Another Mist to Contend With - collage by douglas brent smith, 1978
"i saw your sister down at the Wayside cutting
chances into glances like she was the original
midnight dancer, understand?"
"that may be true but she ain't been seen
with you..."
"my choice fella gotta whole lotta other
visions on my mind this rocky eve, if you
know what i mean..."
"no kidding, i'm skidding on outta here
before those two a.m. mayhem stratagems
force their fire down my throat but catch
this Mr. Bliss -- you keep your face away
from my sister, mister..."
"oh now, just ain't you too baaaaaaad?"
-- douglas brent smith
a dramatist's conflict
pivots in place
when peace is achieved
and there is no drama
it is conflict to the form
but! is this true? or only
ego driven desire for
more attention
brought by the tension
that drama brings
with the world unresting
drama keeps testing.
-- douglas brent smith
the universal circle
o
ends where it begins
o
bends not breaking
defined by the space
inside
equal in pressure
and flow
o
to the space outside
o
laughing Buddha
did know
o
sweet Jesus
did know
o
nameless eternity
do you know
peace lives here
o
when you know.
-- douglas brent smith
when i learn to leave
judgment and criticism
instead enjoying others
and their differences
delights
when i learn to accept
this place on earth
assured
as a happy one
with a peaceful soul.
-- douglas brent smith
Notes:
Peter bought a used mail truck which had the steering apparatus on the right side instead of the traditional left side on American vehicles so that the drive could place mail into resident's mail boxes without getting out of the truck. Because of that oddity, Peter said that his truck had a sex change -- it used to be a female truck but was turned into a MAIL truck -- and now was stuck as a male.
Those trucks are surprising small inside and of course, only have one seat. Nena and I sat in the back on boxes or folding chairs -- no seatbelts -- on route to our Mustard Seed Theatre gigs. I think that Bob and Harry travelled separately, probably in Harry's car.
We didn't get nearly as many gigs as we'd hoped for (after all, we'd hoped to make it our career) but it was fun while it lasted.
dbs
a conflict-free person
does not destroy
knowing she will always
rather remain whole
knowing she offers
a pathway to peace
-- douglas brent smith
deep in the night
all the joy here beside you
feeling our spirits
rise and converge
deep in the night
with the dance of holding
folding our arms
and our hearts as one
deep in the night
our darkness behind us
the new secrets find us
full and alive
deep in the night
as i turn to kiss you
your eyes shine those signs
of friendship and love.
-- douglas brent smith