Attempting to scale the sandstone walls of the Quadrangle and being caught by security probably isn't the smartest thing to do after a night at Manning. Before you jump to any conclusions, it wasn't me (the guy will remain anonymous). But I do understand why you'd want to climb onto the other side because I've recently contributed to the growing list of inanimate objects that people seem to fall in love with.
Yes, I'm very much in love with the Quad lawns. There's something about her - her symmetrical and well proportioned features, her smell, her touch, her lushness that just invites me to lie with her.
Over the past few weeks I've had coffee with her, read her Shakespeare, caressed her. I pined when her and I were fenced off from each other as she was due for some maintenance. I watched jealously as those ground staff trimmed her edges.
She's a feisty lover as well. She set bull ants on me once. She thinks it's funny to leave me with a singlet tan. She lets me sit unknowingly on a wet patch at times. Sometimes we ignore each other for a while - I go sit with other expanses of lawn - but being the nice guy I am, I always come crawling back. Our relationship is a silent, physical and emotional one. There are limits to language when it comes to love so we prefer to live without.
In the end I had to let her go last week. Like me, countless others lie in the sun enthralled by her charm. I realised I couldn't be possessive when she's one of those special places that means something unique for everyone. She's a refuge, a quiet listener, an unjudging companion, a muse. She's that transient creature that embodies what we want her to be, with no figured purpose or name. She could be a 'he' or 'it' to suit others' moods. But the lawn will always remain as the platonic lover for many of us who enjoy her presence and beauty, who stroll past her to class and sit by her in quiet contemplation.
So to end, a short excerpt from a poem called Steps by Frank O'Hara dedicated to my love (though I don't smoke):
oh god it's wonderful
to get out of bed
and drink too much coffee
and smoke too many cigarettes
and love you so much
Comments
go yilong!
that's one beautiful story, dont think anyone could've done it better.
goodluck man
Posted by: Victoria | April 4, 2007 11:55 PM
Ahhh that was one truly beautiful love story
Posted by: Liann | April 10, 2007 09:58 PM
yi! way to blog man.
ps i totes loved the quad before you.
and also: i havent seen you in weeks. this needs to be remedied.
Posted by: hum | April 11, 2007 08:28 PM
Yi-Long: The New Tim.
See: here
or here for explanation.
Posted by: asako | April 11, 2007 11:48 PM