Snapshots

[Virgil]

Early Saturday evening
The streets have rarely offered up so few passersby
The air feels like something is being withheld
The buildings are like a stage set
about to be struck
before the show goes on the road

This one was particularly poignant for me: "The buildings are like a stage set/about to be struck." Given that I'm from New York and lived through 9/11 those lines resonate for me. I don't know if you had that on your mind Prince.

[PrinceMyshkin]

This one was particularly poignant for me: "The buildings are like a stage set/about to be struck." Given that I'm from New York and lived through 9/11 those lines resonate for me. I don't know if you had that on your mind Prince.

I did not. But your mention of it reminded me how none of us who live elsewhere can imagine, perhaps, what a profound shock it must have been to the US nervous system when the WTC & the Pentagon were attacked and the White House might have been...

[simplyme]

Ahead of me at the frozen desserts
a man with a disfigured face,
the whole of the right side of it
seemingly caved in.

I struggle not to look

Jer asked me to post this in response to his.

He stood at the dessert counter,
his first time in public since it happened.
Months had gone by with out knowing if he would meet with disapproval
as even he feared the mirror's image,
covering each with cloths so he wouldn't see.
AND glass! He had to look the other way, for glimpses were horrific to him.
But they said he had to go out in the world
to meet whatever waited for him.
So, he decided to treat himself to dessert.
But the way others looked away and never met his glances
told him what he thought was true.
He left the dessert and walked home,
closed the door
and stayed.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Jer asked me to post this in response to his.

He stood at the dessert counter,
his first time in public since it happened.
Months had gone by with out knowing if he would meet with disapproval
as even he feared the mirror's image,
covering each with cloths so he wouldn't see.
AND glass! He had to look the other way, for glimpses were horrific to him.
But they said he had to go out in the world
to meet whatever waited for him.
So, he decided to treat himself to dessert.
But the way others looked away and never met his glances
told him what he thought was true.
He left the dessert and walked home,
closed the door
and stayed.

Hey Gang? Will you please join me in extending a hearty welcome to this friend of mine! And let me personally welcome you, my friend!

[kiz_paws]

Both poems say so much ... I enjoyed them both immensely.

And yes, a very warm welcome to you, simplyme.

I thought of you today, Jer, and how adept you are at capturing so much into a wee little snapshot -- a young girl was sporting a pair of very glamorous high heeled shoes, but I fear that the heel was too high and too skinny. Anyhow, it reminded me of a new-born horse that was getting up for the first time, and the way that they wobble ...

Well anyhow, I thought that you'd have said it better poetically, and yeah, thats what I wanted to share...

[PrinceMyshkin]

Both poems say so much ... I enjoyed them both immensely.

And yes, a very warm welcome to you, simplyme.

I thought of you today, Jer, and how adept you are at capturing so much into a wee little snapshot -- a young girl was sporting a pair of very glamorous high heeled shoes, but I fear that the heel was too high and too skinny. Anyhow, it reminded me of a new-born horse that was getting up for the first time, and the way that they wobble ...

Well anyhow, I thought that you'd have said it better poetically, and yeah, thats what I wanted to share...

Oh, Kizzeroni! We all share what we can - in your case a most spontaneous, friendly warmth!

[PrinceMyshkin]

Michel, the owner of the café,
strikes me as a perfectly self-contained man.
He tells me of how he “came out,”
first to his gay older sister,
then to his very Catholic Maman.

He tells me of how, at age 15,
he came home once at 4 a.m.
to find his mother sitting up on the couch,
waiting for him. “Maman,”
he said to her: “You need your sleep!
You don’t have to worry about me.
I’m not on drugs,
I’m not an alcoholic,
I was just out having fun with my friends.”
And how she never sat up again after that.

He prefers “uncomplicated people,”
hates “drama-queens.”
Talking, serving behind the counter, smoking,
he is at rest.

[CdnReader]

Michel, the owner of the café,
strikes me as a perfectly self-contained man.
He tells me of how he “came out,”
first to his gay older sister,
then to his very Catholic Maman.

