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Thursday 14 January 2010

The Return of the Native


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File:Henry44.jpg





Rain shafts riddling the night as I pace the long
Path of sodden leaves and slush, traffic splashing
Up a spume of dirty water on Henry,
Street (not) named after a bald, brain-challenged boy
Who hikes boldly through the deafening downpour
Out of a blurred, soggy past, becoming me,
Becoming enfeebled, leaning on a cane.

Miwoks ground acorns in holes in these rocks.
Wet night gives way to sodden, endarkened
Dawning: a new ancient day, already aged,
Encroaches: dead light, leaving liquid shades
To reign. Indigenes once trudged this spot
Where the native returns now to speechless state,
In sturdy muteness, crouched, stooping in the rain.

The cartoonist never gave Henry a mouth.





File:Betty-boop-and-henry.jpg





Henry: comic strip by Carl Anderson, 1935
Betty Boop with Henry: film poster, 1935

4 comments:

human being said...

do we need a mouth to cry for help?

TC said...

in this dream of life that outcry is often mute

~otto~ said...

Henry needs a mouth to treat Betty Boop properly.

TC said...

Otto,

Something tells me Betty considers Henry a cute birdbrain.

Any way to get their attention is the right way.