gods exhibition.

Adam thought and felt that standing in front of the wall-tomb of the pope Julius II and staring at the Moses’s statue, this crown of the modern art must have a different sensation. Especially when you know you can touch it with exciting and wondering, just as Michelangelo himself had touched them. And for a long minute, with pleasure and precision, pondering to the multitude of facial and figurative features of the statue as Michelangelo had done.

Adam had heard from Professor Wiseman that Pope Julius II before death invited Michelangelo to his lodge and asked him to build and design a perfect wall-tomb for himself; a memorial tomb which be a reminding of the glory and splendour of the united Roman Empire, as wished by the Roman commander Julius Caesar, as well as the best representative of the glory of Christianity, and reminded of the victorious Christian principles as he and his predecessors had tried to do.

And Michelangelo created three perdurable and masterpiece statuses in every sense for Pop’s wall-tomb just in one year. The Dying Slave, Rebellious Slave and Moses; and these three statuses divulging the historical conception message, which may have been the reflection of the message that Moses one day gave to his people; "you can be a submissive and a dead slave in Egypt, or a reckless rebellious free slave who comes with me to be the creator of a tribe that will be owner of the Promised Land.”

Although completing and settling the figure of Moses took forty years, but Michelangelo during this time have completed design and architecture of the wall-tomb and created dozens of other unique works.

The sculptures of the Jacob’s wives Rachel and Leah, whom the Pope Julius II brought his origin to them, but which one, he wasn’t sure; the amazing statue of the Genuine Victory, that it showed the myth spirit of the warring dominion and the Roman hegemony rule over other peoples; and four other works that Michelangelo as meaningfully never finished them, the young Slave, the Bearded Slave, the Awaken Slave and the Bound Slave which also known as Atlas; the slave who takes the world on his shoulder.

And Michelangelo, over the course of forty years, many days under light of the sun and many nights under the moonlight, infrequently sat down face to the Moses’s statue and thought to Moses in his entirely of his historical conception. And he felt this thought with all of his exist, then he figured out gradually all his sentience of the holiness and historical meaning of Moses by carving on the perfect marble by simple tools such a pen and hammer for creating the most exciting complex sculpture in the world.

A figure that according to Sigmund Freud is the most influential statue in the world, and of course, and indeed no other work in art history has been the subject of analysis, Interpretation and contradictory judgments.

From analysing about position of his siting on a stool with the highest state of tension while he turns his head to the left and seems he spies his unfaithful followers whomever adoring the Golden Calf; to appraising about his long winding twist beard and how he seized with his right hand, and in doing so, he almost lets the Tables fall to their destruction; the tablets that were not inscribed. From interpreting of his right hand that how it meaningfully mentions on stomach, and how he moved back his left foot and seems he is ready to spring up and annihilate unfaithful followers with his horns. And truly, what’s the meaning of Moses’s horns and why his right horn is looks up whereas the left one is relatively inclined.

And much important to understand is the Moses in relation to the various Slaves, especially the voluptuous Dying Slave. Some people believe that the Dying Captive is not dying but struggling in his sleep to free himself from his dream, although all completed and uncompleted Captives have been interpreted so differently.

But how we can quest the truth of meaning of Pop’s wall-tomb, Moses’s statue and others sculptures, perhaps best answer belonging to Thomas Aquinas; “those who are in quest of the truth should start by doubting well”.

However, this horned statue is a kind of attractive spectacle for psychologists, historians, scholars, and art specialists, and each one, by their very nature, make a wonderful interpretation of the meaning and conception of this magnificent figure. Someone says it is identical the Golden calf which the Jewish people worshiping him, and someone believe that is just a myth, the hideous horned demon that Pope had hidden himself behind it in his tomb for that nobody has dare to ask about something.

But Adam thought, whether now, whatever it is, undoubtedly this is a unique art work, the statue that no any modern and complicated technology able to create that or like that, although must be fair and have praising the modern technology because, it provided the opportunity for everyone to go to the temple of Gods simply and observing the whole these inspired arts, the kind of wonderful technology that root in myth.

Because, according to French philosopher and linguist Ronald Gerard Barth, “Myth is neither a lie nor a confession: it is an inflexion.” an inflexion that unites the ancient world to the new. The strange potential of an imagination that can be transformed into reality through the time.

