And My Beat Goes On
And My Beat Goes On
Two things happened recently. I heard author and rock journalist, Sylvie Simmons talk about her latest book, I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen and several of my poems were included in the anthology, And The Beats Go On, published by Redwood Writers, a branch of the California Writers Club. The combination has brought me to a finish.
- I’ve finished with the questions that may never have answers.
- I’ve finished with the people that can’t understand.
- I’ve finished thinking that everyone else is better.
When I heard Sylvie play the songs of Leonard Cohen, simply and honestly on a ukulele, without amplification; I thought back to the living room, next to the dining room, where, Balanced On The Edge of the Crowd” opens. In that room, I played Leonard Cohen’s first album until I had it memorized. I also carried a copy of Lawrence Ferlinghetti’s, A Coney Island of the Mind–it too, memorized.
Today Leonard and Lawrence are with me still and:
- I have answers to the questions I was afraid to ask.
- I have people around that understand.
- I am as good as anybody.
Not bad for a day’s work. The part that is Beyond Cuckoo is how long it took to get here.
http://www.amazon.com/Im-Your-Man-Leonard-Cohen/dp/0061995002/ref=tmm_pap_title_0
http://www.amazon.com/Redwood-Writers-2014-Poetry-Anthology/dp/1496094611/