5 ms·
In an effort to get people to look into each other’s eyes more, and also to appease the mutes, the government has decided to allot each person exactly o
by andreygrehov 5y ago
In an effort to get people to look
into each other’s eyes more,
and also to appease the mutes,
the government has decided
to allot each person exactly one hundred
and sixty-seven words, per day.
When the phone rings, I put it to my ear
without saying hello. In the restaurant
I point at chicken noodle soup.
I am adjusting well to the new way.
Late at night, I call my long distance lover,
proudly say I only used fifty-nine today.
I saved the rest for you.
When she doesn’t respond,
I know she’s used up all her words,
so I slowly whisper I love you
thirty-two and a third times.
After that, we just sit on the line
and listen to each other breathe.
Jeffrey McDaniel, “The Quiet World”
- spoonjim 5y agoWonderful
- ComputerGuru 5y agoThis was the first comment I favorited on HN, many years ago.
- zarzavat 5y agoIt really is the unofficial poem of HN.
- saagarjha 5y agoI always wondered why the poem wasn't one hundred and sixty-seven words long. Perhaps this was all he could save for us.
- dredmorbius 5y agoOr the other 42 were for us to give the ones we love.
- Frost1x 5y agoSounds like the point would be to keep the intrigued reader wondering what the significance or meaning was by leaving 42 or 'n' words--what is it that was of similar importance the author didn't share with us but used elsewhere, etc. To keep things interesting, you have to leave openings for the imagination to wonder.
- Zensynthium 5y ago42, is it a coincidence that this is also the answer to the universe?
- Arch-TK 5y agoThis keeps getting butchered. Now it's "answer to the universe" which was previously "answer to life the universe and everything". It's actually "the answer to the ultimate question of life the universe and everything". The fact that there's an answer to a question but no indication of what the question is is literally the underpinning theme running through all the HG2G books.
- owisd 5y agoThe books themselves are inconsistent on “answer to life, the universe and everything” vs “answer to the ultimate question of life, the universe and everything”. ”O Deep Thought Computer,” he said, ”the task we have designed you to perform is this. We want you to tell us ...” he paused, ”...the Answer!” ”The answer?” said Deep Thought. ”The answer to what?” ”Life!” urged Fook. ”The Universe!” said Lunkwill. ”Everything!” they said in chorus.
- wizzwizz4 5y ago42 words remain.
- hoseja 5y agoThat's the Answer.
- flerp 5y agoBut what is the question?
- stonecharioteer 5y agoYou are.
- fit2rule 5y agoThe question is, "What is God's Phone Number?" Even Deep Thought mentions it ...
- mysterydip 5y agoThat was just a poem? I wanted to read more! I guess it's fitting, though.
- systemvoltage 5y agoBeauty is best served with a tinge of melancholy.
- echion 5y ago> Man was made for Joy & Woe > And when this we rightly know > Thro the World we safely go > Joy & Woe are woven fine > A Clothing for the soul divine > Under every grief & pine > Runs a joy with silken twine Blake
- animanoir 5y agothis is great. thank you
- EllieEffingMae 5y agoI first encountered this poem on a pamphlet handed out at my uncles funeral. It has remained one of my favourite poems of all time. When I was younger it read as a sad poem about loving someone more than they love you. Now that I'm an adult, it feels more like a similar vibe to what I experience when I save the energy to make dinner for my partner when they get home from work.
- vincnetas 5y agoThats why some languages started to join multiple words to one word. Like German (Schifffahrt), Russian (Белэнергоремналадка) or Lithuanian (Daugiaaukštis). I'm sure more languages has this.
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- rataata_jr 5y agoI get the poetic license part but why the hell can't she text back?
- jovdg 5y agoThe poem is from 1998; while slowly getting in fashion, cell phones were still on the rare side (at least where I live)
- weinzierl 5y agoThis reminds me of the "The big word factory" interactive story, where words must be bought (or found) in order to say them. It is a very well made and extraordinarily beautiful app for small children.
- grokx 5y agoOriginally, it is a nice book for children.