Whom shall I marry? One wonders.
Tinker, tailor,
Soldier, sailor,
Rich man, poor man,
Beggar-man, thief.Tinker, Tailor,
Soldier, Sailor,
Gentleman, Apothecary,
Plough-boy, Thief.A laird, a lord,
A richman, a thief,
A tailor, a drummer,
A stealer o’ beef.Lady, lady on the sea-shore,
She has children one to four,
The eldest one is twenty-four,
Then she shall marry a
Tinker, tailor . . . .Kaiser, König,
Edelmann,
Bürger, Bauer,
Bettelmann.Soldier brave,
Sailor true,
Skilled physician,
Oxford blue.Gouty nobleman,
Squire so hale,
Dashing airman,
Curate pale.Army, Navy,
Medicine, Law,
Church, Nobility,
Nothing at all.
The lattermost, no? But seriously, I wonder how valuable it is to deal in quantitative abstractions as a profession. I’ve begun to think lately that one’s “career” should be considered in light of primarily the immediate community in which one exists. Police officers and teachers, for instance, get uncomfortable smiles, and discounts. Doctors get a good deal of admiration. And mechanics—mechanics are just dirty doctors. But nobody anywhere gives a flying fuck about investment bankers. What did they do for the community? Skimmed personal and municipal profits? The only economy they improve is Colombia’s.
Even politicians and lawyers are at least potentially not wankers.
I am considering being a high-school guidance counselor. I have good advice.
ginspiration 