| Past....Present....Future
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PRECIOUS
Held you close, precious;
Sullen, resisting;
Timing, frivolous;
Withdrawing, mutual thoughts collide,
Leave doubts fractured in minds,
Willing to try again.
ABOVE
Above, hemispheric;
Wind strong,
Sunshine, warm;
An Opportune time of day,
To say,
Praise God.
SAVVY
Jaunts in the dark
Instincts emerging as key,
Advising silently;
Play by ear
A melody;
Title it, "Savvy".
www.amychavez.com
{satirical columnist / The Japan Times}
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Past midnight,
dreams,
while still awake, subside.
Edmund L Bridgewater
HITORI SUWATTE
On an altar,
two candles -
equidistant;
unlit;
In a pew
a man sits.
Edmund L Bridgewater
ZEAL
Men rush
seeking a meal;
some lame,
all zeal.
Edmund L Bridgewater
HERE IS WHERE
No ifs and buts anymore;
sure about what,
not anxious when,
here is where.
Edmund L Bridgewater
FROM JAMAICA
A boat full of nonsense
cross my line of vision;
a desire to re-discover reggae,
from Jamaica,
momentarily revived.
Edmund L Bridgewater
FOR BEING
Vision offers alternative;
sight - a feeling;
perception -
an idea for being.
Edmund L Bridgewater
IMMORTAL
Where sympathy lies,
buried deep,
deeper than six feet,
extra time is needed
to excavate it.
Edmund L Bridgewater
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TANGIBLE
In motion
An element
Of truth- tangible ;
An expanse
Of what is
Surpasses expectations
IN A HEAP
I lie curled up on the floor
like a cat waiting for a dog
to wander into a domain
harboring a reign
of upheavals; indiscriminately.
SUSPENSE
A day turned round,
routine upside down,
steadied by respite;
resulting in the end
in lingering suspense;
heartfelt notions - exemplary;
restore common sense.
QUIET
On the inside,
nothing stirs;
havoc knock,
an opening un-locks - norm.
FERTILE
Start the week, outside;
sowing seeds in areas - fertile;
growth - edit - file.
REMINISCENT
Life in the static lane - visible,
in front of my eyes;
people, self - styled,
in parks,
alternate a life style,
reminiscent of an age,
when men lived in caves.
WHEN
Intimacy, relegated;
put on the back - burner;
storms a return
into two lives, suddenly,
at a crucial point,
when.
TRITE
Everything seemed trite,
until the stillness of night.
lit up the dark
with a void.
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| Node studios/Tokyo/Japan |
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| Sarasota/Florida/USA |
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| Node studios/Tokyo/Japan |
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| Naka-ku/Nagoya/Japan |
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| Node studios/Tokyo/Japan |
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| Roanoke/Virginia/USA |
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PILGRIMAGE by Edmund Bridgewater
On December 5th 2001 my bi-monthly pilgrimage to Node began - a short fifteen minute walk to Node Studios in the vicinity of Chiyoda-ku, approximating Suidobashi metro station.
Usually I carry my keyboards over my left shoulder with a small hand bag with accessories in my right hand. Weather patterns determine how I negotiate my journey to and from. I guess I am blessed. There has never been an occasion that I've had to cancel.
Yesterday's session was typical. I expected the ground floor where reception is to be alive with budding rock aspirants waiting for other band members to arrive. Live talk in Japanese, laughter, and an automatic look of curiosity from all present as I enter the entrance door.
Node studios occupy a 5 story complex in the Tanigawa Bldg. 3-7-5 Misakicho, Chiyoda-ku. It caters mainly for bands in desperate need of rehearsal facilities. Its solo recording facility is on the top floor - the 5th - where I've been recording eclectic material for almost four years. I wasn't the first foreigner (gaijin) to record here; that claim goes to a Canadian whose photo I've seen but never met in the flesh. However, I am the first to establish lengthy ties with Node and its eccentric and sensitive engineer and manager, Yamada Junichi.
I approach front desk and request that my presence is made known to Junichi who is on another floor. Minutes later he appears wearing a white mask covering his nose. As usual our greetings are brief. I ask, 'Byooki desuka' and he assures me that it is nothing serious, a slight cold.
