I was inspired recently by a PBS expose on my favorite American artist of all time- Edward Hopper. His paintings portrayed everyday Americans in simple settings, simultaneously depicting the juxtaposition of being solitary and yet, in some way- a part of something on a larger scale. From my time as a pre- teen ( about 60 years ago) with my first pool room being my own home basement, the pool room was always a very special place where the solitude of the individual magically merged with the group of balls on the table.
For the New Year- here is my ODE to those past 60 years: THE POOL ROOM.
SETTLING THERE ALL FIFTEEN
HOW WILL I ASSURE TO KNOW
WHERE THEY ALL MUST SURELY GO
FOR THERE- IN LIES THE MYSTERY
SO FEW HAVE MASTERED THROUGHOUT HISTORY
SEEKING THE ANSWERS ALWAYS DRAWS ME HERE
DIRECTING THE MOVEMENTS ALWAYS KEEPS ME HERE
SO LOOK NOT BEYOND THESE FIFTEEN BALLS
FOR MY DESTINY TODAY LIES WITHIN THESE WALLS.
For the New Year- here is my ODE to those past 60 years: THE POOL ROOM.
SETTLING THERE ALL FIFTEEN
HOW WILL I ASSURE TO KNOW
WHERE THEY ALL MUST SURELY GO
FOR THERE- IN LIES THE MYSTERY
SO FEW HAVE MASTERED THROUGHOUT HISTORY
SEEKING THE ANSWERS ALWAYS DRAWS ME HERE
DIRECTING THE MOVEMENTS ALWAYS KEEPS ME HERE
SO LOOK NOT BEYOND THESE FIFTEEN BALLS
FOR MY DESTINY TODAY LIES WITHIN THESE WALLS.
