1 files changed, 48 insertions, 0 deletions

@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+---
+title: Feeding the raven
+genre: prose
+
+id: feedingtheraven
+toc: "Feeding the raven"
+
+project:
+    title: Elegies for alternate selves
+    class: elegies
+    order: 11
+    prev:
+    - title: The angel to Abraham
+      link: angeltoabraham
+    next:
+    - title: On formal poetry
+      link: onformalpoetry
+...
+
+You never can tell just when Charlie Sheen will enter your life.
+For me, it was last Thursday.
+I was reading some translation of a Japanese translation of "The Raven" in which the Poe and the raven become friends.
+At one point the raven gets very sick and Poe feeds him at his bedside and nurses him back to health.
+The story was very heartwarming and sad at the same time and my tears were welling up when suddenly I heard a knock on my door.
+
+I shuffled over, sniffling but managing to keep my cheeks dry to open it.
+Of course Charlie was beaming on the other side, with a bag of flowers and a grin like a [dog][]'s.
+He bounded in the room without saying hello and threw the flowers in the sink, opened the refrigerator and started poking around.
+I said "It's nice to see you too" and went to my room to get a camera, as well as a notebook for him to sign.
+
+When I came back he was on the floor, hunched and groaning.
+I looked on the table to see a month-old half-gallon of milk---now cottage cheese---half-empty and dripping.
+The remnants were on his mouth, and at once I saw my chance to become Poe in this [translation of a translation][] of a translation.
+I knelt next to Charlie, cradled his head in my lap.
+He looked up at me with a stare full of terror.
+I returned it levelly, making cooing noises at him until he calmed down.
+
+When he was calm he excused himself to be sick on my toilet.
+He wouldn't let me follow but said he would sign whatever I liked when he got back.
+After half an hour passed and all I'd had for company was the ticking of the [clock][], I went to the bathroom door.
+I knocked carefully---once, then twice---to no beaming face, no flowers.
+I opened the door.
+There was shit on the floor and the window was open.
+There was a breeze blowing.
+
+[dog]: purpose-dogs.html
+[translation of a translation]: todaniel.html
+[clock]: boar.html