“Marv, my recent formula has been: Life is 90% boredom, stress, aches—9% terror, acute distress, agony—1% joy, pleasure, orgasms.” S.S. (5/6/2011)
Look Steve, your math has too few dimensions;
Basic string theory needs eleven,
While you complain about time’s tensions
(Using four). You need the other seven.
Ninety percent of waking life consumed
By boredom, stress, and aches? Certainly true
Within those four dimensions. But let’s zoom
Out a bit. Five, spews salary you’re due—
Six, that firm competence you radiate—
Seven through ten (while bored and stressed at four)
Project position, admiration, fate—
In short, the many golden goals you’ve scored.
As for those terrors, agonies, distress
That take up less than ten percent of time—
They’re seasonings that make your life fluoresce—
The nasty stuff that fertilize sublime.
Eleven intensifies orgasm
(Two dimensions prop that frumious glee)—
While you enjoy the magic of those spasms,
At eighty-one, my sole response? Envy!
(5/26/11)