Preface for the Foreword

Paul asked, even pressured, me to write this foreword based on my reaction to the proposition that he add a humor section to Kung Fu.  I was silent for a while and then simply said, “I’m not sure that's a good idea.”  That’s really all I had to say about the whole thing, but since he asked…..

Foreword

Paul is an amazing man.  He is good at many things.  I feel I know Paul pretty well and I spend a considerable amount of time talking, if not touching, with him.  My point is that Paul is enjoyable to be around.  He’s smart, a gifted poet, and talented in many other areas as well.

However, telling jokes is not one of his talents.  Not that he’s not funny.  Anyone who’s ever watched him pretend to be awake while he’s sound asleep or heard him channel the ever present voice of his mother (at least that’s who I think it is) would say that Paul is funny.

My argument against the humor section is as follows:

A couple of nights ago, a discussion about the inconsistencies of parents in rule keeping reminded Paul of a joke.  The first attempt at telling the joke led to a tangent on something about the history of religious vows, but he couldn’t remember it exactly.  So, he began the joke again, eliminating the history portion.

This is how the joke goes:

“Three monks are walking along.  They’ve all taken vows not to talk and not to touch women.  They have histories but they are unknown.  So the three monks happen upon a young girl drowning in a stream.  One of then says something, another one responds, and the third one runs into the stream and saves the girl.  A couple of hours pass and one monk says, ‘I can’t believe you touched that girl!” and the other says, “Well, I only touched her for a minute.  You’ve been carrying her around for hours.”

And that’s it.  Are you laughing?  The problem here is that there’s something missing in the joke, whether it be the history of the monks or otherwise.  The man can’t tell a joke.  He assumes you know too much.

He wanted me to write this because, I think, he thought it would be funny.  Irony is never lost on Paul and me writing a foreword to something I disapprove of- especially when it’s humor related strikes him, ironically, as funny.  I haven’t seen the humor page.  I’m not sure that I will.  Probably late some night when I’m really bored I’ll take a look, but I’m not expecting much.  And if you don’t think my foreword id funny, don’t waste your time either.

Paul didn’t even consider my suggestion to not add the humor section.  Seriously, he didn’t even consider it.  He considered what I said, but never reconsidered his planned course of action.  I’m not sure what this means- maybe he thinks he’ll seen funnier in contrast to my foreword.

Read Paul’s poetry, read his rants. E-mail him.  Visit his links. Appreciate his arts.
Don’t, don’t come here for humor.  It’s not funny Paul.  It’s just not funny. Humor 

Humor 2

Humor 3

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Humor 5

Humor 6

Humor 7

Humor 8

Humor 9

Humor 10
 
 
 

My doctor says 
laughter is good 
for regular bowel
movements