Transformation: Party Guest

One day I turned into a statue.

It happened at a small outdoor party.

As usual, people were either ignoring

me or shooting talk at me. I was 

about to say thanks to the hosts

and leave when I realized

my body had shifted to become

gray speckled stone. Granite man. 

I was inflexibly pleased.

I had not a single desire, not

even the desire to have no

desires. By the time I turned

back into a proper person,

the party had ended, the hosts

had sold the house and left

town, and the city's climate

had changed. It was time for me

to be getting back home.

hans ostrom 2020

Ceremonial Headdress

I wore a ceremonial headdress
of my own design
to the party. No one else
wore one--and, truly,

I wasn't sure how many
of them were worthy of such
a noble item of clothing.
Anyway, let's just say

their definition of
"casual attire" differs
substantially from mine.
Good day to you.



hans ostrom 2017

Hosting a Holiday Party

 (there are gathering you want to have, and then gatherings you more or less must have)

So: so-so society came by my abode

to socialize, leastwise that was the alleged

point of it-all. It-all included greetings,

seatings, standing, talking, offering, listening,

thanking, pleasing.   Things deeply in our minds

stayed deeply, did not venture into air or other

minds by any means.  I socialize because I

pretend it’s pleasurable and play, not

measurable and work.  Socio-lie-zing

is a good thing, if only because solitude,

my preference, needs points of reference

and departure, and departure is what society

undertook after it looked at its watch

and said, This has been but we must be,

thanks for your hospitality, see you

later, thanks again, goodbye.  Sighing,

breathing, much relieving—guide me

to my quiet lair.

Hans Ostrom, 2012