06/15/08-Strongest Of The Strange

the strongest of the strange

you wont see them often
for wherever the crowds are
they are not.

these odd ones, not many
but from them come
the few good paintings
the few good symphonies
the few good books
and other works.



and from the best of the strange ones
perhaps nothing.

they are
their own paintings
their own books
their own music
their own work.



sometimes i think i see them-
say a certain old man
sitting on a certain bench
in a certain way

or a quick face
going the other way
in a passing automobile



or there's a certain motion
of the hands
of a bag-boy or a bag- girl
while packing supermarket groceries.

sometimes it is even somebody
you have been living with for some time-
you will notice a lightning quick glance
never seen from them before.



sometimes you will only note their existence
suddenly
in vivid recall
some months
some years
after they are
gone.

i remember such a one-
he was about 20 years old
drunk at 10 a.m.
staring into a cracked new orleans mirror

face dreaming against the walls of the world

where did i go?




-charles bukowski.