Wednesday 30 July 2014

Conversations and Reputations.

Today’s significant inner dialogue happened when I was in Ashbourne, and it went like this:

‘Stop staring at that woman, Jeffrey. It looks lascivious.’

‘But it isn’t lascivious; it’s actually quite respectful. What’s attracting me is the compelling look in her eyes, the relaxed and engaging body language, and the way she uses her mouth, eyes, and tilt of the head, which tells me she has a vibrant personality and is probably intelligent. Best of all, there’s no hint of manufactured glamour about her. Manufactured glamour is cheap; this girl oozes inner class, the sort you can’t buy. I’ll bet you she’s just as magnetic wearing old jeans and a tattered sweater first thing in the morning before she’s even had time to comb her hair.’

‘But she doesn’t know that, does she? All she sees is lascivious because that’s what she’s used to seeing from men.’

‘You never know. She might recognise respect.’

‘Doubt it.’

‘Mmm, suppose you’re right.’

‘And are you telling me there isn’t just a teensie-weensie element of the lascivious there?’

‘Depends on how you define ‘lascivious’ I suppose.’

‘Let’s say… in a general sense.’

‘OK, just a teensie-weensie bit – in a general sense.’

‘Right then, and lasciviousness is wrong, isn’t it, because thought is energy and so lasciviousness amounts to a minor form of assault.’

‘Yes, I know that.’

‘Good. So stop staring at that woman, Jeffrey.’

‘OK.’

‘By the way.’

‘What?’

‘You’re way too old.’

‘Thanks.’

*  *  *

This evening I was engaged in conversation by somebody from the village. When I said ‘hello,’ she replied:

‘Oh it’s you, is it? I didn’t know you came out in daylight.’

I sometimes wonder why these people talk to me, and who the hell I really am.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

You know, that's how I regard men. Except one of the qualities that draws me is a sweet sort of gentleness.

JJ said...

Well, I suppose there isn't much point in judging them by their looks. You've only got to know somebody for about a week and you forget to notice what they look like. Seems to me there's so much emphasis on surface attributes these days, and they're mostly manufactured.

There's a video I posted a while ago showing a Chinese musical combo. One of the things that struck me was the attitude of the erhu player; it changes from mournful desolation to lightness and optimism almost in an instant. I watched it again tonight to see how she does it, and she does it entirely with the eyes. So subtle, so strong.

Anonymous said...

Too true. The people I'm most attracted to are usually common looking, but with perceivably uncommon spirits.

Oh, we've had a conversation about the power of eyes before. Do you remember?

JJ said...

I don't remember the conversation, but I do remember the singing video in which your eyes looked rather more powerful and expressive than most. I wondered whether I might have offended you by commenting on the fact. Eyes fascinate me. If you express something in words, it has to go through a rational filter and can become skewed by one means or another. Eyes just go straight to the truth.

Anonymous said...

Huh. I guess it wasn't a conversation then, because that's the memory in harkening back to. I wasn't offended, actually. I took it as a great compliment. One of the best I've been paid. Most tell me my eyes make them uncomfortable.

Yes. Impossible to lie with one's eyes. This is a reason I don't trust many people. They say one thing while their eyes say another.

JJ said...

I don't recall ever being made to feel uncomfortable by honest eyes however powerful they might be, although they can certainly stop you in your tracks and make you think.

We have a saying over here: 'He had a face like thunder.' It's been said of me quite a lot, but it isn't the face of course. It's the eyes.

Anonymous said...

I've never heard that phrase before. Sounds...intense. Possibly angry.

JJ said...

Yes - dark, and about to cast forth lightning and loud noises!

One of my flaws is that I anger quickly, and often have to control it. But I also usually calm down quickly, and I hardly ever hold grudges.I regard it as the price of passion and try to economise.