I go to lonely airports
packed of people
watch the fast walking
bluetoothtalking
eyes glazed
fixed into a
cappuccino crowd
of standbys &
upgrades
the shine man smiles
hawks his trade
like a pt barnum
the brush carries
a beale street
12 bar rhythm
the smudged rag
carried from mississippi
sings a juke joint
solo
snap two three snap
as the lonely sit
face covered
by the morning times
unaware
that history
is singing
the last note
This poem was inspired by a poem by Jo Janoski and of course a bit of life
May 28, 2008 at 1:49 am
damn that was good.. i mean really good… i gotta pop over by jo’s and see what inspired this as i haven’t been there yet today….
May 28, 2008 at 5:09 am
Really, really like this, Scot.. reminds me of the days I’d spend at the end of the little overlook spot downstream from RReagan Nat’l Airport, DC, where I’d watch the jets take off, deaf and dumbed me as they flew over what seemed an arm’s length above me. I’m a plane spotter; love to watch them take off. Not landing, just taking off. I’d watch for hours. What a rush! Almost as good as taking off in a superjet, sucked back, like the seat is the end of a humongous vacuum hose. Wheeeeee!
May 28, 2008 at 5:37 am
You caught the thing perfectly. and made me feel that the shoe-shine “boys” are the only ones holding together any sanity in such places as airports, which includes the whole world and all the servants and cleaners and workers in kitchens and growers of cotton and food who do the only real work whilst the glazed eyes of those who see life as a great dunghill competition with them nearing the top take in nothing.
May 28, 2008 at 6:18 am
Excellent……..the undercurrent, you got the undercurrent.
May 28, 2008 at 11:12 am
paisley
aw thanks–hope you are doing well
May 28, 2008 at 11:13 am
JL
thanks for stopping in and the great commnent
May 28, 2008 at 11:14 am
Vincent
I think they just might be—thank your take on this
May 28, 2008 at 11:15 am
Jo
thank you Jo
May 28, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Wow! I love the snap two three snap! This is a great compliment to my poem.
May 28, 2008 at 8:03 pm
Or did I mean ‘complement’?
May 28, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Thanks JO
i believe Vincent’s take is right. Glad you liked it
May 28, 2008 at 10:42 pm
love that last stanza. airports are blue, especially planes which can make certain people so very sick.
May 29, 2008 at 1:09 am
thanks lissa
May 29, 2008 at 9:21 pm
G’day Scot,
The fast walking bluetoothtalking eyes glazed fixed…
A wonderful rhythm
The brush carrying and the rag carried from …
Another beautifully evocative comparison.
My take on this piece is taht modern life has stripped time from the multitude. My daughter refers to mobile phones as ‘remote controls for people’ and I agree with her.
Your description of up time seems to to be a poor replacement for down time and the only people gettin’ down are down at the feet of the up timers who are moving too fast and filling their heads with flapdoodle to the point that they cannot enjoy life.
Simplicity seems to be the message.
You have a deft touch and a wonderfully humanistic view.
Thanks also for introducing me to the art of Jo Janoski.
Robert
I have just started Ideas Exchange at http://p0et.wordpress.com/ and I would appreciate an opinion if you care to lace this space between us
May 30, 2008 at 8:08 am
excellent last stanza, says so much
May 30, 2008 at 11:13 am
Juliet
thanks for stopping in