This resonates with me. While I think I don't find trusting someone's intentions difficult, I do find relying on or asking for help to be a gargantuan task.
It feels easier to do it alone than to risk the fear of being let down (again).
The unlearning of this comes in inches, when taking the risk and allowing space for others to show up in different ways.
Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your posts Shane.
"The unlearning of this comes in inches" - so beautifully put! Community is a muscle that need exercising, and one that often needs to navigate false starts, disappointnent, and sometimes repair as we relearn the process.
“By all means, stumble, but dear God, do not fall.” and “‘Ugh, exhausted, run off my feet.’ / Now that’s living!” were my favourite lines — lowkey the only ones that got a chuckle out of me! the rest is unfortunately dire & realistic. you did a great job with this one.
i write poetry as well so i’m excited to see where this project goes!
I'm not sure anyone ever really wants to resonate with "dire and realistic", but I've found that, at the very least, having language for it is the best way to start working out how to resist it.
I think everyone will have a different slant on this experience, there seems to be enough in it that we all recognise. If we can name it, we can begin to untangle it.
We as a family have just been to see Shaun Tan's 'Cicada' performed and extended magically with light, shadows and puppets. If you happen to be in Sydney I couldn't recommend it more highly, and sadly it's not going to go to Melbourne (I asked, sorry Shane, I did think of you immediately).
This extended play folded in extra layers that reminded me of 'Congratulations'. If you haven't read the children's book 'Cicada", it's the story of a lonely Cicada navigating corporate bullying, the prejudice towards difference and late-stage capitalism with very few words and powerful imagery.
Ooh - this has been on my reading list for years, but I haven't managed to get a copy yet! The show sounds amazing. Could I borrow the book next time we see each other if you have a copy?
Also, it turns out Shaun Tan is a parent at H's school, so I was gonna hassle him for an interview down the track!
Feel free to add your own lines of bad poetry about living in this script if you feel inspired! 😆
"And above all, do not trust.
To trust is to risk being let down,
or turned away."
This resonates with me. While I think I don't find trusting someone's intentions difficult, I do find relying on or asking for help to be a gargantuan task.
It feels easier to do it alone than to risk the fear of being let down (again).
The unlearning of this comes in inches, when taking the risk and allowing space for others to show up in different ways.
Just wanted to say how much I am enjoying your posts Shane.
"The unlearning of this comes in inches" - so beautifully put! Community is a muscle that need exercising, and one that often needs to navigate false starts, disappointnent, and sometimes repair as we relearn the process.
“By all means, stumble, but dear God, do not fall.” and “‘Ugh, exhausted, run off my feet.’ / Now that’s living!” were my favourite lines — lowkey the only ones that got a chuckle out of me! the rest is unfortunately dire & realistic. you did a great job with this one.
i write poetry as well so i’m excited to see where this project goes!
Thanks Libby.
I'm not sure anyone ever really wants to resonate with "dire and realistic", but I've found that, at the very least, having language for it is the best way to start working out how to resist it.
Take care.
<3
Thanks neighbour 😘
I relate to the general vibes. Cynical and reflective of the expected grind of capitalism. You certainly captured that.
I think everyone will have a different slant on this experience, there seems to be enough in it that we all recognise. If we can name it, we can begin to untangle it.
We as a family have just been to see Shaun Tan's 'Cicada' performed and extended magically with light, shadows and puppets. If you happen to be in Sydney I couldn't recommend it more highly, and sadly it's not going to go to Melbourne (I asked, sorry Shane, I did think of you immediately).
This extended play folded in extra layers that reminded me of 'Congratulations'. If you haven't read the children's book 'Cicada", it's the story of a lonely Cicada navigating corporate bullying, the prejudice towards difference and late-stage capitalism with very few words and powerful imagery.
Tok tok tok.
Ooh - this has been on my reading list for years, but I haven't managed to get a copy yet! The show sounds amazing. Could I borrow the book next time we see each other if you have a copy?
Also, it turns out Shaun Tan is a parent at H's school, so I was gonna hassle him for an interview down the track!
Note: Substack does weird stuff with poetry formatting, so I've reworked it to make it less pretty, but more readable on all devices.