Definitely our modern sophisticated internet technology as function is not something more than Jamshid’s Cristal Ball, an Iranian ancient myth; the legend of the wise and righteous king who had a magic Cristal Ball which make him able to sighted everything in world on its surface.

In this myth, for the sake of Jamshid's nobility and his humane insight, all of the world and its people were freedom and lived in safety and well-being, and so everything in the world was such as good and desirable that no one was sick and the deaths of the people only arose of old age, not disease, or even struggle, because there was no reason for warfare or violence.

But Jamshid destroyed all these blessings just with a single lie, an awful lie which deriving from his pride and arrogance, and for this reason he died in hardship and violence and all his people became sick and captive.

But perhaps the point of this legend and the inflexion of returning to that golden and unique mythical age can be found in the kind of modern interpretation of these four Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures.

Maybe a young slave is a symbol of the unconscious human race, and the Bearded Slave is a symbol of a generation that has reached to maturity sophistication but still they are captive in their own ignorance, and the Awaken Slave is an enunciation to the awareness that if it reaching it will be free and transformed into the Bound Slave, the slave can hold the world in its own hands; and this will be point of achieving to the freedom, prosperity and real healthiness of human race.

Adam still stared at the virtual exhibition poster and was thought about Moses statue and its relatives to the four unfinished slave statues. He is contemplating how will be able to find a way for got a truthful interpretation of these masterpieces artworks; and, of course, he was delighted that can see them closely as soon just with glasses, also can touch them with gloves But he haven’t any idea about that what watches matter in this virtual exhibition.

Then he looked at his wristwatch for a moment, and felt that Eve had delayed. He was worried a little bit but suddenly he heard Eve voice that she stood close to him and while she was laughing with warmest and kindness voice said “where are you boy, it’s a long time I am waiting for you beside the western door … what are you doing here … what’s a playful Gumnut Baby… I told you that stay front of the western door of gallery … hurry up, come on boy, Professor Weisman and all other guys came and we are waiting for you”.

When Adam looked at Eve, he couldn’t control his wonder and laugh, he opened his arms to embracing her and said loudly: “oh my God, such a beautiful girl … what is that you wearing … its very amazing … so, where is your shoes, why are you barefoot?

Eve was wearing a large crown of flowers that was full of the brilliant yellow blossoms; so that her face, like the sun, shone in her flower crown. She was worn a cream stretch top and a green glistening short skirt, also she was hanging a basket on her forearm which it was full of full-blown apples.

In the Adam’s eyesight, Eve was like a Blossom Baby especially when she spoken with passionate and quickly; “don’t say anything Adam, that really I had a strange and busy day, in fact, I’d brought group of schoolchildren to Yarra River Park for a filed trip and when I came back I haven’t time to change my dress”.

Then she continued flirtatiously “Adaaaam … you know that, as Professor Wiseman says, sometimes for better comprehension of nature it’s necessary to touch it with our bare sole foot”. Eve said this and in a short moment stood on her toes like a ballerina and beautifully turned the apple basket up around her body and raised it up on sky like a torch. A minute later she brings down her hand and while she hugging Adam friendly, said: “My fashions aren’t beautiful”!

Eve was a teacher and she was working in a school as a STEM teacher, an educational method that teaches to student Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics simultaneously, but she claimed I’m going to upgrade STEM system to STEMMA because kids at school not just only can learn about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics also can learn some thought-provoking interrelated subjects in Myth and Art.

In fact, she had an interesting idea and she said that all programs and curriculums that students must learned in school should be placed in a box or a cube. A fantastic box that students will be able to opening and entering it from each side that they interested and discover and find its contents autonomously.

Although she considered that the best way to entering into this educational box probably must be sides of the Art and Myth, she saying because the correct and deep perception of any sciences without understanding the art wouldn’t be possible and understanding the art without a cognition the myth it seems would be lack of something importance.

And Eve in Adam’s eyes pretending such as beautiful and lovely ancient myth, especially now that she dancing happily like Venus, a goddess of love, and gets the Adam’s hand and drove him in hurry while she taking a red apple from her basket and throwing it for Adam into the air and with a nice laughing screamed “follow me, come on Gumnut Baby, everyone is waiting for us”.

