Skinny Dipping Poem by gershon hepner

Dipping when you’re being skinny
is an act that’s far less sinny
than lovers breaking solemn oaths
when they’re wearing all their clothes,
violation that destroys
peace as silence is by noise,
and the thought of any God
when sophistication’s mod,


Inspired while watching a skinny dip towards the end of “A Single Man, ” based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood. After the character played by Colin Firth, an English professor at UCL, goes on the skinny dip with his student played by Nicholas Hoult, Firth talks about that breaks noise. Betsy Sharkey writes in her review in the LA Times (12/11/09) :
We're always looking for those performances that truly define an actor, where we can sit back and simply watch the talent soar. For Colin Firth, 'A Single Man' is that film. Until now probably best known for his work in the 'Bridget Jones' films - the stuffy, sensitive suitor forever in the shadow of Hugh Grant's roguish charmer - his portrayal of George, the single man that he imbues with amazing grace, should change all that. George is 52, a Briton transplanted to L.A., where he's been an English professor for years. George is also gay at a time - the early '60s - when being open about such things wasn't commonplace. The man he loves has died, sending him first into depression and then on a mission to simply end it all. That's the back story. Our tragedy actually begins on the day George has decided will be his last….
Center stage, of course, is Firth. Without him to provide the soul, all that saturated beauty would count for nothing. He holds George together with such care and breaks him apart just as carefully. One of many grace notes comes as he takes the call telling him of Jim's accident. There is such stillness as the words hit him, as if to react would be to make it real. Isherwood surrounded George with a handful of significant others, each designed to fill in the missing pieces, and the film does the same. Some the director holds closely to - Ginnifer Goodwin is spot on as the classically manicured suburban wife with her energetic brood, and Nicholas Hoult is excellent as the student with a pressing intellect. Others, Ford has his way with. Best friend Charley (Julianne Moore) , in particular, has gone from earthy and overweight to vogue and stylishly thin. All in all, a very solid ensemble encircles Firth, though Moore is absolutely buoyant. A luscious lush, she oozes mod sophistication, despite the bouffant. She is just ahead of the feminist movement that saved many like her, so Valium, vodka and George's friendship will have to do. Moore hasn't had quite this much fun with a role in awhile - or so the slow twist to music and laughter would lead you to believe. For the most part, Ford has done good by the film, infusing a sad story with warmth and humor to spare. While loss is what makes George's experience universal, heart is what gives him such life….

12/29/09