I am half a man, a ruined garden, a man without a drum, embroglio of time and failed intent,
cross-stitched by wing of predator and treetop, cursed human companion;
half a man, half wilderness, introducing myself to a land that has forgotten me, a prodigal, cruel
and neglectful, father to none, and alien, mocked by rook wren and hummingbird;
entered from the side by the crippled and god-tortured, through a flimsy bamboo gate; a half a
man, but 100% your sweet sweet brother;
where you walk, unfortunate and outcast;
where you lie, picked clean of flesh;
where you dream, in need of greater song than it is mine to sing;
a half a man, forfeit to an age you and I will never fathom, gathered around in a small circle by
the saddest firelight;
yet how I would sing to you,
yet how I would hear your song;
and comfort you as you comfort me,
at nightfall, with my ruthless, merciless drumming
George Wallace (b.1949 USA) NYC based. Writer in residence, Walt Whitman Birthplace.
Author of 42 chapbooks, 5 spoken word albums in US, UK, Europe and the Middle East,
inc. Resurrection Song and Last Bacchanale (Roadside Press), Blowing Through
Secaucus (Guttersnob Press). Winner of Orpheus Prize (BG); Alexander Prize, Aristotle
Medal (GR); Silk Road Prize, Poet of the Year (CN); Naim Frasheri Laureateship (MK);
Corona d'Oro (AL); Naji Naaman Literary Prize (LB). Recent major appearances: Medellin
(CO), Aquatacan (GT), Ledbury (GB), Lyric Recovery/Carnegie Hall (US). National
Beat/Next Generation Beat Poet (US); Honorary Doctorate, CiESART/Royal Academy
2024 (SP). http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064015676885