And Adam was looking to the apple in sky with open eyes, it is rotating in the opposite direction to any others rotator in universe and Adam with a short jumping grasp the apple on sky thankfully and said: “thank you so much Blossom Baby ... you are one of the most beautiful story in the world".

ASPEJON

HAWTHORN VICTORIA 20/AUGUST/2018

Pinkie finger was crooning an old lullaby for itself and was trying to sleep.

Our hands have ten fingers

Notable two thumbs oh my dears

If you wanna have a good thumb

Don’t be twiddling with one’s thumb

Nanny tells you a nice narrative

You’ll learn to be a neat creative

Lullaby, lullaby oh my dears

Lullaby, lullaby oh my dears

‘Hi Ring finger, how are you? I think what a boring evening, it has been long a time since the fingers on the right hand went to sleep, but I can’t sleep. Let’s play, please.’ Pinkie finger touched the Ring finger gently and crooned again quietly.

‘Play!? Hey guys Pinkie finger wants to play. What do you think?’ Ring finger asked the other fingers.

‘What do you want to play?’ Middle finger asked eagerly.

‘I don’t know. Any game.’ Pinkie finger answered.

‘What about Play Word?’ Index finger said.

‘Are you kidding? Word Play has eight parts and also each part has sixty four levels, you need to spend a lot of time and you must pay serious attention to playing it.’ Middle finger said.

‘I know that. That is Word Play, but I said Play Word. It is different, although it is like a preliminary step for Word Play.’ Index finger said confidently.

‘How should we play that?’ Thumb asked.

‘I know that. It is an easy game, each one of us chooses a letter of the alphabet, says something and explains our choice and finally we can make a word together.’ Ring finger answered.

‘Ok! That’s good, who will start to choose a letter and become a starter to play?’ Middle finger asked.

‘Absolutely thumb!’ Index finger said loudly.

‘Why me?’ Thumb asked.

‘Because you can turn pages! Come on Thumb, let’s go and choose a letter.’ Index finger said quickly.

‘Ok! I choose H.’ Thumb said.

‘Why H?’ Pinkie finger asked.

‘Why, why, why? Because I think H is a wonderful letter, it begins many words that I really like.’ Thumb said thoughtfully.

‘Say some words as an example Thumb.’ Ring finger said.

‘For example H for Hi, the magic word that comes in front of any greeting and it is the best reason for shaking hands and it makes a strong friendship. H for hand, an important body part that we all belong to it. H for home, a lovely place that is built by hand, H for happiness, something that is the greatest reason for building a home. H for hope that could grow and be shaped in a home. H for heart, which will beat happily in a home. H for horse, for hugging and for holding. H is a marvellous letter and I think it is the harmony in the alphabet’s composition. H knows when its must be silent and how to catch different sounds, voices and pronunciation in the chain of the other letters. Yes, that is my choice, H.’ Thumb said poetically.

‘Is that all your reasons Thumb?’ Pinkie finger asked while laughing it nicely.

‘Oh! Honestly no. H for me is a memorial of the nice body that I take my hat off for her. Umm, in addition H for hat.’ Thumb said thoughtfully and smiled.

‘And who is that’? Pinkie finger asked curiously.

‘It is a secret! Please, don’t be such a curious finger.’ Thumb answered politely and said to index finger ‘It is your turn Pointer finger.’

‘Ok! My favourite letter is certainly A. A is the pioneer of the alphabet. Yes that is it, A, and I say A for alpha, also for aim, archangel and authority. A is for action and I think it must be such as an administrator for any sentences and statements. Right! A is my choice. It is your turn Middle finger.’ Index finger said powerfully with a loud voice.

Middle finger shook its body a little and watched the other fingers above mysteriously and then yawned and said, ‘I don’t think we could find any yardstick, scale or standard to prove that any letter of the alphabet has a privilege to another, so if Pointer finger’s choice is A as an initial letter, I choose Z as a final letter and I say Z for zero and I zoom on zenith. It’s your turn Ring finger.’ It said quickly and shook itself again.

