Closing Time
The end of
the six day
work week
blessedly
arrived for
the weary
seamstresses.
The thought
alone
returned
dexterity
to fingers
numbed
by the
monotony
of repetitive
motion and
eased the
incessant
ache of
lower backs
and stiffened
shoulders.
The
exhausted
women
would soon
deposit their
subsistence
wages for
piecemeal
work into
worn knit
purses,
mentally
noting
items to
purchase at
the market
on the way
home.
At the head
of the pay line
stood the
bumptious
paymaster
barking at the
compliant women
to keep in line
and keep in mind
any honorariums
due him.
The workers,
youngest
to the oldest
counted the
tokens
in hand to
discern
the weeks
approximate
payout.
Lack of
math skills,
the uncertainty of
unjust deductions
and poor command
of English
made net pay
calculations
impossible
to deduce.
Passing time
in the pay line
the swelling
sound
of trilling
voices rolled
along the line.
Wise
Yiddish
axioms
and Italianate
passions joined
to bespeak
the ecstasies of
the human
condition.
The strange
hybrid dialect
filling the room
busily hailed
the coming
day of rest,
blessed
the faces of
kissed children,
imagined
the warmth given
from a lump
of coal,
explored
the bumpy feel
of hardened
scabs,
sounded hope
for a cloudless
Sunday,
expressed
remorse over
calloused hands
and the hope
that they could
become soft
and youthful again.
One woman
with a swollen jaw
mouthed an
anguished dread
of rejoining a
violent husband.
A buoyant
Rose,
with glittering
eye,
whispered
about the joy of a
potential courtship
with a distant cousin;
while the
bawdy laughs
of a randy group
of union maids
imagined
the luxury of
a Saturday night
bath and amorous
encounters with
broad shouldered
lovers.
One thick legged
woman hummed
happily as she imagined
picking up a ham-bone for
the soup kettle.
A freckled faced girl
and a mid-aged
German woman each
tearfully fretted over
the ritual turnover
of their wages
to a disabled father
and drunkard husband.
The hope of a
speedy and safe
delivery of a child
was prayed for by a
big busted mother of four,
while another worried
if the infection
of a cut finger
would heal and
that her home bound
children afflicted with
terminal hunger
will have some bread
tonight and
porridge tomorrow.
The outbreak of the
fire changed all
their day dreams
and concerns
into frightful
screams,
nightmarish
death leaps
and eternal rest
for 146 workers
of the Triangle
Waist Company
on March 25, 1911.
May their
small knit purses
be filled with the
pleasant dreams
they wished for
themselves and others
as divine compensation
for their earthly labors
and may
they find a restful
peace in an
eternity of Sundays
enjoyed in the
company of
family,
lovers
and
friends.
Selah
You Tube Music:
Triangle Memorial Concert
You Tube:
American Experience
Today marks the 100th Anniversary of the Triangle Waist Company fire in New York City.It killed 146 people the vast majority immigrant woman who worked at the company. The Triangle Fire is a seminal event in the US labor movement that lead to the recognition of labor unions as vehicles for workers rights and social justice. More on the Triangle Fire can found here on this wonderful sight from Cornell University.
A list of the fatalities can be found here.
Fatalities of Triangle Fire.
Oakland
3/25/11
jbm
Equinox
eggs stand on edge balanced perfectly
night embraces day in leveled equanimity
spirit and flesh dance on in serenity
equinox again returns eternally
You Tube Video: John Coltrane, Equinox
Risk: seasons
The Blue Beams
Two Blue Beams
rise in the twilight
from the dark recesses
of a scarred metropolis
astral projections
paint night clouds
in looming hues
of temporal intent
declarative beams
affirm a bold portent
of an insistent will
and timeless aspirations
one thrusting light
projects wanton determination
bequeathed from unhealed wounds
of a lacerated city
the other casts fervent hope
onto the vast celestial sea
boldly etching upon the heavens
an earnest nations highest ideals
the pillars of light
reveal the dual nature
fixing our place
in a turbulent universe
the brighter light
affirms the beneficence
of liberties eternal grace
so divinely conferred
received by a higher self
accepted with gratitude
the gracious anointing
of freedoms rich abundance
ride this beam of angry cries
conjure ghosts from a dead past
channel a full measure of resent
the light of restoration is quelled
stirred from nagging agonies
nursed righteous indignation
untreated wounds fester
the weak blue spire cannot heal
a bleak azure apparition
screams for selfish retribution
heed this dire admonition
a promised fury of
full demonic dimension
the rankled city
yearns to come together
united in communion
around these lights
drawn to the blue flames
like swirling moths
unconscious of what
compels shock and awe
earnest yearnings
flutter to exhaustion
struggle toward the light
