Once More I Came Upon My Treasure

( ( Into the Fire ) )

It's friday nite and here I am at the friendly neighborhood Winter Solstice party. Here at the ass-end of this inexplicably glorious year, this year of bleeding profusely. Behind me shitloads of sweat and pain, the bottom dropping out of the life I had so meticulously constructed.

So here I am blowing into the embers of a budding fire fashioned by eager yet tenuous loving hands. Before my eyes now the fire is blazing, and I am given to leave behind this year of blood and toil, as the Persian's brother beckons, "into the fire, all of my sickness, all of my weakness, into the fire". The hand drum begins to beat out a rhythm, that of something new and wonderful.

And there he is, the one who marked the auspicious moment, barely one month hence. The drunk Persian salesman, the angelic fool who prophesied this new beginning before my very eyes. What could I do but thank him profusely and marvel at the rightness of this moment? Then, as quickly as he appeared, he was gone.

Once more I came upon my treasure, and we drank chilled vodka with freshly spilled pomegranate seeds, an offering made together on this longest night of the year. Then we danced, intoxicated with joy and desire, all the more ecstatic in its falling upon us as true gift.

Way Down South (500X Gallery Performance)

"Way Down South"
performance still
12.16.06

Way Down South
performance video
12.16.06
500X Gallery, Dallas

Way Down South
sound recording
2014

Way Down South lyrics:

A way down yonder in the land of crackers,

Stars baby, computer hackers,

Look away, look away, look away, way down south.

Where the river mud is dirt brown,

Piss is yellow, you're a handsome fella,

Look away, look away, look away, way down south.

Stole my first car at the age o' thirteen,

Back seat drivin', got inside her jeans,

Look away, look away, look away, way down south.

Sweet honey in tha' rock, mary jane upon the stalk,

Watch for snakes where you walk,

Look away, look away, look away, way down south.

Got back from church early in the morn,

Kicked out my t.v. watchin' porn,

Look away, look away, look away, way down south.

Donde esta...ahhh muy bien,

Shake those hips, iniquity and sin,

Look away, look away, look away, way down south.

Maya, Priscilla, Rosa and Dolly,

Mahalia, Aretha, Flannery, Molly,

Hallelu, halleluj, hallelu,

Look away, look away, look away, way down south.

Miami Journal (Do You Go Down?)

(Day 1: Monday 12/4) Headed onto the elevator at Miami International Airport with two aging mamacitas. One quizzes me about the direction of the elevator, "Do you go down?", she said. Brief pause, then I replied..."yes, I do".

A short while later I found myself outside the Aqua Hotel on South Beach, bloodied toe sticking out from my sandal (side note: "thus concludes the year of bleeding profusely") and ready for adventure...

Waves of Regret (Fighting)

So Friday see He had me on the ropes, hitting hard, waves of regret rolling in and over like a close friend. Working the body, a house of pain my lot. Endless the list of tasks, the places to be, the calls to make and receive, the devil to pay. Decisions past and way past due, a standing eight count, bruised and weak at the knees. In He moved to lay me down for the count.

But along came my second wind, and I started to punch back. Mischief and adventure running in the cold clean night air, spinning me around and around, with furtive glances lit by red hot coals. Suddenly I was back, joy like a wave, feeling each breath. Now I had Him back in the corner, on the defensive and knew I could go another round.

I bloodied His lip with the last flurry...a few more days like today, and I may begin to dream of going the distance and even hope for a split decision. I know He'll be back (He always is) with punches I can feel to the bone, but guess what, I'm ready now... (bell ringing)

Holy Spirit (pt. ii)

Dancing with Polly
Lee Harvey's / Dallas

(early November 2006)

The Holy Spirit Descends (In the Form of a Drunken Persian Salesman)

So there we were at the Kettle, bottle full o' beer, and...standing on the sidewalk I turn and literally walk right into my ex-wife and her boyfriend (nice joke there, karma). We exchange pleasantries and then someone says "where to now"? So we (we being Mary, Vanessa, Polly, Shelby, Gabriel and I) end up at the Metro Diner, and what happens? Everyone orders biscuits, I mean everyone.

We're trying to decide where to go next (it seems like the party's always around the next corner, nomad-like), and Mary says "hey Vanessa's gotta hotel room". That doesn't go over well, and for reasons I don't wanna go into at the moment, we end up at a party hosted by Mr. Child Actor himself. So Polly saves me from walking into the wrong house at 1:00 in the morning, and safely inside Mr. Child Actor's house, we settle into a cabana in the backyard.

Next thing we know, a drunk Persian salesman saunters up with an impromptu lecture which goes by the title of "I can sell anything to anyone", which must be true because he promptly sold me to Polly for everything she had in the bank at that moment: $298.47.

Finally, and mercifully, Persian salesman's brother takes him home, and we follow out into the streets shortly thereafter. Dallas Texas, thanks for finally showing me a good time.

Goddess (La Morenita Rocks)

She's the goddess, she's connection,

She's a comfort and protection,

When i'm all messed up, i find a place in her.

She's no body but moves through every body,

Reveals herself in a look, the slightest glance,

And tho' i've forgotten her, am loosened at the sight.

Where are you now, the child in me cries to be held,

I want you now, the man inside wanting you to hold,

Her many faces, she's each at once.

Virgin, temptress, mother, companion,

One who fans the flames inside,

Yet still a harbor from the storm.