Trails Through the Greenbelt

We have a whole new set of links that we will be including on our site.  These are all links pertaining to TTtG in one form or another.  Along with the links featuring Jen, Doug, and myself, links will also be provided to those who have been good to TTtG, including organizations, papers, and stores carrying the book.  Stay tuned to this site for more links.

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MORBIDITY

by Jack Freedman

 

I. To Bob:

 

Your words
Aroused the mind,
With prose of peace
Deeply penetrating the brain.
Cortexes moan to the sound of your voice,
Laced with imagery,
Depicting the nirvana
Most of us never achieve.
Your tall tales of triumph
Outnumber true tales of turmoil:
The passing of your wife
Months after your eternal bond,
Firsthand visions of injustice
During your mandatory service of bloodshed,
The shelter you lacked,
The refuge you sought in the woods,
And the drugs you struggled to kick.
Though you suffered greatly,
I was honored by your withered smile.
I vividly remember
Colorful images of leafy euphoria
Between exchanges of vocal viewpoints
And I enjoyed our long conversations
As we sailed along the river.
Without hesitation and regret,
I donated everything I could give to you.
What I gave was always enough.
It is unknown
As to where your soul lies,
Whether it be under the sun
Or within the clouds,
But your legacy continues
To walk this planet forever.

 

II. To Dan:

 

Ninja with a tortured soul.

We joked that you would never live

To be a dirty old man.

Some said you were in a dimension

Possessed by souls with artificial intelligence.

In certain cases,

They were not far from the truth.

The throes of schizophrenia

Could have very well been

An overactive mind

Racing at 150 miles per hour

On Route 278

Heading towards the bowels of drudgery

That no mind could manufacture.

But the cancers of poverty,

Aimless directions,

And bad luck

Steered you off base.

You needed a home,

A place you could call your own,

Not psychiatric wards or crack dens.

If what they say is true

And home is where the heart is,

Surely your family possessed it.

I know you realized that.

You must have.

It’s just too damn bad that

It came too late

And your mind raced no more.

When you melded with metal

Your body soared like William Tell’s arrow.

The concrete would have been the apple you pierced

On top of this planet’s head

Housing an eroding psyche.

We haven’t forgotten about you,

For I have inscribed your legacy in ink

Bound by the words of your peers,

Many of whom could relate to your inner struggles.

God speed my friend.

 

III. To Rebecca:

 

If Neil Young kept searching for a heart of gold

Surely he would find yours.

I wish I knew more about you

Before you crossed into the light

As Aurum auricles ached.

I found personality traits

Through terse verses of poetry,

Sharing happy moments,

Wonderful places,

And a realization of your unique views on life.

Just as I found your writings

You found a voice through them

And it was amplified by an ISBN number.

In true form,

An interpretation

Of your words

Would be unveiled

Like the tombstone that marks your place in this world.

Possibly,

They might be scattered across the elements,

Infernos initiate the induction into infinity

As wind sweeps you into the atmosphere,

With the possibility

That you may land in a pond or field.

But surely,

You’ve made your mark,

And I am happy

That I helped you in your ventures.

————

This poem is called, “Morbidity.”  This serves as a tribute to three friends in my life.  Bob (AKA Virginia Bob) went missing several years ago and we haven’t heard from him since.  Ideally, he would have been in the collection.  My first book, Serotonin Seas, was dedicated to him.  Dan is the person that TTtG is dedicated to.  His untimely death involved him getting hit by a car.  Rebecca is featured in the book, and as mentioned in a previous blog, she died this year from a heart attack. Surely, if another book is written, it will be dedicated to her.  They will be missed, but thankfully their legacies have been scribed.

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This book was edited by Jack M. Freedman and illustrated by Jane Butters.

It delights me to see that Staten Island writers have congregated to accumulate, publish, and disperse poetry, artwork and literary works by Staten Island artists by eclectically assorted ethnic backgrounds. Personally, this is a progressive advancement, considering that Staten Island is realizing its own potential in unmasking the many faces and cultures, particularly of the Stapleton populous, despite the media’s betrayal of Staten Island as a Guido-run, mafia settlement.

This artistic compilation spans from Jessica Banta’s Recovery poem, which compares mental illness to an erratic, driven river and Angela Zerega’s Crash Into My Words, a narrative poem which describes one’s struggle with identity, loneliness, and belonging with naturalistic imagery to Melanie Rei’s Surreal poem which captures her transcendental experience, of and relating to the mystery and solitude of nature.

I particularly enjoyed Banta’s simplistic and innocent descriptive poem called the Stale Air/the Hospital Experience. In this poem, Banta draws from the “waiting” one experiences in mental institution confinement. Though most may discern that a mental patient is criminal or dangerous, Banta renders the patient’s vulnerable and helpless point of view, focusing on the endlessness of longing and feelings of unfullfillment.

Tom Weiss, a political activist/freelance writer is a strong advocate and contributor to these compilations. Weiss uses his brilliant mastery of the English language to describe the indifference of government in helping Katrina survivors in his poem called The Girl with the Russian Name.

The book is pleasantly bordered with amateur art, of psychedelic flowers blooming. The general artwork of Jane Butters adds to the personal, journalistic feel of what is written. There are some illustrations by Mitchell Trupia, which illuminates demonic and perverse expressions of human faces. There is one particular illustration by Mitchell Trupia in the book that provokes feelings of crowding and vice. On the bottom of the picture borders a question, which is written backwards: “be fruitful and multiply?”

Overall, the poetry and the general mood of the compilation is skeptical, pain – ridden, and abrasive. This is the anger of Staten Islander’s who strive for change. I would say that this book is a step in the right direction: a fundamental compilation in addressing the internal strivings and community of Staten Island. This is a testament and the celebration of those who can rightfully articulate their personal experiences and proclaim freedom to share such things.

———-

Major thanks to Jaclyn for writing this.  She is a highly talented singer/songwriter from Staten Island and for further proof of her talent, visit http://www.myspace.com/jaclynshaw  

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There’s a new organization on Staten Island and it is known as SICOLAB.  SICOLAB, which stands for Staten Island Collaboration, is a forum for which artists throughout Staten Island can network with one another.  One of the major events that is taking place here on Staten Island that this organization is putting together is called Bridge The Gap.  This event serves as a means of bringing together artists of all disciplines from all parts of Staten Island.  It runs from 11AM to 8PM on Saturday, September 20th.  TTtG authors are encouraged to come!

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A week ago, I attended the Mental Health Empowerment Project Peer Networking Group at the Hudson Valley Resort and Spa.  It was a nice retreat from the hustle and bustle of life at South Beach Psych.  Anyway, I brought 10 copies of TTtG with me and sold four of those copies.  I’d like to acknowledge Al, Brad, Jose, and Susan for their patronage of the book.  I’d also like to thank my colleagues at NYC Voices, Angela Cerio and TTtG author Paul Chipkin for allowing me to set up shop at the Expo between them.  In addtion, major thanks to TTtG author Gary Goldstein for driving me to the conference.

I apologize if it seems as if I’ve dropped off the face of the Earth lately.  There have been some personal struggles with my health (physical and mental) that I’ve been trying to work through.  I was meaning to type this blog for some time and I’m glad that I finally got around to it.   If you have any questions regarding the further expansion of the book’ssales, as well as any leads as far as where I can sell TTtG, e-mail me at jfreedman@si.rr.com.  Thank you all for your support.  Peace, love, and light to all!

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