We take the lift to the fifth floor and enter the area where the recording will be done. He is already set-up and rearing to go. Minutes later I am ready as well to record two tracks. The first is aptly titled WISDOM: a reading from Proverbs supported by an original score. The second track DOVES, comprise instrumentation only, no words.
The session is shorter than planned. I rehearsed well. Junichi is pleased. He enjoys the spontaneity of these sessions. Perhaps for him it is also a pilgrimage. One day, I hope he confirms this.
I pay the cashier as he looks on and next, the expected handshake materializes. I wave to everyone - the known, and the unfamiliar, as I depart from the ground floor exit of Node. Around the corner I hail a taxi and as I enter I request the driver to take me to Chuo Daigaku no chikaku ni. As I ride in the back seat my thoughts propel forward to my next session at Node - shichigatsu itsuka.
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TOKYO&NAGOYA POEMS
by
Edmund L Bridgewater
UNSCATHED
At dawn, a full moon,
Disappearing behind
Ellis Island;
Unscathed,
The Staten Island ferry
Journeys on.
ELIGIBLE
A man stands, he looks down,
Watch hands caress a piano;
Is unaware, the player,
Who describes what he does,
Is in the wings,
Waiting for Miss Right
To come along, and sing.
TEEN ROMANCE
The serenity
Of an early morning respite,
Near the river,
Was shattered by roller skating,
Teenae conversation,
And stealth.
SCARED
Scared of missing,
Experiencing,
A cold winter day;
Scared of past, present,
Slipping away;
Future like winter,
Sometimes,
Has to merge.
FUYU/WINTER
Winter is here at last,
Early, dark, nights,
Publicizing electricity;
Vie for praise
From moonlight fans;
And succeed temporarily.
STILL
A long walk to seek,
Find somewhere
Ideal to eat;
Light, summer attire;
Conspicuous; yet,
Hidden underneath,
Is a human frame
Pulsating with mixed feelings;
Between Myogadani
And Ikebukuro,
A grasp of will,
Waits, until mind becomes,
Thoughtlessly still.
ECHOING
See planes in the sky,
See stars and wonder why?
See tomorrow eclipse today,
See a world drifitng away;
See life as it should be;
Steadily, reality sets in;
A recurring theme - echoing!
INTERIM
Legacies of mist clouds vision,
Beset by stormy horizons;
Out of reach for now;
Interim
INDIA
On the 3rd Floor,
Content with
Restaurant offerings,
And a partial view;
Absorbing time;
New arrangements mull,
In a mind, reminiscing India.
PAST ONE
Past one
The day movies on,
And even warm sun
Agrees,
That winter,
For all its faults,
Fulfils a need
To precede Spring.
EXCESS
What if I told you
About my life?
The ups, and downs,
The sometimes
Too frequent frowns;
Would you understand,
A man,
Swimming in too deep an ocean
Of excess imagination?
SHIBUYA
Shibuya,
Frenzied as usual,
With youth;
A lack of desire
Assures an escape,
Until, curiosity, again,
Triggers, a youthful pining,
For visual innocence;
A photograph - still.
DEFINITIONS
Definitions given,
display -
Inner devices;
The good, abhorrent;
Ambition - driven.
PIVOTING
Get carried away,
Time on my side;
Can't wait for -
Close deadlines,
to traffic a life -
Pivoting;
A casual stroll,
Late evening, unburdens.
QUIETLY
In, out,
An exercise program
Of sorts, fulfills,
Can't afford
To lose track of aim;
The game is the same,
Here, and elsewhere;
Walk, run, body, mind,
In unison;
Heart breaths a sign,
Quietly.
NOSTALGIA
A fountain with large
Area space, masked
By trees: green,
Offers a luring feel,
A sense of
What could have been;
A picturesque scene,
A daytime reveal
Of nostalgia.
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LONDON / 1995
The flight into Gatwick was another non - event. The journey by train to Victoria Station - highlighted the green appearance of the county of Surrey.
From Victoria Station we hired a taxi to make the long trip to Mayfair, where our rented apartment was located. I knew London. My companion didn't.
The apartment at semi-ground level was more luxurious than the one recently used in Paris, also turn-key furnished: one bed-roomed; the sheer size of the rooms made it a larger aparment. We were short walking disatances away from Hyde Park, St. James Park, Marble Arch, Oxford Circus and piccadilly Circus.
