Meeting Ellis Paul, Vance Gilbert and the amazing group of people on the Cape this summer was a jaw-dropping time full of inspiration and mind clearing thoughtfulness. I was blown away by the talent and community we built while staving off dehydration due to the heat and a lack of air conditioning. I can't wait to do it all again. As the warm breeze blew through doors ajar,
our minds in full hum unfurled, unfolded, unobstructed. Tasteful licks stuck in fits, unstrung from our cases untangled in bits... With ideas buzzing through our minds Words being thrown to paper Drawing upon another chapter in my book a day or two later The freezer felt like a respite from the heat But the minds together as one came to a heady brew I began this adventure alas we all did too To spur on inspiration amid scores of ideas anticipation A free write started the flowing of ink out of our minds the flow, a blink, drawings distorted, submerged of the unsorted sort As it began it ended, the fingers soar and voices hoarse From tasteful licks stuck in fits, unstrung from our cases untangled in bits... What's in the way to gain the fame of the name game.
The snow fly trouble bubble doubled into one. I try and surface what is under the cover of lightness and fondness and likeness but it takes a moment of stepping back, letting the light hit my face before I realize what it is that I'm really looking at. My realization of numbers and troubles and stubborn fumbles bumps me back awake. I've seen it. I lived it. I saw it from another point of view. I realize now what I've been missing. It's our time to show each other what we're made of. To take this opportunity, a second chance, to bring to light what's wrong in this place. What's missing in this space. What's needing to be replaced. Concentrate my frustration towards something special, towards something beneficial, towards something and enlightening. Bring it to the masses to spread and multiply and create and procreate over and over until what was once spread can now be held together as one. Bring it close to your heart and see what it does. See the warm and feel the sight of it. Keep the view within but share it with your friend. Free write until your fingers bleed and pick up where you left off the day before. It was 7:45. 65 on the highway, exit 7 and I stop. I saw a man standing on this same spot holding up a sign the other day "will work for food". Just trying to make it by for another day. Could have been anyone in his previous life, before whatever happened...happened. For sure he's down on his luck. Did he deserve it? Maybe it was meant to be. He could be the nicest man you'd ever meet or the biggest jerk in the world. Either way, down on his luck. You can't help but wonder. Lost his job at the factory. Let go on Wall Street. Stop and say hello, throw a dollar or two? Try to look busy until the traffic light turns green. You're off and back to what you do. Every now and again you look back and see someone do what you couldn't.
I saw a man. Today he's not there. No sign, no ruffed up dirty shirt and overcoat. No missing teeth. No one to wonder about. No one to avoid eye contact with. Maybe he made it. Maybe he didn't. You put in your time it's late you're tired but nice and warm on this unseasonably cold afternoon. You wonder what it's like to sleep on the curb when it's 25 degrees. I saw a man. Pulling into the driveway of your manicured lawn, sprinklers were meant to be shut off last night. The driveways' a mess with toys and bikes. The things we must worry about. Open the door, give your wife and daughter a kiss. Your wife got home early, put a fire on and cooked a nice meal, a little cottage pie. My favorite. New York Nightly News announcement: "Homeless man down on his luck gets the break he has been waiting for!" I saw a man. Can't be so I turn. Standing with his sign, his ruffed up dirty shirt and overcoat. Missing teeth smiling from ear to eat. Now all eyes on him. Maybe he'll make it. Maybe he won't. No more of a need to wonder or even worry. Just to think. What would I have done. How would I have survived. What would have pulled me into the next day. Could have been that one person. That one kind soul. That one believer that took a chance and bought him a sandwich and a coffee and a $1 ticket to freedom. I saw a man. |
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