Thru the Door Math

 

Thru the Door Math


Thru the Door Math - sketch by douglas brent smith

NOTES:

The math, I think, was already on the page and I just happened to draw around it. Clearly in the days before portable calculators were widely available.

balloons


any other night

flecked with flashes

small surprises

notes bouncing: balloons

circus light swoons

balloons off the wall

pop pop squeak and

pop balls (mostly 

red) sticking to you

companions in your

dance

floating into the hundred

watt bulb and bursting

pop! pieces fall at

your feet flightless

balloons. 


---------

NOTES:


Andy Laties and his sister, during his Child's Play days
Andy Laties and his sister, during his Child's Play days


My friend Andy Laties, author, bookseller, and musician extraordinaire, when he performed with me in Child's Play had an interesting practice of carrying black balloons in his pocket. He said that they were weather balloons because black is easier to see in the sky. 

Andy carried these balloons and would randomly offer one to someone he'd just met. He'd pull it from his pocket, inflate it fast (a wind-instrument musician he has excellent breath control) and hand it to the stranger who would now be his friend. No conditions and no expectations, just a free black balloon.

Charming.

That has nothing to do with this poem, but mentioning balloons always reminds me of Andy.

Oh, and yes, you really should read Andy's books.


Book and Puppet Company: https://bookandpuppet.com/

Rebel Bookseller: https://bookandpuppet.com/item/JfyTu211AvS6DUwZrcr2Nw

Son of Rebel Bookseller: https://bookandpuppet.com/item/-xqxnISJ0wDCLnFHuj17yw

The Music Thief: https://bookandpuppet.com/item/QZ_xa5QNxDYVQiJrwkATPg

Living Ur Sonata: on Google books here.

A more recent photo of Andy

A more recent photo of Andy

Debbie Is Ready for Anything

Debbie Is Ready for Anything

Debbie Is Ready for Anything -- collage by douglas brent smith, 4 August 1983, from journal #19, The Time Is Now!

Caught Unaware

Caught Unaware

 Caught Unaware -- collage by douglas brent smith, from journal #19, The Time Is Now! 1983

bruises and band aids

pouring out along

the edge

squandered supplies

piled used and high

gaping pits

spent expectations

lost looming loops

of pride booming

need, aside


one generation's

dream passed

to the next

dented bent unrelenting

doom brittle cellophane

crisply cold outside

molded within

contents spoiled

one way of living

shot full of holes

an empty sieve

while the work

flows thru turns

bleeding weeping

slow burns.

 

Step This Way

 

Step This Way

Step This Way - sketch by douglas brent smith



Art Panello

 

Art Panello

Art Panello -- sketch by douglas brent smith

From the Soul

 A poem is a letter from the soul.

-- Harry X. Tudas, 1983

Boatyard Bob

 

Boatyard Bob

Boatyard Bob - collage by douglas brent smith, 9 march 1983, from Journal #18 Captain Orange and the Quest for Grins.



Plans for the Day

 

Plans for the Day

Plans for the Day -- collage by douglas brent smith


Notes:

This is one of those collages that is more drawing than collage, and I could probably keep working on it forever, but I eventually stopped -- at least to take this image of it. It could change.


World In a Nutshell

World In a Nutshell

 World In a Nutshell - sketch by douglas brent smith, 1983


Notes:

This is a small doodle in Journal #18, Captain Orange and the Quest For Grins, 1982-1983. 

You Have To Get Your Feet Wet

You Have To Get Your Feet Wet

 You Have To Get Your Feet Wet - collage by douglas brent smith, 1979

Your Space In Space

 

Your Space In Space

Your Space In Space - sketch by douglas brent smith

The Space Within

 

The Space Within

The Space Within - sketch by douglas brent smith


Notes:

Notice the Mustard Seed t-shirt. Those were fun days putting together Mustard Seed Theatre Company shows with Peter Hoff, Harry Isaacs, and Bob Bortolameotti. None of us had arms like the guy in this sketch.

The Sky With Eyes

 

The Sky With Eyes

The Sky With Eyes - sketch by douglas brent smith


"Did you know that Harry X. Tudas wrote a book?"

"Of course. I always assumed that he's written several books."

"Not as far as we know. But there are hints that he did write this one, although no copies have yet been discovered."

"Well, there's a picture of one."

"..."

"It looks like a big book. Harry had a lot to say, I would guess that he had a lot to write."

"We'd better look for the book."

"I wouldn't know where to look...Chicago, Trenton, Bridgeton, Warminster, who knows?"

"Paris...London...Berlin...Miami...Los Angeles..."

"You're saying that Harry got around?"

"Harry X. Tudas got around."


Notes:

Harry X. Tudas is a character from a play. I borrowed the name from an expression that my great grandmother Denges would say, "What in the name of Harry X. Tudas is going on?"

Not sure where she got it from. 

Peter Hoff, also known as Zeke Peterhoff, portrayed Harry X. Today in the original production of "Cheap / Kong." He created a fabulous character.

The Road to the Horizon

The Road to the Horizon

 The Road to the Horizon - collage by douglas brent smith

The View from the Cizewski House

 

The View from the Cizewski House

The View from the Cizewski House - sketch by douglas brent smith

From Party to Party

 

From Party to Party

From Party to Party - sketch by douglas brent smith, 1982

No One Expected Moses

  No One Expected Moses -- collage by douglas brent smith 4 August 1983