Arabic lesson

I just had my first official Arabic lesson, since my wonderful friend Lanny arranged to have some held on campus this semester.

It was as I feared that we spent the whole first hour learning stuff I already knew. But I can't jump into a higher-level class, I don't think, since I will have missed some stuff. Le sigh. Can't figure out what to do.

My favorite part of the class was at the end, when the teacher (who is Slovenian) said that our texts were supposed to be ready today but the copy place hadn't come through. We said we knew all about that phenomenon. He said he likes to call it the "IBM" way of doing business: I for inshallah ("If God wills"), B for bookrah ("tomorrow") and M for malish ("sorry!").

I'm feeling very melancholy today; not sure why. Yesterday I was all excitement (mostly after the weekly mail brought my plane tickets and guidebook for our 'Eid trip to Jordan), but today I just feel wistful and forlorn. Weird.

Poetry meme

From nicodemusrat: Post a favorite poem. Now this is a cool meme that's far more informative than a quiz or questionnaire!

To make sure I didn't post something redundant I went through all the poems I've already posted on my LJ: EE Cummings' It may not always be so (with additional links to Gerard Manley Hopkins' Carrion Comfort and No Worst, There is None and TS Eliot's Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock), Shakespeare's Let me not to the marriage of true minds, Gerard Manley Hopkins' Spring and Fall, EE Cummings' Take for example this:, and of course, the silly Google-translated poetry contest.

I think what is missing is some Rumi. There are a lot of Rumi poems I love, but let's try ( Moses and the Shepherd )

...Although, really, today I am more in the mood for the Reed Flute's Song:

...Days full of wanting,
let them go by without worrying

that they do. Stay where you are
inside such a pure, hollow note....

You should also read Nic's pick here... and then post your own poem du jour!