(photo from First Night 2005)

CALLING FOR PEACE

It was Dec 31, 2002
Just weeks before W
bombed Iraq to start the war

On that New Year's Eve
I wanted to be
In Boston's First Night Parade again
Play with my friends in the
Junk Percussion samba band
from Spontaneous Celebrations

The people at Spontaneous are GREAT
If you just show up at the last minute,
like I did, They still love you ...
Even when you’re late

I brought my costume gear
from the previous year.
It was white tyvek jumpsuit.
It said PEACE in huge letters
On the back
"Peace and Poetry" over my heart.
Now That’s my idea of art.

(photo from first night 2006)

I surveyed all the parade
entrants from beginning to end
but I couldn’t find my samba friends ...

...
I even went Group by group and
decided to jump into the parade anyway
in my tyvek jumpsuit.

There was a gap in the show
In front of the big blow up dinosaurs
who were clumsy and slow...

way ahead was a 300 foot stretch of road
with a fire truck full of Dixie musicians
pickin' and grinnin'

At first I was just walking along
Waving and saying
“Happy New Year” and
people would respond.

Because they were bored.
Nothing to do but watch.

Then I had an idea...
I stopped and shouted to them
"Happy New Year! .....(then...)
Ready? ....1...2...3....”
(indicating they should follow me
and on three they shout)
"Happy New Year" back at me.

Happy New Year!
Ready? 1 - 2-- 3---
Happy New Year!
Ready? 1 - 2-- 3---

Happy New Year!
Ready? 1 2 3
Happy New Year!
Ready? 1 2 3

(POEM CONTINUES ON PAGE 2....)