SECTION TWELVE
POETRY PAGE FOUR

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COLUMN 108, AUGUST 1, 2004
(Copyright © 2004 The Blacklisted Journalist)

DUSTING

It was mother's work, this brush of shadows.
Now, my cloth dusts crystal on the bookcase
shelf, then, to the silver mirror from Mexico.

That travel is a memory, half dust, half light, 
beside the three brass bowls that collect dust 
from the open window, right next to the pencil

drawing of his naked torso in a gilded frame.
I imagine, then, the word "dust" as verb 
and noun: setting down our work, taking it up

again, to dust his back with powder, or dust 
by air the fields of wheat to make them ripe,
and now, to dust the glass across this sketch 

that collects the heart's equivalent of rust.
How nice, his picture polished bright to wait
the hand that lifts us up once more from dust.  ##

* * *

GROWING UP

What do you see, he asks the child?
I see a meadow bright with days of gold,
and the moon at night casts a silver glow.
The world is new and never old.

What do you see, he asks the boy
who climbs at will the backyard tree?
I see a bike and a BB gun, my toys
are tied with bows and gifts for me.

Young man upon the landing, tell me 
what you see. I see the flap of batting 
flags and soldiers marching proudly
up the garland stairs of victory.

And you, the master workman, tell me 
what you see. I see the straw and mud 
from which my daily bricks are made.
I see my work and love soon fade. 

Old, white haired man upon the ledge 
what do you squint to see? I see the pit 
of ash and outlines of my skeleton. 
I see where all our wounds are one.  ##


FOR AS LONG AS PEOPLE KEEP LISTENING TO BOB DYLAN AND THE BEATLES, PEOPLE WILL WANT THIS BOOK

"A masterpiece!" --- SALLY GROSSMAN, widow of Bob Dylan's brilliant original manager, Albert Grossman.

"This book is a must-read for all rock 'n roll aficionados!"---EAR CANDY

"An essential reference for demystifying what the author refers to as: 'one of the most self-destructive binges of creativity in cultural history.'"---HAMMOND GUTHRIE, COUNTERPUNCH MAGAZINE

"Required Reading for anyone and everyone who considers themselves fans, followers, students, or those just plain curious of the Golden Age of Popular Music"---GARY PIG GOLD, FUFKIN.COM.

"I love the book. I love the way you can open it to any page and start reading and it keeps you reading. The book is just fun to read." --LEVON HELM, Drummer of THE BAND from Big Pink.

"Ellis Paul and I love your book."---RALPH JACCODINE, Ralph Jaccodine Management.

". . .perfect for our times."---WOODSTOCK TIMES

"Adam Duritz (he's the lead singer and writer for the famed Counting Crows). . .was at my studio and couldn't put the book down."---STEWART LERMAN, RIGHTEOUS SOUND INC.

". . .a must read for anyone who loves, music, loves life, loves rock and roll."---TSAURAH LITZKY, author of The Motion of the Ocean, Baby on the Water, and  Goodbye Beautiful Mother.  

"I recommend it."---DOUGLAS HOLDER, IBBETSON STREET PRESS.  

".  . .It is a fasinating, insightful read. You are such a wonderful writer."---STEPHANIE LEDGIN, Music Journalist.

"I could not put this book of yours down for a minute."---ED GALING, POET LAUREATE OF HATBORO, PA.

IN THIS 615-PAGE PAPERBACK, AL ARONOWITZ, ACCLAIMED AS THE "GODFATHER OF ROCK JOURNALISM," TELLS YOU MORE ABOUT BOB DYLAN AND THE BEATLES THAN ANY OTHER WRITER CAN TELL YOU BECAUSE NO OTHER WRITER WAS THERE AT THE TIME. AS THE MAN WHO INTRODUCED ALLEN GINSBERG TO BOB DYLAN, BOB DYLAN TO THE BEATLES AND THE BEATLES TO MARIJUANA, ARONOWITZ BOASTS, "THE '60S WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN THE SAME WITHOUT ME."


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