... at work, while I was in the middle of a couple of emergencies, one
disaster, and an approaching deadline.
VB: Dad, uh, I've got a problem.
me: [thinking: out of money; girl trouble; sister trouble; wants to extend
curfew; wants to get big screen TV, wants me to pay for trek-adventure
through Burma] Uh, kind of busy here, Mom home?
VB No.
me: Well, sure, how can I help?
VB: Well, I've got a research question.
me: Yeah, well, how can I help?
VB: Well, it's about ...[me wondering what the hell is coming] ... Carl
Sandburg.
me: [scrambling/thinking: Sandburg, Sandburg, poet, American, did he read
at JFK's inauguration???, no that was Frost, Sandburg, Sandburg, oh yeah, I
remember Sandburg, midwestern, wanted to create new American voice]: Umm,
well, tell me ... [someone else yelling at me, messenger at door, editor on
the other line cussing] ... what about Sandburg, exactly?
VB: Well, do you think, do you know, I mean, I've been wondering ....
me: [thinking: God, I wish I had paid attention when we read Sandburg.
what now?
he was gay? he was a communist? he invented free verse? he invented the
internet?]
VB: ... I've been wondering, it's sort of alluded to, but I can't find it
really written down - Dad, do you think Sandburg ... was the father of the
beat poets?
Love to everyone, Christopher
PS to Michael: This is one of those moments you want to bronze and keep in
your pocket.
|