‘Ok! It’s my turn, umm actually I love all of the alphabet and in my mind all of the letters are nice and beautiful, from A to Z. But if I want to choose one of them, my choice will be E. The fifth great character of the alphabet, and I say E for education, something that gives us the ability to understand the meaning of the words and value of living in the world. E for Earth, the unique beautiful globe in the universe. E for effort to extending the exquisite and excellent environment everywhere. E for economy, for enormous and for equation. E for entire and for entity. E for erect, for enlightening and for English. E for emotion, for enjoy and for entertainment. E for ethic, for endearment and for endorse. E for elevate, for Empire and for Earth…’

Index finger interrupted ring finger’s talks and said, ‘E for enough. I, as an index finger, forefinger and pointer finger accept that E is a magnificent letter but let us continue our game, you want to mention all of the words that began with E.’ Then turned its head to little finger and said authoritatively, ‘it is your turn Pinkie.’

‘Oh gosh, let it continue! I was excited to hear something about the epoch of Eros and some effective erotic editorials. Keep going ring finger!’ Middle finger said and winked wittily at Ring finger.

‘Don’t be silly Middle finger!’ Ring finger said indignantly.

‘But I was eager to hear something such as E for evil effect on ecosystem and ecosphere.’ Thumb said teasingly.

‘Stop bothering me! I guess you were expecting to hear something such as E for earn. That’s what you’d like.’ Ring finger said glumly.

‘Take it easy ring finger I stopped you because you went over the play word’s rules…’

‘No, it is not true pointer finger. I hate you! You always look at me as a second finger and it is not fair! Do you know that? It is not fair!’ Ring finger said angrily.

‘Come on ring finger how can you say that? Did you forget how much middle finger and I zealously had best wishes for you? How many times we made V signs and crossed fingers just for you, can you remember? Come on ring finger, we are friends, five fingers with different habits, ambition and proficiency. Moreover we are one. We can learn, help and work together. It is just a game, so please enjoy it and don’t be irritable. Ok?’ Pointer finger said compassionately and looked at the ring finger’s eyes and in a friendly tone repeated again, ‘Ok’?

‘Ok’! Ring finger said quietly.

‘E for endure, when you must.’ Pinkie finger said playfully and touched the ring finger kindly and continued; ‘It is my turn. Umm actually I don’t want to stick my nose into the Thumb’s secret, but I am so curious yet to know who is she that Thumb takes his hat off for?’

‘Come on little finger don’t get up my nose.’ Thumb said and grumbled quietly.

‘Oh Thumb don’t be mad, I was just kidding. That is ok, it is my turn. I think my favourite letter must be N and I say N for nature and for necessary. N for nice name and for notable notion. N for a neat narrative and for Nobel nominate. Yes that is right, N is my choice.’ Pink finger said proudly.

‘Is that all your reasons for choosing the N?’ Thumb asked shrewdly while it had a wide smile on its face.

‘Oh yes, but I can add something else, N for nestling next to my best friend and neighbour, after this joyful play and pleasurable nightfall. Pinkie finger said poetically with a nice laugh and gently touched middle finger again.

‘Ok guys let us see what word we made? Thumb chose H, me A, Middle finger Z, Ring finger E and Pinkie finger N. So we have HAZEN, anybody know what does HAZEN mean’? Index finger asked and looked at the other fingers. Thumb leaned its head over the palm, and it seems that it was overwhelmed with reflection. It thought about the meaning of the HAZEN deeply. Middle finger yawned and said ‘I don’t care!’ Ring finger turned around its head and said ‘really I am not sure.’ And pinkie finger said ‘me too,’ and smiled. Index finger yelled out to pinkie finger and said ‘are you kidding? If you don’t know what HAZEN means, then why did you chose N. Come on Pinkie finger change your choice? If you choose D it becomes HAZED, that as a verb means treat someone new in a humiliating manner, and also as a noun it means fog, mist and obscurity. Or you can choose L so it will be HAZEL, a beautiful gold brown colour that I really like.’

Middle finger interrupted Index finger and said; ‘tell Pinkie to choose R so we can have HAZER, the fantastic word that I like’ and started to laugh like a drain.

‘And what does HAZER mean?’ Pointer finger asked.

Middle finger raised its head, shook itself and said ‘it’s the one who arranges humiliating initiation rites for new comers and students.’

‘Don’t be a fool Middle! No! N for no way. I don’t change my choice.’ Pinkie finger said.

‘Why? It seems HAZEN is a meaningless word.’ Index finger asked surprisingly.

