unpublished…

.

..

…

stories upon stories

chapters upon chapters

so many books written

so many more volumes ~

unknown…

…

..

.

on wheels

…

..

.

early in the morning

moment of quiet solitude

watching life drive by

thoughts rolling into words…

.

..

…

roll away…

∼ ∼

∼

standing and waiting

life can take us anywhere

let’s go for a ride

∼

∼ ∼

photographer – Jordan

∼

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the master

∫

∫

the canvas stares at it’s intended victim –

enticing and teasing.

challenging his mind

and

taunting his skill.

∫

there is a constant query

between

the mind’s eye and the stroke –

what desire has envisioned

and

the brushes will allow.

∫

the artist can imagine

a world no other being can perceive.

only they can bring to life

what is conjured deep inside –

molding figments into substance

is a challenge

and

an ache –

like a hunger which must be fed

in which to breathe,

in which to live.

∫

once complete,

the opus exposes

a tiny slice of the artist’s soul –

taking on a life no longer tethered

to the master’s hand

or

his world –

within

∫

in the end

a treasure is created

but

the hunger

must be fed,

whereupon the artist

becomes a slave

to his next

desire

&

his

unyielding

craft

∫

∫

 

 

inspiration

∴

anytime

any place

doing anything

doing everything

anywhere

everywhere

∴

any moment

it

can strike

∴

seize

it

∴

6:30pm

inspired by Peyton

∴

words from “excited editing”

¤

From the words of Jordan…

Sunday, 1:30am

¤

“STARTING to wrap up a late night of editing…

¤

you may think me crazy

with this mad look in my eye,

hair all disheveled because of earphones

and

unshaven for weeks.

¤

i will admit i have these moments –

as i edit my work,

where

i spin around in my chair –

sometimes

stare into space to collect my thoughts.

¤

i may start to cry

but

they are tears of joy

for

i am finally seeing a film come together.

¤

I have a rough cut now –

of about 1/3 of my film

and

when i look at it

i get goosebumps.

¤

i will finish on monday,

after making credits

and

color corrections

but

until i am done,

it is just me

and

my computer.

¤

have a good day tomorrow

or

i suppose it’s already TODAY!”

¤

¤

a little note from the editing room

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

¤

¤

 

“I have to make a movie…”

♦

little man with Lego’s

dreaming his magical stories

bigger man with camera

filming his magical dreams

♦

♦

♦

A future Spielberg?

♦

back in 2008 – leaning against Barney, scouring Entertainment Weekly magazines, with his 6′ Oscar behind him

♦

2014 – using the grown up ‘stuff’

♦

when Jordan was little, he would say ” I gotta make a movie” and then run away… to his toys and Legos…

NOW

when he goes away to school, he tells his crying mom

“I have to make a movie”

♥

conception

˜

˜

movement without form

a cacophony of sounds

creation awaits

˜

˜

My Nutcracker Story

*

once upon a time,

there lived a little girl

whose dream was to be in The Nutcracker –

to dance amongst the snowflakes, flowers and dolls

but

most of all to ‘live’ the role of Clara.

*

she practiced for hours and hours each day,

thought of nothing but ‘becoming the part’ –

of the sweet little girl

whose gift from her grandfather

became a prince

and

who captured her heart.

*

after two years of being a party girl and bunny,

watching Clara dance from the wings –

the day came to pass

when the cast sheet revealed

she would finally come

to realize her dream.

*

there were rehearsals in studios,

rehearsals on stage,

rehearsals with costumes and orchestra,

nights with no sleep,

big blisters on toes –

she was living in a constant state of euphoria.

*

when opening night arrived it was quite the affair,

there was a dynamic which could not be contained –

from the moment the strings played their very first notes

and

the red velvet curtain was raised.

*

the ballet began with a party and guests,

dancing and playing with toys –

until a mysterious gentleman suddenly arrived

with his enchanted dolls for all to enjoy.

*

there was a very unique doll

set aside for last,

to be given to one special girl –

the mysterious man had created a Nutcracker

for his granddaughter

to enrapture her world.

