An old man
His appearence, completely hardened, weathered, beaten, tattered, spent, and terminal
Stretched out his darkened hand, his black clothes, a reminder of the strength gone out of his stringy, straight, exhausted and frost-colored hair, blowing in the chilly dusk breeze;
“bek won issuyo?” was the practiced sound of time itself, in this overworked man’s voice, asking matter-of-factly if I had a 100 won coin, a tenth of a thousand won note; the Korean dollar bill
“Aniyo, chaesonghabnida”, came my depressed, negative response from my fortunate body, my eyes, I’m sure, betraying shame, regret, awe, and solemnity
His hunched frame, beneath his unexpectant head turned to go…
“Chamkanmanyo”, I said, asking him to wait, while struggling with my fingers in the change pocket of my fashionably torn up jeans (an embarrassing endulgence in the face of the plight of this hulking, forgotten human being, and others like him, who wear clothes like my pants, not by choice)
I took out two coins, we outstretched our hands, and without touching, this child of another nation; the unelected center of the the defacto world-empire-like Michelangelo’s Yaweh, giving life in the vaults of the Sistine Chapel, I dropped the paltry currency into the waiting palm of this dying man’s hand
He is a long way from being Adam, but a testiment to our certainly not deserving Eden
With no more sound, he purposely went to a fountain and drank with his hands
Then he left me
To shamelessy write this poem
Feeling guilty
Tell a Friend Who Could Learn with Carl!
Published by
Carl Atteniese / 亜天二恵世万慈道
Thank you for reading. I hope this finds you exceedingly well.
I was born in Brooklyn, in the middle of the NASA Gemini space Program era--which was on course for the Apollo program, aiming to land men on the moon. I watched Neil Armstrong make humanity's first step on the lunar surface. The space program left a lasting effect on me and inspired life-long interest and passion in me.
I was born a little more than 2 years after President John Kennedy was assassinated and a few years before Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated. It was a time of tumult, but better manners, a gentler approach to one another (despite the prejudice being worked on by progressives-) little political correctness, no cancel culture and thicker skin & more opportunity for laughs, a time of fantastic television, austere and fact-based news delivered with brevity and sobriety and much superlatively stylish design. It was the beginning of Star Trek, Star Wars, and a few years on, personal computers, digital watches, hand-held electronic games and movies were still in theaters--not on our TVs--unless they were a little old. People paid more attention to books, from where trust is built with credibility we intrinsically see, competency earned and reflected and facts & expertise. One reason I am not apt to dabble in irrational conspiracy theories is I made many a trek to the local library, to read about stars, planets and astronauts, and to the local bookstore--no longer there--to find my favorite science fiction novels--to either read, or simply marvel at their covers, by Boris Valejo and Frank Frazetta--inspirations that would fuel my later entry into the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
I grew up in Long Island, worked and was educated there until I discovered New York City, then it was on to Boulder Colorado, The Mojave Desert, South Korea and now Japan. I have visited Mongolia, the Philippines, and England and hope to see the rest of the world--and maybe even beyond it.
I teach English as a Second Language, practice secular Buddhism and pay attention to philosophy, astronomy, spaceflight, aviation and human & species rights. I make art, poems and photography--and real friends, wherever I go--when I can.
Maybe our paths will cross; until then, enjoy my writing and pictures, and send me a note. Maybe we can have a cup of coffee someday, somewhere.
Thank you for reading.
I wish you love, peace, joy and enlightenment--sincerely--because you are sentient, and you suffer, too.
Carl Atteniese
Tokyo
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