Senator Kennedy Funeral

Had nice opportunity to read poetry last night on bill w Cecelia at opening for Mission Hill InFocus Camera Club show at JP Licks. Took a prosey piece from back in the day and built out a poem about this place. - Jack

Ted Kenndedy funeral motorcade Tremont St, 2009. Mission Hill. A unique place - see those buildings in the distance- one is a mosque, the other a Baptist Church built inthe 1600s.

The Great Democrat's Funeral

Standing in front of Boston Clutch
Terrorism is on my mind
Bomb sniffing shepherds. Security high.
Rain picking up on edge of Hurricane Dan

Waiting for Senator Kennedy's
Last motorcade ride
Black SUV after Black SUV
Silver fox Sen. Dodd rolls down his window,
the pol inside him alive alive.
The little Kennedy girls in black dresses
in big front of bus windows waving.

And the police snipers
remarkable for their pupils piercing.
In neighborhood that came to be my home.
The guests were full-form famous and powerful –
: Sen Dodd,
Doris Kearn
and Richard Goodwin [he of the crazy hair].
Short Emily Rooney.
Barney Frank who I encounter out of Duncan Donuts later
[‘I love you Barney. You speak the truth,’ says I . Run for the seat!
Im just going to run from you he says.].
Serious Bob Woodward - he got his companion to hold the umbrella
as they walked and he thunk the rainy thoughts.
Saw many of the mighty
- but also little Rosie from the hill
in knock-out dress of black
She got in.
And in the Mission Church
the Great Democrat's song is sung.
4 presidents on hand.

And credit is lifted to
the Lord above.

Mission Church I know your Italian marble,
electric red votives,
and tall bouquets of crutches.
I hear stenoiran sermonist Father Mannon
as if on radio - still - echoes.

Then recall a shadow
of a casket
in a long
Black Cadillac
motoring
slow.