phenomenology
existentialism
Brentano
Husserl
Sartre
in his book Psychology from an Empirical Standpoint Brentano approached
the mind in terms of its intentions meaning
a general reaching tending stretchinglike blue oaks knot its Latin root intendere in-tend thoughts
are invariably of or about something
he scribbled that on a scrap of
paper he pickedup off the street and had tucked in the back of the book he was reading
as he walkedcouldnt say how relieved he was when he found it because usually before
leaving home he slipped a page of paper in whatever book he was reading expressly
to write on should something occur to him
ably he found occurrences
REGRET occurred to him
he liked to think he had no
regretswas not impeded or disadvantaged did not shoulder or hump baggage though what formed across his shoulders was a soft yoke an intention
he
wished to at the time but did not
because of a college Algebra final hed missed
only one point of those accumulated
he boarded the El at Jefferson its
northwest terminus
as he sat a bum immediately sat
down from across him
doors closed
bum leaned forward huskily to shake him down for coinhe wouldnt have to lie he purposefully
used his change at the turnstile to purchase his passage and transferhe didnt like to lie to anyone
that
an that if orangerobed Hare
Kirshnas werent able to shake him down over the past fall quarter he was plenty
wellversed this bum wouldnt either
they always
asked for change not paper money
Brother. Got some spare change.
Sorry man no
gruffly
You a college boy, you got moneydon’t holdout . .
. . Orwhawas briefly bothered the bum
converted change to money
he leaned back a bit What?
Yahwha
I want a hot coffee. It was cold on
the landing.
Ya had change to make it through
the turnstile
Ya don look
like ya coud vault it elude the gateman
steelyeyed
him I need hot
coffee.
Maybe need it somewhere else I do not have any change
leaning back a bit further Think you’re tough.
Think
We coud find out
Screw you.
It’s only a cup of cof . .
.
. Ive seen you on the El before
If I had change
youd touch me up again an again I woud
Screw you. he settled back on the benchkept eyeing him
the El stopped doors worked openneeded to be greased
people disembarkedentered sideways through each other
a welldressed man in an open long
overcoat stepped aboard came up the aisle nodded at him
he returned his nod
the gentleman sat beside him
the bum eyed the gentleman
he
thought Well Ask buddy
Young man, is this fellow
bothering you?
No sir No bother
I aint bothering himI aint bothering nobody.
No bother young man?
Not at all sir
I said I aint.
Alright. I just wanted to make sure things were peaceable.
They is.
I said alright.
Yeah. Awright.
You don’t look alright.
I’s as good as can be expected.
the gentleman started
Where did
you get your battledress?
the bum yanked his lapel It’s mine.
Eighth Cavalry?
Eighth. Yeah.
Hill 255?
Pork Chop.
he
knew Pork Chop
the
gentleman swung off the bench from beside him sat beside the bum thrust his hand
out I’m Brown, Company I, Third
Battalion, Thirtysecond Infantry.
You the bums voice broke saved us.
Soldier. We relieved you.
the El was slowing Brown grabbed
the bum by his elbow Come on let’s go,
we’ll have lunch, go for drinks. Kid, you’re welcome.
Id like to but I got a final Id really like to
Well . . nose to the grindstone.
as the El stopped Brown helped the
bum up
Seeya kid. the bum
muttered
he never did
no idea why that breezed through his
head all these many years later
he didnt think regret was intended
but what did he know
1427, Reggaefriday,
11 8. 23
1151, Saturday,
12 8. 23