*

Clara was bewitched as she danced

and

she danced

until it was time for the party to end.

as the guests took their leave,

the house became quiet –

it was the moment to forge onward to bed.

*

BUT

Clara was restless,

unable to sleep

so she made her way down the stairs to the tree –

where her Nutcracker stood guard,

the clock struck midnight

with chimes hailing the beginning

of Clara’s magnificent dream.

*

the big stage came alive as the sets disappeared

and

the tree grew over twenty feet tall –

there were regiments of soldiers,

a mouse king with four heads

and

scurrying mice – some very big and a few small.

*

then it happened – it came – the moment of surprise

when the Nutcracker became larger than life.

he fought with his sword

and

his faithful soldiers behind him –

a battle…….with no end in sight.

*

during all of the raucous,

Clara stood on the sidelines

watching

and

thinking of what she could do,

when a thought suddenly occurred –

‘the mice king needs a distraction

why not throw something at him…

something handy…. like a …. shoe’?

*

SO

*

she held her shoe in her hand,

aimed for one of the heads

and

threw as hard as she could –

where upon the king turned away,

a sword met its mark,

ending the reign of the mouse king for good.

*

Clara stood in disbelief as the soldiers and mice

walked away leaving nothing behind

but

a man

who moments before was her Nutcracker –

now a prince leading her on a journey….

way into the night.

*

the end of act one saw the magical forest –

a snow queen and her prince…

then

a flurry of snowflakes prancing on stage

with ‘snow’ falling from an overhead scrim.

*

˜ Intermission ˜

*

act two began with a ride in a sleigh

to the land of fairies, dancing flowers and sweets

and

a story of how Clara saved the Nutcracker’s life –

broke the spell

of a doll he would no longer be.

*

after introductions were made,

the prince called upon

the kingdom to perform for his guest.

the land of sweets

came bursting alive with dancing

and

classical music at its best.

*

as Clara and her prince sat

in a gazebo on stage right,

she knew in her heart

it was more than a ‘dream’ –

the desire she felt was real…

the journey was real…

it was ‘who’

she was meant to be.

*

the young girl wanted to waltz along with the flowers,

wave a fan in black Spanish lace

and

pirouette in a tutu all around the stage

as the reed instruments in the orchestra played.

*

the last to perform was the sugar plum fairy

along with her cavalier

a pas de deux so beautiful –

so magnificent to watch

that Clara’s eyes began to well up with tears

because

Clara knew – the young girl knew –

the grande finale was about to begin,

when all the dancers performed one last time

and

bid farewell to her and the prince.

*

the end of the ballet brought curtain calls,

a red dozen roses with applause

and

stage hands taking apart the sets

and

storing away the props.

*

*

when the night finally came to an end,

the young girl laid awake in her bed –

all she could see were visions of herself

dancing in her head…

… 

waltzing along with flowers,

waving a fan in black Spanish lace

and

wearing a tutu

twirling

and

leaping

  all around the magnificent stage.

Astier de Villatte Ceramic Figurine
given to me by my mother – 1979

*

*

a brief post script: I really wanted to have this piece completed by Christmas Eve, but it was not meant to be.  I began writing this poem back in November.  It seems I kept hitting ‘mind’ blocks.  Each time I tried to revisit the piece, a haiku was born – thus my Nutcracker haiku series.  I am not certain what, but something happened while my boys were home – creative juices, maybe?  I must say this is the longest poem I have ever written.  I hope you enjoy it.

The Nutcracker Act II Pas De Deux

ξ

The Sugar Plum Fairy and Her Cavalier

ξ

ξ

one

spotlight

on stage right.

they stand prepared.

he extends his arm –

she gently takes his hand

stepping onto perfect pointes.

gracefully and delicately

a majestic pas de deux unfolds…

dreams of sugar plums become her desire…..

ξ

ξ

My first year as Clara
December 1978

In 1974, the Cincinnati Ballet Company premiered The Nutcracker.  For two years, I sat in the audience – mesmerized.  In Summer of 1976, I changed ballet schools and that December I was cast as a party girl and bunny.  Many little girls and boys see more than just a ballet while sitting in the audience of a production of The Nutcracker – they discover their heart’s true desire.