Never Better
call back later
not now
soon
another day
eventually
not this morning
just a second
don’t wait up for me
it’ll be worth the wait
antic-i-pation
don’t be late
night time is the right time
off-the-clock
the waiting game
when the stars align
premature
past due
on the dot
a watched pot
it’s over when it’s over
hold your horses
what’s your hurry
it’s about time
it’s now or never
better never than later
Law 35 is a list poem that at first seems random. In fact the rough draft was even more random. Part of the process of making a list poem, for me, is, in revision, to pace the items on the list so that there can be a sense of motion. The better ones even create a vague story line. This one doesn’t 🙂
This is a list of how things get put off while avoiding a commitment to actually doing them. Phrases we use with others to avoid saying NO. Phrases that I when I hear them I recognize as NO. Not merely as a NO for the moment but one that says: at no point in the future but I’m sparing you the harshness of that no by appearing to agree to it at some future point. ‘Don’t hold your breath’ was on the list at one time but I took it out as being too definitive 🙂
Some of these are song lyrics, some are iconic – ‘antic-i-pation’ from that sweet moment in the Rocky Horror Picture Show. All are cliche’s that have permeated our language and have become things we say automatically like good morning or how are you – that are serve to let people know you might be listening. The most recent revision lead to the last lines and the title.
It isn’t easy say NO – some people refuse to accept it or take it as a deeply personal affront that demands an explanation & an apology: I’m sorry but I can’t … so we buffer NO with avoidance so we can appear polite – so people will like us – we’ll if my NO results in someone not liking me I can live with, for now.
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