| 1 may 2001 a new big apple review! it's like they knew i was in town. big employers in midtown manhattan | the next generation is looking pretty strong While in Connecticut, I was April's featured poet at the Waterbury Barnes and Noble. The poetry crowd there was super-nice to me, and it turned out to be a great evening. Met some local writers, saw some beautiful countryside, and enjoyed unique New England hospitality. Victoria and Colin, my hosts, were most gracious. We ended our evening in a yummy Italian restaurant, and that's where I had the pleasure of meeting Billy and Sarah. Billy and Sarah are Colin's kids, aged 5 and 8, respectively. Let's face it: a night on the town with kids whom you've just met can be tricky. You're tired, and they might be, too. But when they're tired, it might become a scene. Strangers may have an opportunity to glare. What if Drs. Spock or Laura are around and start asking questions? The only question you ask with these two around is, "how did these kids turn out so good ?" I like playful, high-energy kids. In fact, I expect them to be no other way. Sullen kids--uh-uh. No fun. However, as long as I hold up; I am happy to serve as a walking, talking jungle gym, swing, and tickle monster. Combine this unguarded playfulness with Billy's charm and loving personality, and I become an instant fan. Never whiny or demanding, both Billy and Sarah were patient as we awaited our table, nice to one another, and knew how to keep themselves entertained. Someone has spent a lot of time on them, and it shows. That night, we had a nice family dinner. Everyone contributed to the conversation. No one was seen and not heard. When we arrived at Victoria's and Colin's house, I started to see why these are the kind of kids we all want around. Upon entering the house, the tv wasn't immediately cranked up. Instead, Billy and Sarah anxiously cleaned up to get ready for their bedtime story...and did they get one! Victoria sat up with them for at least a half hour, reading from the Little House on the Prairie series. She answered their questions, and indulged their imaginative tangents. I half wondered when Rod Serling was going to appear in full Twilight Zone mode, but it never happened. This was all totally for real. A few days later, I found myself at East Side High School in the East Village, NYC. Noel teaches there twice a week as an artist-in-residence, inspiring and honing high school kids' writing and performance skills. Whenever her poet buddies are in town, she likes to bring them in to perform for her class, something I was thrilled to do! For the second time in a week, I was totally impressed. As part of the afternoon, Noel then asked them to do some of their work for me . Poets of America, keep your eyes open for these kids. They had a most interesting outlook on life. Most of these kids grew up on the Lower East Side, which is now becoming quickly gentrified. Former art lofts are now becoming two-thousand-dollar condos. One young man was so forthright as to state that he remembers when he could buy a candy bar for fifty cents, and play in his own neighborhood. Now, the same play causes these "new neighbors" to do little more than complain. A young woman in the class spoke of how she, her parents, family, and friends have been educated well in school and on the street; while trying not to be overcome by either. All of these kids had a stunningly firm grasp on their lives and where they stand in it. Me at 13? Big algebra geek with a pass to the neighborhood pool. Erk. It would be my pleasure to see them again someday. I go about my life thinking that my eyes are open. Last week, they were opened even wider. |
