Fogbound

 Fogbound 

from Ezra Nehemiah’s commentary on Ecclesiastes (in the Incoherent series, published by Rantrage Press, 2009, p. 1) –

INTRODUCTION

A commentary on Ecclesiastes is a commentary on a commentary - for there is nothing new under the sun - a commentary on a commentary on an imaginary “Dear John” letter from God. The earlier commentary was written by an aging man, who still sought to enjoy his breakfast before going off to teach, who took a nap in his office after lunch, and who came home to a sherry before dinner, a grandfather who relished helping his grandchildren with their homework, even if he sent them out afterward to chase after the wind. He was a widower, who went to bed not longer after they did, read briefly, and turned out the light knowing that it was only in his imagination that he heard the footsteps of Abishag the Shunemite coming to climb into bed with him and warm him up.

     The present commentary is written by another teacher for students as maddeningly religious as the first teacher’s, students who, instead of looking into commentaries, should be eating too much, drinking too much, falling in love, staying up too late chasing the wind toward the dawn. But they would rather, it seems, read books by the light of fog. What can you do?

01.12.18