‘For a thousand reasons.’ Pinkie finger said intractably.

‘Say one of them brat little finger!’ Index finger asked impatiently.

‘Firstly this is my choice and I don’t want to change it. I like the letter N so much. Secondly no word is meaningless in the world. Maybe they are passive, negative or positive words or even their meaning changed in the course of time, but it’s good that if you don’t know their meaning, you can search and look in the dictionary to find it. Thirdly if you wish to change the word that we made, you can ask Ring finger who likes all of the letters of the alphabet. If it chooses A exactly like you, then we can have HAZAN. It’s a glorious word. It is a noun and it means someone who sings or chants prayers in a synagogue as solos. Or what about Middle finger, did you forget? It said ‘I don’t believe that any letter of the alphabet has a privilege to another. Tell Middle finger to change its choice to V, then we can have HAVEN. It is also a beautiful word that we know. It means sanctuary, refuge, sheltered place and similar things like these. Now look at me, are three reasons enough or do you need more.’ Pinkie finger said intractably.

Index finger watched the Middle finger and Ring finger, it sighed and said ‘Pinkie is a stubborn finger, it never changes its choice now which one of you can change your choice’.

‘Pinkie finger put words in my mouth! I never said that. I said I don’t think we could find any yardstick, scale or standard to prove that any letter of the alphabet has privilege over another. And definitely its true for this reason that pinkie finger itself mentioned, any word may change its meaning in the course of an argument or in the course of time; also its meaning may be obscure or confused; or it may not even mean the same to one person as it does to another …’

‘Wow, well done middle finger! I always thought you were absolutely a wooden-headed finger but now I changed my mind. You are a finger of letters.’ ring finger said.

‘Ok middle finger will you change your letter to V or not?’ pointer finger said.

Thumb erected its body and said ‘it is not necessary to make changes. HAZEN is a good word. ‘I know that.’

‘How do you know?’ pinkie finger asked.

‘Straight from the horse’s mouth, Oxford English Dictionary 20 volumes last edition. However HAZEN is an awesome word and it has a beautiful meaning. It means dial, alert and awake, yes awake and conscious, it is truly a strong, nice and expressive word.’ Thumb said that gratefully and crooned such as a HAZAN person ‘HAZEN, HAZEN’, suppose it tasted the meaning of the HAZEN word with its tongue and mouth. Other fingers joined Thumb too and cheerfully repeated again and again with such loud voices as the right hand’s fingers became awake.

ASPEJON

Hawthorn Victoria 10/April/2017

When the man entered into the hall, nobody was there. He walked through the hall and glanced over at the plaque beside a door at the end of the hall. He read it “principal’s office”. He seemed anxious. He touched the door handle, turned it, but did not open the door. He hesitated walked again, and stood in front of the big oval mirror, which had a magnificent wooden frame and was hanging on the wall.

He looked embarrassed. He wore a navy blue jacket and grey pants with an open necked shirt. He held a rolled white document in his hand. He walked through the hall again and sat on an armchair in the corner beside a marble statue. He opened his document, looked at some papers, closed it, and rolled it up again.

He mumbled quietly with a stammer and ruminative rhythm, ‘I cannot … it is impossible, nobody is here who wants or could to help me.’

Suddenly he heard a clear voice: ‘Hi mate!’

He watched around, nobody was there. He heard again: ‘Hi mate, how are you doing? I am right here beside you.’

This got the man’s attention: it was incredible, the statue talking! ‘Hi, how are you? Are you ok? What is the matter with you? You look so tired and nervous, say something and talk to me.’

The man was shocked and he could not say speak. It seems he had a stammer and had difficulty speaking.

‘Do not worry, talking to me; I am a friend!’ The statue said with a warm voice and a nice smile.

‘I wanted to talk to the principal but I could not.’ The man said with a stammer.

‘What do you want to tell the principal?’ The statue asked.

