talkin' pumpkin dog tick blues at Copper Star coffee

I went to a little memorial/tribute gathering for Lee Ballard, last week. We went around the room sharing some of Lee's poems and memories. I thought it was nice that his loved ones could hold onto his chapbooks and renew some sort of connection with him, every time they read his words.





Here's one of Lee's pieces that I read:


TOUGH AUDIENCE


Some nights it does not pay,
I said it does not pay
to stand and deliver poems
because out there, out there, in front
there sit so many stones. I hunt
for one reacting face and find
back there, on the last row, one mind,
one receptive keen wit
who laughs at the wrong time.

~~~~Lee Ballard


I didn't know him too well, but it makes you think about what kind of impression you leave on the people around you...even people who you don't really know, all that well. It reminds you to appreciate the people that you interact with, while alive.

To everyone who is taking the time to read this: we are fortunate to know each other a little bit, even if it's only through this webpage.

To everyone who I actually get to see: it's very cool, that we occasionally run into each other!

happinesstogo  and campana  showed up and we talked Jack Evans into trying to meet up with us on Monday night for MamaJavas open reading. Even if we're the only ones there, we should be able to keep each other entertained.