Ian Curtis, Walt Whitman, toilet paper, and Jesus - in less than 6 degrees of seperation.

Over 10 years ago, I read "Touching From a Distance" By Deborah Curtis, the wife of the late Ian Curtis, frontman of Joy Divison.

The book is about the demise of Ian Curtis. The lust for fame took him over, and destroyed his family. Ultimately he decided to kill himself.

He hung himself. He stood on a block of ice, and patiently waited for it to melt, as his neck was slowly suffocated by the rope.

Now that, my friend, is patience. We could all learn a lot from Ian Curtis - Besides the stupid fact that "Love Will Tear Us Apart", and clever ways to get some attention.

We can learn that we are all capable of making life altering decisions at the flick of a thought.. but, how many of us have the patience to live those decisions out?

Trust.. such a lost concept. Especially when it comes to making decisions.

And on that note - here's some poetry.

To a Stranger
by Walt Whitman (1819 - 1892)

Passing stranger! you do not know
How longingly I look upon you,
You must be he I was seeking,
Or she I was seeking
(It comes to me as a dream)

I have somewhere surely
Lived a life of joy with you,
All is recall'd as we flit by each other,
Fluid, affectionate, chaste, matured,

You grew up with me,
Were a boy with me or a girl with me,
I ate with you and slept with you, your body has become
not yours only nor left my body mine only,

You give me the pleasure of your eyes,
face, flesh as we pass,
You take of my beard, breast, hands,
in return,

I am not to speak to you, I am to think of you
when I sit alone or wake at night, alone
I am to wait, I do not doubt I am to meet you again
I am to see to it that I do not lose you.

Poetry is like toilet paper... necessary.

This poem has reaffirmed my giant leap of faith, just as I expect Walt Whitman's words are capable of doing. I have made my decision. Patience will shortly follow.

Ian Curtis sacraficed... and we worship him for it. Just like Jesus. If I learn anything from the two of them - it will be patience and trust.

Walt Whitman has taught me that poems don't have to rhyme... at all.

Toilet paper has kept me clean.

I am thankful for all of them.