Coincidence did not cause
the young man’s cheek
to share the curve of mine
in his gray, buttered face.
His finger-combed hair
wet with grease,
his white, Sunday shirt
folded one flip from his wrists
as he squints, grins, leans
against his 1938 Buick
beside a skimpy ash tree.
The picture’s slanted—
like we should expect
that inky car to roll—
the bulky lens too heavy
for the ageless friend
who posed that grainy world.
Or maybe it wasn’t
the Kodak’s weight;
maybe an instant flashed
where the nameless cameraman
glimpsed his friend
with future, spotted wrinkles,
creaking knuckles,
a still and silent phone,
a sandwich chewed beneath the drone
of telecasts for baseball games;
and that man’s fingers
staggered.
But without knowing why,
in that moment the camera slipped,
the world tilted,
and that faceless photographer
carved from time
the car, the tree, the young man—
a hand hiked upon his hip.
Luke
Great poem, Jake!
I love imagining the backstory of an image and searching for the photographer’s impact on the photo. The photographer is always an important part of the photo; there’s a reason they/we sometimes pretentiously prefer to refer to the act as “making” a photo over “taking” a photo. A good photographer is never JUST pressing a button to freeze time in the frame. It should always be deeper than that, and you capture that well here, even if it’s an emotional lapse and subsequent slip of the camera, rather than artistic expression, that is being explored. 🙂
Geoff
I love the premise. Thanks for sharing your work!
Andy
Loved it!
Amy T
Eloquent and brief; a moment poised on a lovely, poignant thought.
Joanne
Lovely!
Ainsley Kelly
I loved the detail in this poem and the triangulated perspectives of the speaker, photographer, and the subject of the photograph. Cool play with perspective and time shown through vivid images and a voice full of character. I’m so glad I got to read this!
Phil
Really really great poem
You gave a story to someone I’ve never met simply through your words
Good work
Zach
Great poem. Felt it captured the picture perfectly
Julie
Nicely written!
Rhonda
Brilliant.
You are able to take a simple picture and analyze it to a greater meaning. The simplicity of remember there’s another person in this photo — the photographer — is often forgotten and you’ve woven him/her gracefully into the story
Rachel Williams
good job!
Dana Doolin
I always enjoy reading Jake Teeny’s work. He has such great insight and compassion in his writing.
Can’t wait to see more.
Rose
I really enjoyed this poem and photo. Nice imagery!