He tells me of how, at age 15,
he came home once at 4 a.m.
to find his mother sitting up on the couch,
waiting for him. “Maman,”
he said to her: “You need your sleep!
You don’t have to worry about me.
I’m not on drugs,
I’m not an alcoholic,
I was just out having fun with my friends.”
And how she never sat up again after that.

He prefers “uncomplicated people,”
hates “drama-queens.”
Talking, serving behind the counter, smoking,
he is at rest.

Wonderful portrait (of the word-filled sort). Have you shared this with Michel? And how did he respond?

[kiz_paws]

Michel, the owner of the café,
strikes me as a perfectly self-contained man.
He tells me of how he “came out,”
first to his gay older sister,
then to his very Catholic Maman.

He tells me of how, at age 15,
he came home once at 4 a.m.
to find his mother sitting up on the couch,
waiting for him. “Maman,”
he said to her: “You need your sleep!
You don’t have to worry about me.
I’m not on drugs,
I’m not an alcoholic,
I was just out having fun with my friends.”
And how she never sat up again after that.

He prefers “uncomplicated people,”
hates “drama-queens.”
Talking, serving behind the counter, smoking,
he is at rest.

Beautiful -- this snapshot has a soothing appeal to it, I liked the simplicity and honesty of Michel.

AND 'Kizzeroni'? Ha! I liked that too! Thanks for your kind words and for creating this lovely thread.

[PrinceMyshkin]

From my table alongside one wall of the café
I catch sight of a slender Oriental figure
hurrying by. I race after her
and call out: "Madeleine!"
–a former student of mine,
now an established writer
with a growing reputation.

She turns and, recognizing me,
her eyes, as usual, disappear in the smile she gives me.
We chat animatedly, but only for a few minutes
as she needs to get to the post-office
before it closes and then
to a writer-in-residenceship
at the University in Shanghai.

"You have my phone-number," she reminds me.
Yes, but how to tell her how charmed
I have always been by her...

[kiz_paws]

her eyes, as usual, disappear in the smile she gives me.

Loved it!

This snapshot made me happy in the knowing that someone who brushed shoulders with you became successful in this fun thing we know as WRITING.

Keep 'em coming, Jer (as if he needs encouragement)

[Virgil]

From my table alongside one wall of the café
I catch sight of a slender Oriental figure
hurrying by. I race after her
and call out: "Madeleine!"
–a former student of mine,
now an established writer
with a growing reputation.

She turns and, recognizing me,
her eyes, as usual, disappear in the smile she gives me.
We chat animatedly, but only for a few minutes
as she needs to get to the post-office
before it closes and then
to a writer-in-residenceship
at the University in Shanghai.

"You have my phone-number," she reminds me.
Yes, but how to tell her how charmed
I have always been by her...

Does every woman in the world turn you on Jer? It seems like you have a desire for all of them.

[Sweets America]

Does every woman in the world turn you on Jer? It seems like you have a desire for all of them.

That is Jer, he's an eternal romantic! That's a joy and a curse all at once.

[PrinceMyshkin]

Does every woman in the world turn you on Jer? It seems like you have a desire for all of them.

There was this one I remember, corner Hastings & Main in Vancouver, didn't do a damned thing for me!

[simplyme]

More for Jer: The good "ending".
"He stayed hidden behind closed doors
for what seemed like forever,
as his life was empty of human contact.
Old friends called,
but he avoided their invitations as he never wanted them to SEE him,
He talked with a new friend online, who only knew him as HE really was
and he was not afraid.
In only weeks, he trusted enough and told his problem.
He healed inside with the true friend's help,
and with new courage found what could be done.
As painful months passed, he healed,
and though not perfect outside, he became more perfect inside.
One day his eyes opened and he noticed it was spring
and the sun shone so brightly
The cold winter had long passed without his seeing that it was gone.
The light shone brightly across the room and he felt like going out
and to his joy, that was the first day he wanted to go out the door.
When he arrived at his destination again,
he entered and smiled
and almost everyone, smiled back!
And at that time, joy replaced the pain."