Definition of "Cool"
Dedicated to Bianca Tacchi
September 9, 2007
I will not seek fine words and lavish phrases,
Or make endeavours to seem more astute;
For none can hope to grasp that which embraces
The timeless qualities of being absolute.
The constant need to comprehend the essence
Of every thing uncovered by mankind
May expedite or force the evanescence
Of the intrinsic assets of its kind.
In total absence of an apt description
For an elusive concept such as "cool"
One ought to settle for its rough depiction
That is not based on a semantic rule.
Was to be continued...
Background Story
I remember taking Bianca to King's park one evening. It was a wonderful night: the park was quiet, peaceful and beautiful, and nothing could disturb our happiness... except swarms of mosquitoes that seemed fully determined to make us their evening meal.
Somehow, we started discussing linguistics and interesting words in the English language. I pointed out the onomatopoeic properties of a particular word, a word that now escapes my memory. I was surprised to learn that she knew what the word "onomatopoeia" meant, and we had a good laugh about that. We decided that the knowledge of that word should be a prerequisite in a boyfriend/girlfriend - in some ways it made us feel all the more connected.
I remember thinking to myself how cool it was that my girlfriend was smart and had similar interests, and I told her that I thought she was so cool. After that, I'd often tell her, "You're so cool!" because somehow that phrase was able to describe exactly how I felt about her, and the usual "I love you" was too conventional for the unconventional couple.
At first, she would laugh it off and tell me that she thought I was cool too, but later she realized that the word "cool" to me meant much more than the word actually said. Finally, one day she asked me what I really meant by "cool", and I said it was hard to explain and promised to write her a poem which would make it all clear.
Unfortunately, I had scarcely started writing the poem when she broke up with me. She gave me a good-bye kiss on the lips, and I remember asking her why we still kissed if we were no longer together, but she did not answer. Instead she quietly got into her car, said her good-bye, and drove off. I never saw her again, and the poem dedicated to her will remain forever unfinished.
Somehow, we started discussing linguistics and interesting words in the English language. I pointed out the onomatopoeic properties of a particular word, a word that now escapes my memory. I was surprised to learn that she knew what the word "onomatopoeia" meant, and we had a good laugh about that. We decided that the knowledge of that word should be a prerequisite in a boyfriend/girlfriend - in some ways it made us feel all the more connected.
I remember thinking to myself how cool it was that my girlfriend was smart and had similar interests, and I told her that I thought she was so cool. After that, I'd often tell her, "You're so cool!" because somehow that phrase was able to describe exactly how I felt about her, and the usual "I love you" was too conventional for the unconventional couple.
At first, she would laugh it off and tell me that she thought I was cool too, but later she realized that the word "cool" to me meant much more than the word actually said. Finally, one day she asked me what I really meant by "cool", and I said it was hard to explain and promised to write her a poem which would make it all clear.
Unfortunately, I had scarcely started writing the poem when she broke up with me. She gave me a good-bye kiss on the lips, and I remember asking her why we still kissed if we were no longer together, but she did not answer. Instead she quietly got into her car, said her good-bye, and drove off. I never saw her again, and the poem dedicated to her will remain forever unfinished.