aspires to heal in the inviting glow
transcending the fissures
of our fractured nation
the waning resolve
of a national will
a restless Zeitgeist
cannot be repressed
nor will it relinquish
its will to manifest
a city’s fondest hopes
entombed in collective memory
is foretold again
around these bold lights
entranced by the light
a solemn urban campfire
transfixed and sealed
we speak our hearts
holding hands
gnashing teeth
we bite into
our bent knees
tucked up
to sullen chests
heavy hearts
bear pains of loss
dreary tears wash
ash stained cloths
crumpled photos
dear bereavements
of faded memories
and expired hope
resolve is renewed
in bursts of pride
incendiary nationalism
suppress dissent
pummel thoughts
of perceived sedition
pump iron fists as
zealous sledgehammers
forged with conviction
in kilns of
righteous indignation
seething with infected
emotional hangovers
from prurient
tribal diatribes
these sweet sentiments
swing between the polls
of the vast pendulum’s arc
along a narrow celestial scale
too and fro
angst and expectation
ebbs and flows
in this astral assignation
the heavenly helix
a set of blue axles
a modern vision
of Ezekiel’s Wheel
the rung-less vertices
of our Jacob’s Ladder
invites all citizens
to climb again
ascend this pathway
in the company of angels
arrive transfigured
renewed again
build new cities
transcendent destinations
new Edens await
pioneers to explore
fearless pilgrims
sojourn onward
moving to secure
liberty for all
conscious stewards
of the blessed good earth
celebrate rich diversity
of all the beloved
descending back
to an expired past
is a ridged stasis
anchored in Hell
witness flitting
nostalgic phantoms
pathetic pantomimes
of histrionic fictions
the downward path
of the lesser light
tethers us to the place
we cannot leave
The upward light
abhors a hells decent
resolved to vacate
acrimony and hate
the dancing helix opens
a blue portal to heaven
don angels garb
wing upward in light
transcendence calls us
to traverse with angels
touch the luminescent hem
of God’s divine robe
Selah
9/11/10
jbm
Resolution 2010: Gotta/Gonna
gonna commence a journey
gotta get on the way
provision and direction
will appear along the way
gotta open brand new doors
become a bit unhinged
gonna loosen the damn tethers
that forge the chains within
gotta sail uncharted waters
lose sight of familiar land
gonna become a fearless sailor
track footprints on exotic sand
some jagged mountains beckon
sheer cliffs gotta be scaled
the ascent gonna bring blessed growth
not to try is to miserably fail
gonna explore hidden valleys
with courage, grit and resolve
all risks are opportunities
problems that gotta be solved
gotta leave my tiny comfort zone
with great dispatch and haste
a new life is mine to have
gonna banish fear with grace
*************
*************
*************
Happy New Year
I predict that 2010 is gonna be the most important year of our lives.
It’s gotta be, because its the only one we got.
Peace and Prayers Beloved
jbm
You Tube Music Video: Auld Lang Syne Red Hot Chilli Peppers
You Tube Music Video: Beach Boys, Sail On Sailor
Come Into The Light
a light
draws us
calls us
compels us
coaxes us
joins us
brings together
a curious necessity
in celebration
a vulnerable fragility
splendid contradictions
perverse diversity
wanton needs
shared humanity
how fragile it is
swaddled wounds
unwashed and unhealed
infirmities revealed
a promise made
all will be cured
come into the light
the spirit implores
I kiss your face
a unique beauty
only revealed
by blessed light
my need for love
finally cured
healed by
the grace of your light
our shared divinity
miraculously
restored
Namaste
*********
**********
You Tube Music Video:
Rachmaninov Vespers: Joyful Light
peace and prayers beloved
Risk: darkness, isolation
The Year of Being Here
Be here this year!
Turn off cell phone
be still
be active
fall in love
tell the truth
struggle for justice
free a prisoner
walk for peace
be a friend
find a friend
mentor a child
take a hike
ride a bike
revel in nature
smell the coffee
grow some flowers
start a garden
honor God
read a book
write a poem
paint a picture
click a photo
say a prayer
maintain silence
hold your peace
sheath a sword
unload a gun
practice peace
dance joyously
sing gleefully
speak softly
love largely
climb the mountain
linger in the valley
dip toe in water
tip toe through tulips
pet a dog
feed a cat
protect a child
care for the aged
listen to someone
open your ears
hear someone
lift your eyes
see someone
go fishing
feed someone
conduct a search
find someone
watch the moon
bless the stars
write a book
start a business
make some money
lose some weight
drive courteously
cook a meal
swim the sea
sail a boat
get some sleep
be kind
be useful
be diligent
be reverent
be genuine
be helpful
be still
be present
Be
God Bless
Have a Present Day!
You Tube Video: Bob Marley: Jammin’
Risk: Not Being Present