A Few Good Man September 27, 2008
Son, we live in a world that has walls and those walls need to be guarded by men with guns. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago and curse the Marines; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Santiago’s death, while tragic, probably saved lives and that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives. You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties you want me on that wall, you need me on that wall. We use words like honor, code, loyalty. We use then as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline. I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you,” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick up a weapon and stand a post. Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.
VS
“Son, we live in a world that has bonds and those bonds need to be bought by men with balance sheets. Who’s gonna do it? You? You, Lieutenant Fuld?
I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom. You weep for Bear Sterns and curse the short sellers; you have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know: that Lehman’s death, while tragic, probably saved firms and that my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves markets.
You don’t want the truth because deep down in places you don’t talk about at parties you want me buying bonds, you need me buying bonds. We use words like TSLF, PDLF, Super SIV. We use them as the backbone of a life trying to defend something. You use them as a punchline.
I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain myself to a man who rises and sleeps under the blanket of the very freedom I provide and then questions the manner in which I provide it. I would rather you just said “thank you,” and went on your way. Otherwise, I suggest that you pick a sub-prime option arm bond and pay par.
Either way, I don’t give a damn what you think you are entitled to.”
Love in the guise of friendship September 22, 2008
Talk not of love, it gives me pain,
For love has been my foe;
He bound me in an iron chain,
And plung’d me deep in woe.
But friendship’s pure and lasting joys,
My heart was form’d to prove;
There, welcome win and wear the prize,
But never talk of love.
Your friendship much can make me blest,
O why that bliss destroy?
Why urge the only, one request
You know I will deny?
Your thought, if Love must harbour there,
Conceal it in that thought;
Nor cause me from my bosom tear
The very friend I sought.
The Eternal Three September 16, 2008
There are two men in the world, who
Are crossing my path I see,
And one is the man I love,
The other is in love with me.
And one exists in the nightly dreams
Of my sombre soul evermore,
The other stands at the door of my heart
But I will not open the door.
And once one gave me a vernal breath
Of happiness squandered – alack!
The other gave me his whole, long life
And got never an hour back.
And one lives hot in the song of my blood
Where love is pure, unbound -
The other is one with the humdrum day
Where all our dreams are drowned.
Between these two every woman stands,
In love, beloved, and white -
And once every hundred years it happens
That both in one unite.
