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| Photo by Metro96 |
It's been wonderful to see all of the new contributors to The Song Is... this fall/winter. Tonight I am posting California poet Jackie Chou's piece about not driving.
Riding
the Pumpkin Colored Carriage
The
night approaches
As I
stand by the bus bench
Gazing
at every oncoming large vehicle
With
hopeful eyes and extended neck
Thinking,
is that the one, the 266?
Only
to realize, when it gets closer
That
it is another bus or a truck
The Los
Angeles
My
prized mode of transportation
Takes
me to pivotal occasions
Then
disappears into its station
Leaving
no trace of my whereabouts
After
twenty minutes
The
blinking lights of the 266
Finally
appear from a visible distance
I
wave at it with all smiles
Like
a beauty queen in a parade
Forgetting
the wait
The
cold I have endured
I
climb up its rubbery stairs
A
willing bride ascending the altar
Tapping
my pass and thanking the driver
It
has been almost twenty years
Since
the Driver Safety Department
Revoked
my license
For
an extensive psych history
I was
not always this gracious
In my
twenties I drove a pure white Ford Escort
Had a
father who put a twenty dollar bill
On
the ironing board every other day
For
gas and maintenance
With
the convenience of a car
I
went to every party I knew about
In
delicate dresses and three inch heels
Not
the coarse clothes and sneakers
I now
wear to walk between bus stops
But
still, I yelled at my father
And
threw furniture out the window
My
father passed away in 2003
I
never got my license back
I am
still walking and taking the bus
Only
to go where I have to go
Not
where I feel like going
And
becoming humbler
More
appreciative everyday
Jackie Chou studied Creative Writing at USC. She writes poetry in an attempt to construct meaning out of everyday experiences, to defy ordinary perceptions, and as an alternative to “ranting” to friends on Facebook. She attends writing workshops and has been published locally.
Last weekend my husband and I saw an excellent documentary on Lee Morgan: "I Called Him Morgan." Although I've posted his music before, I am going to include a few more songs tonight. Enjoy! I'll try to look for something from his California albums although I have to post "Search for the New Land."
This is his "Hey Chico": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLSTAoXCeds
"Something Cute" was the next cut on Charisma:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0UtTFo_ydc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0UtTFo_ydc
I'll finish with "Absolutions," which is live from the Lighthouse in California:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c54WwI12pMc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c54WwI12pMc
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