Poetry: David Francis

David Francis

A Memory

Walking south

I had to take off my coat

needed earlier that morning

now, closer to noon

thinking of a birthday

of a friend

far away

on the West rim

among the crowd

Hell’s Kitchen bound

***

It Happened

The ghost of the young traveler within,

I tried but couldn’t get lost in the crowd;

was it that I had outgrown the City

or was it that I’d outgrown my own skin?

***

Two Foreigners

The young man

sits at a wall table,

has trouble with

an offending chair.

It is dusk,

they have put the candles;

not yet night, but falling.

A man

peers around the column

and smiles with recognition—

the look on his face

as he walks up,

and the other’s animation:

happiness, the knowledge

that for a few important hours,

the gist of the night,

loneliness will be driven away,

will be displaced,

the battle not the war

won.

***

A Performer’s Precepts

A performer is never a victim, perhaps a victimizer….

Never get in an antagonistic relationship with the audience. Be courteous.

Be prompt.

Accept acoustics criticism with grace.

After all, they have to listen.

Always have the vocal up front—the point is to hear the words.

Don’t rush the vocals.

Do not apologize.

Don’t try to second-guess the audience.

Don’t strain your voice.

Treat every gig as important. 

***

References

If you ever get lonely

maybe you could write a line

if you have something to say

that is more up my alley

if amidst that company

you’re at a loss suddenly

I see you drifting away

in the chair on your island

past the people real as hulls

it won’t happen so often

that you’ll toss me a lured line

that is a little too fine

***

Bio: Born in Houston, Texas, David Francis has lived in London, Buenos Aires, and New York.  He has produced six music albums, one of poetry, Always/Far, a chapbook of lyrics and drawings, and Poems from Argentina (Kelsay Books).  In addition, he has written and directed the autobiographical films Village Folksinger (2013) and Memory Journey (2018).  His verse and short stories have appeared in numerous journals and anthologies.  www.davidfrancismusic.com

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Setu, June 2021