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If someone were to ask me to pick one person as a personal hero, Lenny Bruce is who I’d pick.
A Photograph Of Lenny
I write my poems
under a photo of Lenny Bruce.
He’s staring straight out at me,
denim-clad (maybe),
in front of a chain-link fence;
bags under his eyes
and a strap around his neck
that trails down
below the edge of the photo
so I can’t see what it supports.
When I look up to find him
staring at me, I feel exposed,
as if he’s challenging me:
“What are YOU doing about it?â€
I think the answer is probably
not very much, Lenny,
but I’m trying.
Provocative poem. Well wrought.
Thanks, Matt.
Hey, Jason. Like it. An alernative title could be ‘Under Lenny Bruce’. It carries the association of being an understudy, as well as sitting below his photo.
@ Greg: Thanks for the idea.
Jason,
Love the poem! And also the pic!
Pamela
@ Pamela: Thanks!
This makes me think that “whose photo do you have up?” would make a neat prompt. In my case, I have a picture of Thich Nhat Hanh and The Little Rock 9 over my office desk.
I enjoyed the visuals you manifested. (And Greg’s suggestion)
@Chanda: Thanks for your comments. I look forward to your photo poem!
[…] to one of my heroes. Lenny Bruce was born this day in 1925. Here are two poems inspired by Lenny: “A Photograph Of Lenny” and “Gerry & […]
A wonderful poem! Lenny Bruce is a hero to many of us!
Thanks, Howard!