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Authors
Jeff Costello

Arnie Gross
  Night-Time on the Bay
  Danny Joe Crum

Night-Time on the Bay

The water parts gently for my workboat at half throttle
A quarter moon illuminates the way.
My probing mind won't respond to thoughts
as I am caressed by the soft wind.

Aching alone-ness does not pain at me now.

The guardian hills at shore
keep bobbing lights to point the way.
And they are pin points of a subdued stroking nature
to my tired body.

Just barely overhead a full grey pelican floats by.

Night vision senses guide me to my float
Breathing deeply of the night salty air
Home, home at last, I think this is a dream.

I am assured by a higher nature, this is my life.
I have not found it - it found me.

--Arnie Gross, Talent, Oregon

TOP OF PAGE - Nite Time on the Bay

MY FRIEND DANNY JOE CRUM

Danny Joe you were not a pervert - an alcoholic - a bum you were
pre-verted into a zen state of en- lite- ning - ment

Danny Joe you were a total insult hurled at humanity with a revealed
truth to become Buddha

And one had to see through your rotting mind and distressed body to the
lite of your soul

Danny Joe I watched you grow over the years - full minded and strong
blossomed body, a compadre to Barny West and the Tiki Junction boys

I was too too upper tite to accept the invitationa1 beer drunks at Tiki Junction

But I was always there to par with Barny West for the—hand—of-a-lady -
always for the hand-of-a-lady - just habitual, nothing spiritual or fulfilling

Danny Joe you & Barny gave totems to the world

Art - testaments to your experience of the human condition

And I always with reason and controlled feelings
caressed those wonderous totem poles erected for the world to admire

And you got drunker and drunker and drunker

Twenty years ago when you deftly swept the table clean of beer bottles,
I watched them glisten on the clean muddy flats

It was to get the wholesome Arnie where it hurt
I turned away at your wanton slaughter of my environment

Not knowing you were my karma - and that when I loved you
unconditionally I could and would see so much more

Years later we sat for all those hours drinking the Green Death at the
Gate Five Firepit

You became a teacher, a mentor, one of my many

Danny Joe - for those moments that took you down to the door of death
and gave cause for me to go on

Danny Joe I say thank you - I loved you and good-bye

-Arnie Gross, Talent, Oregon