THE TOURISTA POEMS
"Religion is the cowbell of philosophy* . . . "
--Chris Nagel
As discussed elsewhere on this page, at some point I embraced the persona I find myself adopting when I go on long trips, especially "vacation" trips, especially when I go to visit Doc Nagel. Not too many years ago I labelled this persona tourista, the savage tourist bent not only on seeing the sights, but seeing through them, around them, seeing more than any of the other mean tourists cluttering up the landscape. It may sound elitist and crass, and maybe makes me seem like a bit of a schmuck, but I probably deserve that kind of abuse anyways.
Anyways, herein are included poems that were composed when I was in a tourista state of mind, not to say a New York state of mind, although a couple of them clearly were. Also included is a poem about the experience of visiting Doc Nagel while he lived in Pittsburgh, which, well . . . it's kind of by way of apologia. I visited the Doc there many times and never got around to writing a poem about the place, until I jotted down "Fun Facts About Pittsburgh" last year. So it's stuck down there in the lower third, 'cause I wrote it when I wrote it, although I haven't been to Pittsburgh in something like four or five years. Enjoy!
In the Dim Hills of Pennsylvania
To a Stranger on a Trolley on a Thursday nearing Noon
First Trip Through the Sierras with Chris and Lauren
*Chris wants me to note that he insists he never said this.