Photograph ©2006 by John-Ward Leighton
ADDICTED OR AFFLICTED
Hendrix on the headset
"Hey Joe"
and the party of the first part
allows his dance to start.
He looks up
as he twirls around
tying to make eye contact
with his silly grin.
I watch impassive
behind the mirror of my sunglasses
the sign I may or may not
be in.
He mouths unheard words
as I attend to my journal
writing his antics onto the page
then he takes off his pack and jacket
and I am impervious to the racket.
Now on hands an knees
he pleads for water
to clean a spot off his jacket.
The girls take pity
on this derelict of the city
and produce a bottle of water
so he can complete his chore
and get redressed
and out the door.
He gave a loud thank you
that I heard through
my headphones
and took his dance to the street.
How much of his story did
I want to understand
how much could I take of his
wonderland?
In some ways it's all connected
and does it make any difference
if his madness
is because he's
addicted or afflicted?