Calamity Joe

Supplement–The Old Man Lets Us Have It

Supplement–The Old Man Lets Us Have It Mypeople, mybeloveds, myfatandlovelyhands Iwillteachyoutodievicariously throughothermen, throughforestsofmen,towalk throughthecostumedlightningwecall humanity.Letusbegin witharoad,mostcontagious ofinventions(afterthehammer), myfatpeople, mylovelies, mybelovedhands, aroadmadefromtheearthofTexas,1934. Herewasthefirstlectureonthesubject givenbymyfather,handkerchiefing chocolatefrommynose,hisvoice aboy’s,tenboys,(afatandlovelyhand itself),pinchedmyear “Therangershavebroughtjustice toBonnie&Clyde.Theyhavebroughtthem asthey’vekilledthemtoDallas,toteachus 57 thevalueofadollar.Lookwell,myson. Mindyourfather;don’tfatheryourmind.” Iseeitstill,blinkoutdustandsugar, swallowasurgeofblue,blinkonagain therangerssmokingcrudecigarettes, smokingcrudelyaroundthetowtruck, theDeathCarbehindit,themaybeoil probablybloodleakingfromittoanswer theskyinpatches sonasty, dark. Somuchwheels upon thedeadClyde Barrow poisedonred leather besidethewhite woman. 58 Becausethedeadareeachafinger onamanyarmed,chimelessclock, toregardthemistoreadthehour, tocallthehour, tochimetoone’sself. Letusresume.Thesunniest dayisnothingcomparedtothemovies, thefatandlovelymovies ofsummer.Haveyouseentheone abouttheman,thewoman,themisunderstanding ? Itisaremake ofaclassic,basedonabook, inspiredbyasongwhichbeganasapoem criedinthemouthofaneighbor, criedHelp, police . . . Therewasasequel halfasgoodasthefirst. Myhands, mypeople, myfat,lovelylove seeitnow, somedayyoumayplayaroleinthere-remake. 59 Butletussayyouhavenomoney, cannotaffordfilmsorfieldtrips, havenofather,eatphotographs tosurvive,mustyouonlylive? Itellyou,No. Makeawindowwithyourfamoushands, lookthroughittothestreet. Thereshouldbemen. Ifnot,certainlynewspapers . Atthetopofpageone,abovethewar, thebugle,eventheyearandday addthisword–POEMS Itiseasy togetpoetryfromthenews Yetmenwritemiserablyeveryday uponlearningit. Thetrickistriage; putyournameatthebottomofeachdeath, theyareyoursforthereading. Readthemnow. 60 ...