To cease upon the midnight with no pain

[giggirl]

That's so very sad. It was the Celine Dion CD that did for me too Ted Max. It instantly reminded me of this W H Auden poem, The Unknown Citizen. (Not too many times that you'll see Celine Dion and W H Auden in the same post),

He was found by the Bureau of Statistics to be

One against whom there was no official complaint,

And all the reports on his conduct agree

That, in the modern sense of an old-fashioned word, he was a

saint,

For in everything he did he served the Greater Community.

Except for the War till the day he retired

He worked in a factory and never got fired,

But satisfied his employers, Fudge Motors Inc.

Yet he wasn't a scab or odd in his views,

For his Union reports that he paid his dues,

(Our report on his Union shows it was sound)

And our Social Psychology workers found

That he was popular with his mates and liked a drink.

The Press are convinced that he bought a paper every day

And that his reactions to advertisements were normal in every way.

Policies taken out in his name prove that he was fully insured,

And his Health-card shows he was once in hospital but left it cured.

Both Producers Research and High-Grade Living declare

He was fully sensible to the advantages of the Instalment Plan

And had everything necessary to the Modern Man,

A phonograph, a radio, a car and a frigidaire.

Our researchers into Public Opinion are content

That he held the proper opinions for the time of year;

When there was peace, he was for peace: when there was war, he went.

He was married and added five children to the population,

Which our Eugenist says was the right number for a parent of his

generation.

And our teachers report that he never interfered with their

education.

Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd:

Had anything been wrong, we should certainly have heard.

[Marmora Man]

giggirl's post reminds of Hans Fallada's book - "Alone in Berlin".

If you have not read it - I commend it to you. An account of living under Hitler & Nazi rule it has no resounding, epic, heroism tale to tell but reflects the horrors of living under a totalitarian regime and quiet resistance in a very telling way.

[Brendan]

Ted Max Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> david-carnell helps himself to a free breakfast

> muffin every morning - an acknowledged but

> unofficial gratuity.

He places the muffin on his desk next to the coffee from the staff machine. The coffee has tasted slightly of cardboard ever since they replaced the plastic cups with paper ones to save the planet. He raises the cup, stares over the top of the insipid liquid, out the window across the equally insipid Westminster skyline, sighs and begins to organise his pens.

[Ted Max]

He'd voted for Ed, of course, because he truly believed the man stood the best chance of delivering social justice within an appropriately-regulated free market economy.

But now the doubts creep in and he wonders if his namesake, the elder brother, will be OK. Perhaps a hand-written note on his best Basildon Bond might be in order. Something soothing yet inspiring. We are young yet, still in the late morning of our lives, after all. Yes, he thinks he can see something coming together.

He selects the green pen, and commences writing...

[Mick Mac]

"Was he free? Was he happy? The question is absurd"

I ask myself this question every day....I never know the answer.

[Brendan]

?My Dearest Darren

I cannot deny that it is with a heavy heart* that I have picked up Eleanor to craft this note. For Eleanor with her faux jade inlaid cap and tempered steel nib is and I believe always shall be my first choice for the purposes personal correspondence but Eleanor would not be what she is if it were not for that rarest of commodities which pumps forth from her heart, her Diamine woodland green ink. And it is thus, Deirdre, that I have always seen your role within our party, as the ink within your brother?s pen, indispensable and uniquely hued.

Your devoted friend and comrade.

David

XOXO?

*Which is unfortunately not entirely the same thing as a heavy chest.

[david_carnell]

@ Ted and Brendan - honestly, you two! I can assure you that working whilst in the public sector has many pros (little work, breakfast at 10:30) it certainly does not provide free muffins.

And they stopped me having any green pens after the incident with the Ugandan trade commissioner.

[Brendan]

We?ll I?ve only had free muffins once this week. That was Wednesday. Yesterday it was Danish pastries and croissants. This morning I was forced to pay for my sausage sandwich.

On the other hand I almost never get the chance to cause an international diplomatic incident.

[legalbeagle]

Brendan, love, you are a diplomatic incident.

[Brendan]

Well I do my best.