‘Oh, you know it is a long story… English is not my first language… I am a poet, I wrote a poem, and I want to show it to the principal and request to enrol… I want to take a course in English … but you know, I am shy … and I have a problem with speaking fluently. I have a stammer especially when I am nervous; I become embarrassed… No, no, it is not possible….’ He stammered and stood up slowly. The statue thought he might be leaving and said quickly:

‘Do not worry my friend. I am here and I will help you. I know the principal; we have been close friends for a long time. In fact, for me she is symbolised by this poem:’

“A mighty woman with a torch,

Whose flame and she cries with silent lips:

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

“Give me your tired, your poor.”[i]

‘No worries, she will help us. She is a real teacher, takes our weaknesses away and gives us the power to think and to talk, deeply and clearly; and will give us the ability to do something worthy and beneficial. Now tell me about your poem, can you read it for me?’

‘Really, you want me to read my poem?’ The man asked humbly.

‘Of course, I want to hear it. I love poetry. For me “poetry is an act of peace.”[ii] In fact, I wrote poems too. When I was young. You know, a poem is a dream. In addition, all people have a dream; it is not such a strange thing. Poetry is like air for humankind. We first start to breathe so maybe think about that, what is air? It is our spirit, concept, and reason for being, and a poem is a tool for expressing that concept. Poetry is the bedrock of language. Moreover, a good poem is like a useful guide for living. Like this, an amazing verse by Rumi, the Iranian poet:’

“What is the road? Full of footprint.

What is the comrade? The ladder whereby minds ascend.

He who cheerfully goes alone on a journey

With companions his progress is increased a hundredfold.”

‘On the other hand, this masterpiece poem by T.S. Eliot:’

“Where is the life we have lost in living?

Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge?

Where is the knowledge we have lost in information.”

‘However, “poetry lies its way to the truth”. Please read your poem for me, perhaps it will help us to find a way to the truth.’ The statue said mindfully.

The man sat again, opened his document, and started to read his poem fluently:

‘It could be a poem, a system, a poetry,

That will have written by a pen

A usual pen, that which have a carbon tip material,

More soft and hard thing that we maybe know.

Brightness and darkness,

And such as nebulosity in the cycle carbon

Returned up again and again,

Dome and down,

The earth and the aerosphere;

And this playful pen wants to describe the world,

Just in one word.’

The man rolled his document up again and looked in the statue’s eyes.

‘Wow, that was interesting and so nice … but do you know? Let me be honest, and say something straight; I did not understand it. What is your meaning?’ the statue said courteously.

‘It is merchandise.’ the man said slowly.

Suddenly the statue started to laugh loudly. The man became embarrassed and began to stammer again. ‘I knew you would tease me.’

The statue cut off his laugh and said. ‘No, no, never. Excuse me, please. I do not tease you; I would never make a mockery of your poem. Oh goodness! You know, just… I think it is silly for a word to describe the world. It is my opinion that all poets or writers must have the capacity to hear the criticism from others.’

‘In addition, I believe in this brilliant concept: “if you cannot explain something simply, you do not understand it.” Now tell me with simple words, what is your meaning. I want to know how determined you are in your decision to take a serious writing course. I must be sure about your will. You must consider yourself and your spirit; are you a determined man or not?’ the statue said quickly.

‘I know what I want to say, but to explain it accurately and considerately in simple words, I need to learn how to that …’

‘That is enough, now I am sure you can explained, because you know that you need to learn more. Therefore, do not be afraid, go into the office and talk to the principal. In addition, if you still have hesitations, just read her motto:’ the statue said and gestured to the poster on other side of the hall.

“We must always admire the spirit of our students who tomorrow, will challenge and shape our world.”

‘Wow, an excellent motto, so great,’ the man said and stood up excitedly.

‘Please, do not forget to tell her I advised you,’ the statue said.

‘Oh… sure… but sorry… what is your name? The man said.

‘I am George,’ the statue said; and smiled.

‘I will never forget your name, your advice, and this pleasure time that I spent with you. Thank you so much George,’ the man said, gently touched the marble stone statue, and confidently walked to the door to the principal’s office. He grasped the door handle, turned it, and opened the door.

George yelled out, ‘hi mate; what was your name? You did not tell me.’

‘I am Pupil, Pen Pupil from Hawthorn,’ the man said.

‘Good luck Pen, I am sure you will be a good student. I will stay here and hope to hear some good news and poems from you,’ George said kindly with a big smile.

‘Thanks George,’ Pen said and went in to the principal’s office confidently.

ASPEJON

7/11/2016

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[i] Emma Lazarus

[ii] Pablo Neruda