“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.
What a great portrait of a brave and free person!
Thank you Toni. This portrait is a composite of a lifelong friend, who deals with MS, and is nowv confined to a chair for 16 years. He was my business partner for years, until this debilitating disease took him down. This is also a reflection of man, I have known now for over 2 years. I met him while I was in cardiac rehabilitation. He is a physical therapist, confined to a chair for 26 years, since he was 17. A car crash severed his lower spinal cord. He is one of the strongest people I have ever met — mentally and physically.
Damn, this is a powerful and personal profile. The picture is fantastic as well. Is this fiction, you writing to the picture, or is this really your brother? As a former musician, you really set the scene, transporting us. I am very touched by your words; ironically now it is us in the metal wheel chairs, dreaming of halcyon hikes and 100 yard dashes.
Thank you Glenn. It ia a composite of 3 people. Two real, and the third is my imaginings regarding the image in the photo. One in real 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, and shown some of his work. The 2nd is a man I met in 2017, during cardiac rehabilitation. A physical therapist with a severed lower spine. Both these guys are amazing dudes.
State of mind is everything, and you revel in this reality in your poem. I admire those who have such free spirits and trust.
Most certainly Lisa. An attitude of gratitude will take one a long way.
I like this description of him: “but his gentle eyes
reflect a wonder
my jaded heart
has long since lost”
Pleased that resonared fir you Frank
Wonderful Rob. Such great descriptions of this young man seizing the day and overcoming every handicap. Just proves once again that Quality of life is in the mind not in the body!
Thank you Dwight. Yes, quality of life is in the attitude, where lives gratitude. It is sometimes difficult to embrace gratitude, occasionally it might feel nearly impossible. But with the death of gratitude goes the death of joy. If no joy whatsoever can be found in a life — then it is no longer a life… it becomes simply a waiting for death.
What a photo! What pure joy he is experiencing and I can see it and feel it through your words Rob. Wonderful!
Thank you very much Christine. I am glad I got this piece to work its stuff for you!
Love this! Confined to a wheelchair, and yet less encumbered than most. An inspiring portrait.
Thank you Maggie! I was hoping to provide some inspiration! 😉
A powerful portrait, Rob! I like the way you contrast his immobility with his free-flying, somersaulting soul, and how you separated the lines ‘but he’s a dude’ and ‘total-bad-ass’, sandwiched them in the detailed description of his clothes, his smile and his gentle eyes. The splash of music tells us so much more about him, lets us rock and wave with him.
Thank you Kim! I am so very pleased this piece worked its stuff with you… 🙂
To be able to give so freely after losing so much–that is true courage.
We all have our challenges Kerfe, some greater than others. I admire anyone who dwells in gratitude.
So very cool — I love how you define the portrait through this moment of unencumbered joy and exhilaration. Your verbs are so strong and put us in action too, as we read the poem.
Thank you for these kind words Anmol. I am pleased thi piece worked for you.
Really touching Rob, writing about challenging situations is always..well, challenging. You did it very well.
Thank you Catherine! 🙂
I so admire the spirit they feel to go on… you got to have some passion in your life, and it’s not always in your legs.
Well stated Björn, well stated.
Thanks for the confirmation that happiness is an energetic state unfazed by the weather of our passing emotions, and accessible to us all once we believe in choice.
You are welcome Christine… 🙂
This is an excellent portrait of three very different people. But, they all have an attitude of survival.
Gratitudeto be alive…
and the funny thing is, they probably don’t see themselves as icons, as people in which to gather courage and hope. I know a few like this… We are truly blessed for knowing them.
Yes we are Margaret, yes we certainly are.