Happy New Year and Then some.

[expectremorse]

[Hoffman has the video on. He's got a thing behind him, except several times bigger as only the admiral can manage it. Right above it he has a flatscreen TV and a shelf with a small collection of films

Comments

Private

[mrs_persson]

The flowers are lovely. Thank you. And I've never read this Robert Hass fellow before.

Re: Private

[expectremorse]

...You're welcome. [he smiles] Thank you. These books are...

[gorgeous?] These books are wonderful.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

I hope you enjoy them. I reckoned you ought to have your own set, really, rather than having to dig them out of the library.

Re: Private

[expectremorse]

.....It'll be uh-inspiring. In case I decide to write...you know, more about poetry.

[He almost said "write my own". almost]

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

[She notices the little pause there, but chooses not to point it out.]

I hope it is. I'd be happy to read anything, by the way, if you feel like sharing.

Re: Private

[expectremorse]

[He hesitates, before sending over this.]

Flowers grim and Flowers gray
No rainbow color schemes
Flowers in gray stony cracks
Haunt my dreams all day.

I have no care for flowers, no care for trees and streams
my garden is a man's garden
It is that garden that haunts my dreams.

Flowers bright in neon streams
fields of people bursting to the seams
a cold wind blowing off the sea
a city that belongs to me.

Flowers grim and flowers gray
No rainbow color schemes
Flowers in gray stony cracks haunt my dreams all day.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

You wrote this?

Re: Private

[expectremorse]

[oh god. Hoffman doesn't reply for the longest time.]

...It's crap isn't it.

[His writer has not written poetry in FOREVVER]

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

No! No, it's not crap at all.

[Laureate material? No. But it's clearly heartfelt.]

There's some really striking imagery. And I can tell it's something you feel deeply.

Re: Private

[expectremorse]

[Hoffman makes him smile]

....It's just...flowers and some..stuff.

[his brow furrows] it's good?

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

It's good. And I think with practice, you could get even better.

Re: Private

[expectremorse]

Practice? Like what, Football is something you practice. Not fucking poetry writing. This one I just...Like that one guy. Swinburne..

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

Swinburne didn't emerge a poet fully formed. No one did. What I'm saying though, is that I do think you should keep writing.

Re: Private

[expectremorse]

...Thank you. [He looks touched. The words "It runs in the family" on his tongue.

Except he doesn't say them.]

...I think I will.

Re: Private

[mrs_persson]

Good. I look forward to seeing what you do in the future.