Avalon

A bear is a bear

Sunday, August 19, 2012

There are many ways to describe a thing, many of which are often complex and over-explicit, some of which are parsimonious by self-declaration but deemed incomplete or unpalatable by others, and yet some might come across as shoddy and ambiguous to the point of pointless. Take the question "how do you describe a bear"? Some will probably give a wikip*dia-qualifying account of bears, complete with categorisations in the animal kingdom and a short introduction to the many examples walking this earth, not forgetting a short list of neat references to entertain those who show overwhelming curiosity. This is even before these people start launching into a description of the "kind" of bear they are into.

Alternatively, when we encounter one who gives the seemingly nonsensical answer "a bear is a bear" that clearly violates Grice's maxims of quantity (by not giving suitable information) and manner (by lacing the conversation with MORE ambiguity with all intention of creating an obscurity), our experience with the same person in previous exchanges, coupled with our own knowledge of the world and appreciation of its social cues might actually tell us with undisputed certainty that there is a reason for giving the answer and not abiding by this cooperative principle (something along the lines of er.. not being able/willing to be cooperative, just in case it wasn't that obvious). What's more, based on the pretext that all of us already DO know what a bear really is, is there a need to get that explanation out of someone who does not like to talk about bears, much less the type of bear he is into? What part of implicit speech and contextual cue is so hard to interpret and comprehend such that more questions are fired where gates have been discreetly lowered? Or is there no way to avoid saving everyone from the awkward situation having finally incited a definitive "no" as response to the question "can I ask you what is a bear?", along with any subsequent attempts like "what kind of bear are you looking at now", "why you choose this bear" and "where is this bear found". If an implied "no" is not enough, then there leaves little choice but to deliver an outright verbal negative.

So the next time the question "how do you describe a bear" is met with the response "a bear is a bear", note that the rhetoric exists for a reason... because where there is more to know, there is more that comes with that knowing, and knowing might not be such a good thing. As Marianne Moore has said, and I have quoted before, the deepest feeling always shows itself in silence; not in silence, but restraint.
Hence, trying to excavate for more like a dutiful and meticulous goldminer might not lead to any treasure but might result in a potential cave-in. Less is just, well, less hassle. And surely it is possible to just direct ones interest to some other places. There are still tigers, rabbits, horses and everything else under the sun to talk about. Sometimes, it takes active patience on the one side to emphasise and good grace on the other to accept that "a bear is a bear", and leave it at that.

"Yes, I am a bear... duh."

Envoy of the Stars @ 10:34 PM
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夏之夜吟

Thursday, August 16, 2012

九点三十分前，寂静无声的邻里公园。

路灯垂首，树木林立的人行道上，街灯照射到的，只有婆娑的树影。

树下隐约看得到一只猫，说隐约，因为小东西伏在暗中，似乎只想与夜融为一体。

不费什么功夫得来的一张石椅，用当下心境品茗到的一丝诗意，最是能慰藉身心俱疲。

但最是清静的情景，也最是能让被抽象思念附身的对象，诡异地浮现在脑海中。

九点三十分，不差分毫的想念已经乘风而去。

九点三十分，不差分秒地出现了几件事情。

本来在路灯照不到的暗角趴着的猫像是伸懒腰般前脚微张，后脚直伸，转头舔了舔身上黑白分明的毛，然后轻轻地朝不远处有光的人行道上走去。只见，四处都开始出现了猫的身影，向光的地方缓步而行。慢慢地，光亮处聚集了一圈分散趴着的猫。在这名为猫之乡的地方。

一个穿着粉红色睡衣，手中捧着一包东西的老太太信步而来，却看不出有何龙钟老态，只是满头银白。猫群一见，像是拱手般前脚平摆交叠身前，俨然一排排等着化缘的僧侣。老太太把手中猫食倒入随身携带的几个塑料碗中，放置在猫前。猫只起身趋前，两三只共用一碗，吃了几下，又复回到先前位置，以老僧入定的姿势，凝视着忙于清理残羹的老太太。仿佛日复一日的举动，一种信赖却已滋长在施与受中。

猛然，背后传来“钉、钉、钉”的脆响。禁不住转身一看，是谁或什么那么不甘寂寞？竟是一个光头老翁正在一个凉亭的砖椅上用铁锤敲打随身手杖。金属的撞击声划破静寂，是摩擦，还是火花？就在不得而知的当下，突然响起的响音也嘎然而止。老翁转身撑着看似又复可用的手杖，渐渐走远，带着一团未解谜思。

近在眼前的，却有一对散步到此的情侣，走过时顺道散播一阵扑鼻的榴莲香。男子手里捧着的东西不言而喻，女子口中的细语不着边际。两人只是仿如一早约好般一同坐在另一张石椅。那边，几个突然出现的小孩心血来潮似的不顾时间早晚只顾玩追逐游戏，风中不再只有风声。

这时，猫儿得以短暂温饱，小孩追着风跑，情侣准备吃夜宵。也是时候，起身走掉。

Envoy of the Stars @ 2:01 AM
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