Saturday, June 27, 2009

Days

I am melancholic by disposition, although I prefer to repress that aspect of my personality because there is a fine line between wistful contemplation and an unhealthy obsession with an unsatisfactory past that leads inexorably to depression. It can also develop into an unhealthy mawkishness that is laughable.

Maybe its a Celtic* thing; the sense that there is an underlying sadness to things, that the bright timbre of a voice or a swirl of laughing faces is a chimera. Old photographs, abandoned ways of being, the evaporation of faith, certainties debunked: they're all there, concealed behind the Ikea sofa.

The dying fall, a limp and pills, a scatter of cigarette butts. The wind blows the wrong way across the salient, the antimacassars are yellowing, there is dust in the china cabinet.

See what I mean? Melancholia sucks big time.

I'm off for a pint.

* not the football team.

11 comments:

Barlinnie said...

Stick to the porter, gin will only continue to add to your depression* my oul pal.

*No connection to the other fitba team in Glesga
; )

Mr London Street said...

An Ikea sofa is cause enough for depression.

Madame DeFarge said...

Sounds like a normal Sunday to me. I wobble along that line too, like some tipsy misery. Don't like the mawkishness though, not a trait that appeals.

You should eat some caramel logs. They always cheer me up. Or ice cream. Or both at the same time.

Madame DeFarge said...

Oh, and avoid anyone wearing a long coat. They rarely have the answer.

Betty said...

If you're east European, there's an overriding sadness to things, unfortunately. Which means that everybody else finds you so fucking bleak that they are annoyed by you.

Sometimes I really envy the hyper-enthusiastic Brian Blessed types who wake up every morning thinking it's going to be the best day of their lives. Then again, they make me feel even more depressed. Best for me to stay with my own kind, then.

Barlinnie said...

I must reinforce the Defarge womans last comment... take that Pope fella for instance.

KAZ said...

You should like Woody Allen's Interiors - he copied it from Ingmar Bergman.
I used to be melancholic - you should grow out of it in about 20 years.

garfer said...

James

Gin is best drunk at 30,000 ft. The release of bubbled delectation is instant.

Mr London Street

When you have to assemble it.

MDF

I prefer the caramel logs personally.

garfer said...

MDF (again)

They're always running across the fields, the daft numpties.

Betty

The Serbs get a bad press. What's wrong with writing poetry with one hand and lobbing mortar shells at Sarajevo with the other.

James (again)

Keep him in his Popemobile out of harms way.

Kaz

Liking Ingmar Bergman is always a sure fire hit with the ladies

Arabella said...

I hope Kaz is right. I seem to be getting more melancholy with the years and more irritated. Is it time to buy a kitten?

garfer said...

Arabella

Get your dancing shoes on girl, that always cheers you up.