On a common phrase and two original poems
“Good luck.” Someone said that to me recently. It is an interesting phrase because (like “take care”) it can seem like phatic language, a sincere statement of support, or a passive-aggressive or sarcastic comment you are likely to fail. My first-year college roommate had a comical comment as I left the room: “Good luck, Shemp.”
In U.S, literature, the most famous use of the phrase may be in The Catcher in the Rye when Holden Caulfield’s sickly high school history teacher in a private meeting fails him for a really bad essay and says “good luck” as he is leaving. Holden gets really mad about the comment. But I think one of the ideas of the novel is the narrator is supposed to be very cynical about the world.
When I lived a while in northern England, their accents made “good luck” sound like “good look.” I thought it was charming.
“Rosé” by yours truly
“Hey, hey,
Lay of the rosé, José.”
“Anything more to say?”
“Don’t think all women are in play.”
“Oh well, okay.”
“Backpack” by yours truly
Can’t find my backpack:
All the things I lack, aackk!!
(You may think I deserve a smack.)
May have at a store left it behind.
Please, don’t remind.