AN ABSURDITY BY CURIO ATHENA
Foreword
This was written at 2 a.m.
It started off as a haiku, but my mind wouldn’t agree to the 5-7-5 rule.
It rebelled. I agreed.
The rebellion snowballed and became absurd — like most
rebellions do
In a world of AI, the pen and paper are fighting back.
Turn the page at your own risk.
Scene 1
The Pen (Mighty but broken)
This is what happens when you don’t use me.
My blood dries up.
Shake all you want — I won’t spill.
And worst of all,
I stopped at the word nil.
(Entry of Paper – grumpy and whiny)
Dear Penny,
Can you stop whining?
You cry about your dried-up blues.
Look at this moron — still sketching his muse.
He’s been drawing it all wrong.
Scratch, scratch, scratch.
I’m blowing my fuse.
(White Ink squeals — but sounds righteous)
I am weary looking at you both.
At least you do something.
All I do is erase what he wrote.
(Scene – not far, just two open drawers away)
Eraser (peeking through)
Mr. Paper, you are so dramatic,
trying to tear when I am close to you.
The things you do… oh, the things you do.
(The Paper – centre stage, or should I say centre desk)
You bleed? You whiten? You erase?
Yet I bear the brunt without a raise.
(Character entry – Stapler)
The Stapler stares at Paper while swallowing the sardined pins.
“Shut up, annoying paper.
Go lament elsewhere,
or see me kick your shin.”
(The Punching Machine joins the party)
Goes clack, clack, clack and walks towards Mr. Paper.
Paper holds his clips, ready to attack.
(Enter The Moron)
He takes charge but hears a commotion.
Someone’s fighting — don’t know who.
I hear clack clack clack and a faint ooo… ooooh…
Now the Moron pretends to think,
and puts his pen to paper.
But he is bored and a little obtuse.
Rolls the paper in a ball
and runs to his muse.
Paper rolls into the Basket
The basket is furious and kicks the paper out.
The Ruler picks him up, straightens him, telling him not to fret.
But the paper, unshaken, bemoans under his breath:
If only my moron would write some poetry,
then I could die in peace.
But he writes senile haikus and expects them to land —
how it pains me, jeez!”
(The Moron returns, addressing the desk people)
“You purists are so lame —
you see a cloud and you see the rain.
But with my haikus I see no pain.
I see all hues without the blues.
You should try it sometime,
instead of this ruse.”
(Final Scene)
The Moron comes close to Mr. Paper.
They look at each other and say together:
“You are such a drama queen.
You cry and complain,
but in the end,
you always come back to me.”
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