An Unnecessary Woman

by Rabih Alameddine

Virgil called sleep death’s brother, and Isocrates before him. Hypnos and Thanatos, sons of Nyx. This minimizing of death is unimaginative. “Nothing is less worthy of a thinking man than to see death as a slumber,” wrote Pessoa. Basic to sleep is the fact that we wake up from it. Is waking then a resurrection?

boyfriends are always quoting nas at me … gonna hit them back with rabih alameddine next time i wake up.

Beirut is the Elizabeth Taylor of cities: insane, beautiful, tacky, falling apart, aging, and forever drama laden.

Let me paraphrase: I am filled with Byronic loneliness but have neither of the poet’s outlets: genius and adultery. All I am is lonely.