Seven the Hard Way (Photography Archives 007)

Model: Anya Allen
Photo: Antonio Cassone
2005

In a lot of ways, Anya was my first muse... we were at Gigi's and I had my camera and voila - I started snapping pics and have been snapping them ever since. We did more work together and collaborated with Diva Kingsley a few years back. The result of those shoots garnered Anya enough votes to be my Photography by Cassone sites Feature of the Year. It has been three years since we have seen each other, let alone worked with each other, but I am happy to report that she and her partner are coming to South Florida over the holidays. We hope Diva is up for another collaboration...let the snapping begin.

When Pebbles Get in Your Way, a new poem by Antonio Cassone

When Pebbles Get in Your Way

Days come and go;
Problems, stress, lives in disarray.
You think you know all there is to know
Yet finding you know not much of anything at all

Debt collectors calling
Telling them little lies
Day by day time constantly goes on
Realizations creep up that it is passing you by

Murder suicides, a robbery, a drive-by on the express
Killed a mother and a baby, two teenagers too
Wondering why people commit such acts only to confess
Must be some kind of new finagled voodoo

Rushing all about, wishing Monday to be Friday again
Then when the weekend comes you get too tired to really do
Haven't taken a nice, long walk since I don't know when
Or sat down to write some really good haiku

At a gray bus stop,
Winter's blistering cold bite
Takes my breath away.

Gossiping mouths chatter about in hallways
Traffic sounds interrupt sweet, sweet music
People shove through after work errands
All so they can get a taste of liquor ...quicker

Those bills, their ills, lies and deceit
Newsmen seem to be laughing as they speak
Soon, before you know it, the day is ending
And then another, and another ...then a week

Weeks turn to months, and months to years
And if you're lucky, suddenly - you're old
Looking back, you wonder what happened all this time
Life seems in a haze, but be not bitter or bold

It is the times in which we live in
Through it all, do it all - before you're through
Learn yourself; teach it, express it, give it
Don't get caught up in the trivial things people do

Those problems or life issues are not mountains
They're not stones, or even bricks
Look at them as pebbles just at life's gateway
In a process leading to a brighter, fuller day

Breathe easy, as you walk along your journey
Learn from it; teach it, express it and give it
A pebble is easier to pick up or move
Than a mountain of stone

Lessons in life are nothing more than pebbles, you see
When pebbles get in your way
Pick them up; throw them, kick them or move them
And be on your merry little way

© 2009 Antonio Cassone - All Rights Reserved

from the upcoming poetry & essay book, Ramblings from the Ragged Edge - due out November 2009