Unfolding

"Is it who folded the universe
that matters
or how I would open it...."

There's a zen when you're in the life of your art that helps you find gigs, and other cool things that sustain your art. It really comes into play when you communicate with folks.

I decided in order to promote THE LEIGHTON EXPLOSION that I'd go on a trip down memory lane, and reconnect with old friends--people who saw me working in radio, on TV, in magazines, with bands, journalists, friends from college and high school.

It's kismet as I'm making these calls, because I'm also hearing from other folks who've been in my thoughts through the years. It's really just part of life to be connected with people from the past, present, and even the future.

When I posted about this Kickstarter campaign on my Facebook, Cornelius Eady asked me about it. He's always been in my mind as a great poet, understanding his own voice and being respected by both Academia and the Outlaw communities. But more so, he's had a wide musical influence in his work, so it felt so natural when he told me he also works with musicians.

"Let's do a show!" I said, even though I had initially planned to start gigging in the fall. I thought it'd be a big production! (Well, Yes and no... that's gonna be another story or two or three!)

As soon as Cornelius said he wanted to do a show w/ me late March/early April, I e-mailed my musician friend Jim Gibson (who was in Tooth Fairy, a band BBC's late great DJ John Peel loved).

Tonight, as I told another publicist about my campaign, she said to contact a poet she knew, that also had rock & roll roots. And then another friend told me to write to someone who booked poets AND folk singers in his market...

Click This Sentence To See This Essay On My Kickstarter Page:

Water Boy

(Rewrites of the Rites of Spring)

Pay attention to the nice things people say about you
Write 'em down on tossed cigarette boxes
Struggling…

Ends meet and go through the meat grinder
Will I hear my drowning spiral?
Now? No.

Am I passing through the edges, bumping in the maze
Do I need healing or relaxing?
Lax? Me?

I saw the Water boy sweating
on a hot day, drinking water,
he didn't hurt himself with wine
He did talk with himself

By fall we reached the Water Boy,
didn't drink, smoke or fend for himself.
I bought him socks
A Christian brought him foods

I hope no one hollered at him
Someone stole from him
Everything—clothes and writings—
his thoughts dragged off cigarette boxes.

I made it through the winter
with thoughts now on candy boxes
letters, numbers...

I see a cream-colored cat on a high fence
Can you save her from the barbed wire?
In the rain? I tried.

All I could do was give her a name: Barbie
Barbie fed by a cute cat lady of 80
who was frightened the kitty would fall
I said I'd save her, but she disappeared.

My Water Boy had a Texas accent
People thought he had a mental illness
He was subject to being stolen from, and humbled
to sit on a park bench 'til he followed Barbie away.

Baby, You’re The Greatest

Subways don’t get me to work on time,
so my mate shouts me up,
“Don’t you make the unemployment line
get up! Get out in the cold, cruel world.
Do your job, girl.
Do it now, dude.”

Do! Do! Doobie doobie do!
I do it for me, I do it for you!
I do it for bread, I do it for food
for me-- for you
‘cause you are the greatest,
baby, you’re the greatest!

The bus just suits me fine,
the driver’s smiling and thinking;
He’s working for his bride
whose earning for his dreams.
Think big! Think about your lifelines,
do your thing, girl.
Do it good, dude.

When the traffic is crammed
I pray for a day between us
when the sun shines and the rain falls
and I see you in my eyes
so beautiful to me--
baby, baby, baby
you are the greatest.

Do! Do! Doobie doobie do!
I do it for me, I do it for you!
I do it for bread, I do it for food
for me--for you
‘cause you are the greatest,
baby, you’re the greatest!

Life Is Passing Time (Dedicated to Mr.Rogowsky)

It’s Aphrodite’s B.C.
and you discovered the hole in your belly,
things that are round and four meanings for “square,”
singing songs ‘cause you gotta feel more.
Everyone’s got the same body
though only a few of you bones will unearth
in the future’s passing time...
passing to make it good or bad.
it’s just some passing time
to pass around
to pass it on and on and on and on and on (and so on).

It’s the Age of Discovery
and you explored Greece, The Far East and Turkeys,
The South Pole, The North Pole and Pocahontas,
singing, “For Gold, Gospel and Glory.”
Everyone explored all over
though only a few were good explorers
exploring some passing time.

It’s the Modern Age
and you invented technology—
an amp, ampex and ko-rec-type
singing to get more done much faster.
Everyone’s invented solutions
though only a few stay as they were once
invented in passing time...
passing to make it good or bad.
it’s just some passing time
to pass around
to pass it on and on and on and on and on (and so on).

It’s something it never was
and you’re responsible for everything:
Polarity and “solarity” and circles and squares,
singing, “For Gold, Gospel and Glory.”
Everybody is someone
and nothing is something for sure
more than just something
in all of this passing time.

-1978

Scenes From Two Restaurants!

She calls her son, Bam Bam,
the lady in the gyro shop.
He recited the Old Testament books,
the husband who ate his gyro w/ hot sauce.

Genesis to Exodus and all those Proverbs--
life's changes sometimes stay the same
sometimes a wrinkle in our face
tweaking us as we age.
Life!!!!

He was skinny in school,
his bones and belly grew slowly,
his mind it quickened as he soul-searched
with his wife of 30 years--never lonely!

Genesis to Exodus and all those Proverbs--
life's changes sometimes stay the same
sometimes a wrinkle in our face
tweaking us as we age.
Life!!!!

I rode with a familiar voice
to your girl's graduation.
We both wore green at your wedding
That's what they wore at this celebration.

Say hey, evolution
we once had a revolution
and in the end, it's just personal
these revelations in our relations.
Life... in the beginning through our continuations...

Genesis to Exodus and all those Proverbs--
life's changes sometimes stays the same
sometimes a wrinkle in our face
tweaking us as we age.

PRETEND MY WORLD IS A PERSON

Photo of the Standard Hotel, After Power Restored Nov. 3, 2012

(Mother Nature's 9-11 Riddle Poem)

Pretend my world is a person,
who has a short time
Pretend my world has friends
who she gives much to
Pretend these friends take,
but do not care for her
What would you say
What would you say
What would you do?

Pretend these friends have friends
who really do care
Pretend those friends are scared
to stay on their course
Pretend that path connects
to someone who cares
What would you say
What would you say
What would you do?

Pretend this is for real
for it really really is
Pretend the real can be healed
for you know you can
Pretend to be an angel
who will help the world.
What would you say
What would you say?
What would you do?

What Would Jesus Do?

What's your opinion
I ask of the lady troubadour
should you wear a dress to get more fans?
She always says, "'would Dylan do it,'
and if I don't think he would, I wouldn't..."
but who are you?

If Dylan does it, what about Jesus
Who's to say, who's to judge
that I can or can't sing my groove
Who knows what's good enough
Can I make a guess?

Question my judgment
if I do, I lack the confidence
if you do, it's your problem all right.
my friend the communist says get opinions
like, should I smile?

If Dylan does it, what about Jesus
Who's to say, who's to judge
that I can or can't sing my groove
Who knows what's good enough
Can I make a guess?

If I can't find a soul
should I hide from the world
or just tie my own bow
and say it was done by some girl
who always does it right?
I say, Oh no...
I did it myself
I put the pain, the blame and the gain on myself
I think it myself--she don't care anyway!
it's not about Dylan
ain't about Jesus,
just me, with my consult

Thank you Jesus.
Thank you, Me!