Tuesday, March 09, 2010

happy endings

I like them. I know I'm supposed to relish the tortured artist, this world imperfect is kind of vibe, but (right now) I just can't do it.

I want a happy ending.

I've watched a few movies recently that promised to be artistically inspiring. I suppose they were. In fact, I'm positive that for most people they were.

I just wanted my happy ending.

This is the point in the conversation where I usually yell at Lauren for not appreciating a story line or a narrative arc or a performance or. When I tell my students that "I didn't like it" isn't a valid response to a conclusion. You have to speak in paragraphs, people. You have to say why you didn't like it.

There are no happy endings.

Aislin had that written on her wedding cake: "There are no happy endings, because nothing ever ends." Luckily, these movies ended. Unluckily, they didn't end happily. I've taken to watching a TV show with a fairly satisfying contained arc each episode with love and hugs and do-good-ness abounding. Happy.

But artistically unsatisfying.

I know this isn't fair. I don't write happy poems. I don't want to write happy poems. But I also don't believe that my poems are leaving people hanging. Especially when they're expecting a happy ending.

I shouldn't expect a happy ending.

Lower my expectations. That's the answer. Or watch movies where everything ends happily for the good and not happily for the bad.

Who decides good and bad? Or happy and unhappy, for that matter?

Unhappy: killing off the main character for no apparent reason just because the movie is over.

Really unhappy: giving that character an unnecessary head wound.

No head wounds in my poetry. I'm safe for now. And off to finish the night with something trivial. Which isn't happy, but probably also won't end.

7 comments:

Marie said...

I've been feeling the same thing.

Maryn said...

Everything will turn out okay in the end. If it's not okay, then it's not the end.

Isn't that inspiring? I didn't come up with it. Sorry. I love you!

Lekili said...

I'm glad you're craving happy endings--pretty sure its a good sign. Especially if you're watching them alone...who needs more downers in life?

I do love Maryn's profound wisdom on the subject.

Dave E. said...

Solution: watch Live Free, Die Hard. Nothing says "happy" like John McClain fighting a jet fighter with a semi truck.
Done and done.

editorgirl said...

Dave probably won't see this, but actually turned to action movies/TV shows for my happy ending. Not Live Free, Die Hard, but nothing says "happy" like a good fist fight and a few explosions.

"In the way . . ." said...

glad to see your new laptop is working. And, I could use some happy endings . . .

Anna B said...

down on head wounds! particularly the unnecessary kind.

happy endings--i say yes to those. although, now that i think about it, i'm confused by the "endings" part of it all. but, happy ness. yes. happy times. happy lives. happy looks weird if you type it a lot of times. happy is a complicated thing.

 

Template by Blogger Candy