Brevity

I bought a lovely little book today, at a fair, from Gene Keller, musician, poet, performer extraordinaire.  He was selling these gorgeous little books of his, a collection of poems entitled Brevity.  Each book was hand-made out of lovely paper; each one unique, beautifully-crafted, and perfect.  The typeface was artistic and bold and strong, and the poems were wonderful--deep, honest, full of peace and joy.   Holding the little book in my hands, reading the poems slowly and meditatively, I was continually struck by their freshness, a quality so rare in writing today; youthful words of a poet grown old.  There was so much in the whole aesthetic experience: the physical beauty of the book, the clarity and song in the words, the wonderful person of Gene, and the whole history he embodies here in El Paso.  There was more in the book than just what the words said.  There was music and laughter under enormous stars and a mystical crescent moon, love and friendship, the search for deep and enduring truths, devotion to color and beauty, enchantment and mischief; a place of doves and glorious sun; a whole world of magical possibilities.