2nd Avenue [A Poem]: I saw a man die yesterday
--A man I never knew--
With all the dignity of a dog,
He died at thirty-two. He lay face down on a sidewalk
His heart dying within His flesh:
His white skin absorbing the sun
Observers, motionless; O! I know it's not uncommon
For such a happening
Within a crowed asphalt city
Where people are just things But then it hard to submit
--even with our morels and mores
A life taken so simply;
When after--the unspoken door. The paper read: "1 man dies...32
By heart attack--Second Ave...
From...who knows where...7 P.M...
Outside 'a bar-called Jam..."?' The motive-- It was hot that day... [A note by the author of the poem in the newspaper read: "I had stopped in the bar call Jam that day. And was walking down the street when I heard someone yelling; --I turned around and saw a woman bent over a man that was having a heart attack. I really didn't know what to do, but stood by. The man dropped his head after saying something, fifteen-feet from me. The ambulance came but I think it was too late, he died. I did a lot of drinking myself at the bar that day, it was hot, I mean really hot, tempers in the bar was going up, up and away; people angry at nothing, anything, just angry. It was a very hot day, I know I already said that, but it was the only motive for the heart attack."?] As Lee would have said, 'There is nothing for certain in life, but on the other side of the coin, everything is possible.' Oliver of course was notified of his death, as were the usual people. But the Good Lord gave him 'One more mile,' and who can complain about that, he never did The End of the Fruit Cake The Curtain goes Down Annex Note: although this is the end to the play, and the story per se, there is some additional data, the two song-poems not put directly into the story. These can be read directly from the poetic-lyric's, and/or played by a background of musicians, and sung, if desired, for of course, the enjoyment of the reader or play. The two songs not put into the play will now be written out (or can be at anytime), and the sheet music of the five -poetic-songs, will also be produced for the person who can/or wishes to read and play music [upon request]. If this is to be done as a play, the music for thDennis Siluke five songs can be played throughout the play at the discretion of the director or producer... Fragments of Life that made up the story of: "The Fruit Cake"? [Notes about the story] Note: 1 & 2 Introduction to the notes [background of the story]: the story although fiction [for the most part], has a historical-fiction background. Let me explain. Reality has many life impressions linked into this story, where the author interweaves his experiences to the blue-print of the story: 1) There used to be a bar in Minneapolis, the author used to go to, that is, now and then, called the Gem Bar, and a man did get killed one afternoon, in l982, on a hot day, by two assailants who shot him, and ran by the author. The author did witness the man dying on the sidewalk. 2) There was a situation that took place at another bar [night club], in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1996, where the author was confronted by a boxer, and his date, and a Jazz player. The situation was unraveling to a point there very well could have been a fight. 3) There was a gay man who the author knew, from prison, which had a black lover, but in real life was not part of the 'boxer-Gem' part of this play. Again he was planted and shaped into this story; 1999. 4) The hospital where the girlfriend seems to have annoyed the other patient [Oliver] was a sketch of real life, personified [names have been changed] for the most part; which took place in 1993. The author did have two heart attacks and two strokes in his life time. The nurse at the hospital is a real person, who the author took a liking to, but again we see reality stretched to its limits here: the imagination at work. There was no real relationship between the nurse and the author. Although the scene in the bathroom was real, and a few other impressions made were pretty well cemented in reality. And the author's mother did go to see him daily, and was heartbroken over his hospitalization; as was his brother. 5) The statement the doctor made is real, "You were a fruitcake..."? from where the name of this play originates. 6) And His recover was real; today he is no longer a fruitcake; for fruitcakes can not write plays. Note 3: Locations of the story/play 1) St. Paul, Minnesota [the apartment]. The location that the author uses for the story is a 9-plex he used to own at 659 Dayton Street; built about 15-years after the turn of the 20th century, and renovated, and updated in the 1920's. He owned the building for about 18-months, between [l998-2000]. 2) Minneapolis, Minnesota [the bar], Gem was located down by 1st Ave, in the center of the city; the name was changed for the story. 3) The Trailer Park is for real, and is located about 100-miles outside of the Twin Cities, in Minnesota 4) The Hospital in question is the Minneapolis VA Medical Center [and considered by the author to be the best in the world]. Note 4: The Poetic-songs The songs were written in lyric form first by the author, and then put into composition thereafter [as a piece of music]; some written specifically for music, such as "It Was Always You,"? and "The End of Day's"?, along with, "The Dancer,"? The other two poetic-songs, "Death (departure),"? and "As Love Goes By,"? were originally written as poems, and then considered for a musical turnover. All have been put under separate Copyright in the years written, between l995-98. All have been put to music and vocal singing, and recorded in a studio, and on cassette tapes. |
