I learned how to cure the spins.

I learned how to split a quarter in half.

I learned how to tie my shoes while running.

I learned 37 names for the police.

(the fuzz, newts, the royals, the peelers,
rocket boys, black & whites, G-men
boys-in-blue, bobbies, john law, rangers
gumshoes, the gang, officer krupke
constable, the chaperones, mounties
catchpole, beagles, roundsman, feds
mace-bearer, tip staves, beadles, coppers
blue coats, bull, flatfoot, gendarmes, shamus,
dick, pigs, flattie, Dogberry, New York’s finest
gestapo & The Man.)

names for G-O-N-E:

• cheese it! vamoose! head for the hills!
scram—make like a tree—jam—vanish
alacazam! dive—scat! git—be gone!
get along! away with you! get a hot dog!
on your way! get out clear out! allez-vous-en
shoo! “stand not on the order of your going
but go at once” “go and hang yourself”
buzz off! skidoo—skedaddle—make yourself
scarce—get lost! take a walk! take a hike!
go chase yourself—go play in the traffic—
shove off—step off—stand off—push off
take a powder—blow—& I mean, split!

• what kind of magic could I bring
to you, who knows all the answers?

magic:

illustrious, glorious, brilliant
radiant, resplendent, bright
shining, charismatic, glamorous
luminous numinous
& alacazam

I learned how to cook an egg.

I learned to make tacos.

I learned a recipe for chicken and greens
that I no longer make.

I learned the difference between flattery and praise.

I learnt that flattery is poison.

I learned to have a pocket for keys, a place
for my wallet.

—not to bum cigarettes from the gang on the corner.

what I learned

• to try and see what you can do for others.

• to ask a question and then listen.

• how to play in a big place for a lot of people,
without fear.

• to always pray

• to work & play with the people who love me.

• that a stitch in time really does save nine, etc…

“don’t follow leaders, watch the parking meters”

“always stay alone”

“the slowest tempo you can play a song at, without
it falling apart, that’s the tempo”

go see the elderly greats

• “if you’re comfortable somewhere, don’t be in too
great a hurry to leave.”

• be prepared!

• as you get older, all of your previous photos
will begin to look good.

• if you want something done correctly, do it yourself.

• the grimmer the ghost, the milque-er the toast.

• we’re younger now than we’ll ever be

• don’t be too good.

• kindness.

“the most important thing about art is finishing it”

“there’s two kinds of managers: the one’s who love you and
the ones who know what they’re doing. (you need both in one.)

• don’t go out so much, stay home & work more.

• don’t lose phone numbers.

“if you have two lines, use the stronger line second.”

• listen

• pay attention

• listen to the messages you are being offered

• when you think of something good to do, always do it.

• he who seeks to exalt himself will be humbled

• you’ve got to reap what you sow

• one day at a time

• the Father, Son & the Holy Ghost

• the Father, Son, and the Holy Mother

• God is a woman.

“the sound inside your mind is the first sound you can sing.”

 

see: What I Sing About  https://wp.me/p864v6-ML

 

(all rights reserved 2017 peter case)

[Apologies to the photographer at Max’s. Please contact me here, I have no name or contact info for you. Thank you,]