Wednesday, April 18, 2007

I would like to say this

Just a little bit of something about you gentlemen who rush to aid and pursue the damsels in distress. You are needed, even by those of us who appear strong and separate. We need you like you need us (and you do need us), though we might well make our way without you. The only thing about those fairy tales, dear sweet Princes Charming, the thing you all so often forget, is this: in the myths, in the Brothers Grimm, in the content of our dreams, and all the stories in between, the Princesses are worthy lasses. They aren't chipped-shouldered, damaged girls trying to swirl your life into chaos, who 'have no pity'. Well, I'm probably wrong - I'm sure they need you, too. But I am making a plea for the others, the soft, strong, long-suffering, patient ones who try their very best to love and do the right thing, even when they are locked up, beaten down and humiliated. They even try to fight the good fight all on their own.



So when you venture forth in your feats of gallantry, and I sincerely wish more of you would try, make sure the girl you're rescuing is one who is trying (and I sincerely wish more of us would try) too. Not just one who is trying you.

(painting by John William Waterhouse, La Belle Dame Sans Merci. Careful... is she the one? Do you know the poem by Keats of the same title?)

9 comments:

Huckleberry said...

This is why we, the truly gallant, perform our chivalrous heroics pseudonymously.

Cuts down on crap.
But I digress.

Moderator said...

I just try and avoid eye contact whenever possible.

Citizen H said...

Well, why not make the plea to them? You find some damsels who will actually make an effort not to be trying, and I might just be nice for once.

Peteski said...

I can get my hands on a small van or a pick-up truck - is that what you're talking about?

kissyface said...

Huckle- not quite sure I follow you, but please tell us of your myriad feats of derring do. your cover is safe, no one will be the wiser.

grant - you're married.

citizen - i think i kind of am making the plea to all the characters in this story.

peteski - oh you.

Anonymous said...

Just run into this blog ...
and here's something unusual:
it kept me interested ...
that is unusal ...
I normally get bored pretty fast.

Sophisticated writing style ...
big thoughts, funny anectdotes.
I like it. It's good - keep on
writing - think seriously about
publishing.


Too bad that I have a busy
schedule and won't be able to read it in the future.

Ray Entropy

Anonymous said...

I'm with Grant on this one. Of course, I also happen to be married. But even if I wasn't, I would be with Grant on this one.

Peteski, make it a Chevy Van, and be sure to put a nice airbrushed unicorn on the side and a bong in the back. You may not be your average damsel's knight in shining armor, but you'll be mine.

Hi Kissyface! UF Mike

GrizzBabe said...

As usual, Kissyface, such wonderful words of wisdom.

soubriquet said...

There I was, alone and palely loitering, I'd been looking at Waterhouse's pics, in my local art gallery this week.. And then, link surfing,(Via Steve's Bulletholes), I bump into THIS!
Well, can't stop for long, armour gets rusty, you know, an hour of burnishing to do tonight,
That's the modern era for you, once upon a time there'd be a squire to do the burnishing, leaving the knight to practise courtly love and poetry, but, cutbacks, you know. I've had to let the horse go too.. Just bash the coconut shells as I jog along... And if there's a dragon, god forbid, I may regret part ex-ing the sword for this ipod....