“This portrait is a portrait of courage, written to share my belief that quality of life is a matter of attitude. The positive attitude that begets the gratitude to be alive. I am a writer, always drawing on fact and intelligent fiction to write meaningful works”
Taken in 2013 at a rock concert in Germany.
in a most unexpected place
the eyes of a fighter
cruel society deems disabled
he may be immobile
legs withered useless
confined to others’ care
and his rolling metal chair
but he’s a dude
black nike high-tops
black denim slacks
skin-tight black t-shirt
black leather wristband
cool smile
on a rugged face
total bad-ass
but his gentle eyes
reflect a wonder
my jaded heart
has long since lost
by vanity
sadly extinguished
his spirit knows only trust
it pours forth from his soul
hoisted lovingly
above the crowd
he is enthralled
by the rhythm
enraptured
by the magic
the guitar soars
the saxman wails
the singer roars
the drummer flails
he rocks and waves
fist pumps and sways
joy’s so widespread
he throws back his head
fully alive
locked in the moment
consumed
by every note
every beat
every nuance
he experiences an ecstasy
at which I can only marvel
oh, if I could but feel
the purity of joy
this special being feels
so complete
so unencumbered
rob kistner © 2019
NOTE: This portrait is a composite of 3 people. Two in this composite are real, and the third is my imaginings regarding the great courage of the man, unknown to me, pictured in the amazing photo above. The first in my personal life is Barry, my lifelong friend and former business partner, now confined to a chair with MS. He is a brilliant photographer. I have written about Barry before here on Image & Verse, and shown some of his remarkable work. The 2nd is a man I met during cardiac rehabilitation, following the 2017 implantation of my pacemaker, after my 4th heart attack. He is a physical therapist with a severed lower spinal cord. Both these guys are amazing dudes, and deserving of a portrait in courage.
Rob Kistner enjoying a Kandinsky at SFMOMA in San Francisco.