There was so much to see, to reacquaint with in five days - from Friday until Tuesday of the following week; then back to the USA - Roanoke, Virginia.
The cruise along the Thames to Greenwich was fun for both of us, and an education. The bucket held out by the tour guide, with a cockney accent, for tips, was nearly full when we approached to walk past, on to a pier and dry land.
Our desire to walk around the Greenwich area and buy souvenirs didn't take long to achieve. We kept a promise to purchase a particular type of doll for our lawyer's secretary in Roanoke.
The long bus ride back to Central London didn't arouse much interest. It was hard adding to indescribable experiences we recently had in Paris.
We visited grocery stores in Holland Park and Sloane Square, and stocked up the refrigerator later; ate out, in a Chinese restaurant in Leicester Square, central London, and an Indian restaurant in Chiswick, West London; journeyed to a department store in High Street, Kensington, to purchase a suitcase and an attache-case; sought a bargain, and ended up getting one, a short bus ride away to Shepherds Bush Market.
Later, I welcomed an invited guest at the Mayfair apartment. The meeting with Dave was too brief to decide what the current state of our friendship and music relationship was; we hadn't seen each other in ten years. D.H. was still a drummer and the co-owner of a recording studio in the Eastern suburb of London where I had recorded a self-penned country/pop song... A LIFE ALL LOVING.
Telephone calls made and received were hastily done; some apologetic, even the ones made to close relatives. We were trying to ease in and out of London unscathed.
On our way back to Gatwick via Purley the unthinkable occurred. Futher ahead, a robbery had taken place at a bank. To suppport police efforts to apprehend the culprits, train enroute to and from Gatwick were halted. Minutes, then an hour elapsed, and departure time drew closer as we and the other compartment occupiers sat stupefied, wondering why?
At Gatwick, later, a Forte Hotel room - Deluxe was booked for the duration of one night. Additional expense was incurred, and the bonus earned was partial view of tarmac, and Surrey at night.
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HONG KONG 1995
Part I
FOG AND ADVENTURE
The ride by taxi to the ferry terminal; and the short journey after, to Hong Kong Island, preceded coffee at the Hilton. They were attending mass at St. John's Cathedral - located behind the Hilton. Inside St. John's was a sparse number of worshippers. The amplification used was inadequate; and the sermon delivered from the pulpit was barely audible. The theme was death and fear.
Rain continued to fall. At Skettles restaurant they ordered a vegetarian dish, and while eatin it, they discussed taking a train ride to Victoria Peak.
The Mall - departement store at the top is a sight to behold an experience that could only be personal. They took photographs of each other and the surrounding scenery. Gradually the background became dense fog. Both had differing views regarding the continuing lengh of stay at the top of Victoria Peak.
Again at the bottom, they took a taxi and noted as they enjoyed the ride how Hong Kong Island contrasted with Kowloon; more detaied; and the taxi driver - domiciled from Mainland China, pointed out which areas en route were inhabited by the poor, and the rich.
Behind them was dense fog, and ahead - more adventure.
Edmun L Bridgewater
Part II
EXPECTATIONS
The short journey by ferry from Kowloon to Central Hong Kong didn't excite or arouse either of them, but the effort to locate the American Chamber of Commerce offices, did.
The pre-arranged appointment had been made for 10:30 a.m., with the administration manager; with the initials N.O. With the friendly waving of his right hand, from afar, they were instantly drawn to the former government official, who was doing his best for the U.S.A. in Hong Kong. In conversation they touched on a variety of topics. The atmosphere in the small office was easy to relate to. They sat in chairs facing Normen, who was seated behind his desk. There was mutual admiration for the veteran broadcaster Alistair Cooke.
Later, they made a visit to a post office en route; ensuing, there was a brief period of respite, taken over cafe-au-lait, at the Mandarin Hotel.
A long walk by the river ensued the ferry ride back and as they drew close to where they were staying - the Shangri-La Hotel they made two observations worth noting: some of the rooms in the Shangri-La had water view, and a Nanking noodle restaurant was located opposite. The Nanking noodle restaurant offered a low rate of exchange for the U.S. dollars they used for payment. They meal was delicious.
The day was being wound up at 8:00 p.m. and they judged it favorably.
Edmund L Bridgewater
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