Rooster Man

Every time
I hear a rooster crow
Ya know, that repetitive

 "Cocka Doodle Doo"

I wanna jump out of bed
get my hatchet
and chop off its head.

Well, yesterday morning
the cock began
to crow again.

and again and again.
Then... I heard Elvis singin
'Jailhouse Rock.'

Slowly I walked
with hatchet in hand
"One, two, three

four o'clock rock."
He was  behind the Maple tree
and what I saw nearly knocked

my socks off, Rooster Man
that gol durn cock
signin... Jailhouse Rock'

and now, believe it or not
I'm his Biggest
fan.

c. Douglas Fireman


For those who doubt this story,
I took a picture of Rooster Man.
Actually he's a combo of the original
tree bark and the paint I later
added using Picasa Tools.

Wish I coulda captured the song too.
He sounded exactly like Elvis.

Flamenco

Sharing ones soul
with the thrum
of guitar.

The beat
of one's heart.
That ancient snap

of castanets.

Ageless voice singing
archetypes
of a nation.

Impassioned eyes.
Merging colors swirling
like snakes in heated ovens.

Manic-heeled feet
tap and rap out the anima
of Andalucia.

the earth shakes.
All sights and sounds merge
with that Flamenco-driven prayer,

as duende Explodes,
from dark soils,
into magic moments;

followed
by a tumultuous,
"Oleh!"

Cheers

When I first... laid my eye
on the Royal Doulton mug
I said to my self,

gotta have it.
"Oh no you don't,"
said the Mrs.

reading my mind.
"It will break into a thousand
pieces.

There's absolutely
no room for it
in our valises.

And the price," she said
dropping her monocle,
"is astronomical!"

Usually, the mug
sits on the shelf.
It's held many a brew I assure you.

Just last night the Mrs. and I
imbibed from it wishing each other
good health.

c. Douglas Fireman

I found this Equadoran couple in a very interesting carving shop in Quito, the capital of Equador. I thought it was so beautiful- and it was freshly carved and finished by a wood carver who worked in the rear of the store.
As I was negotiating with the carver I could feel my wife, who had just returned from a ceramics store down the block, breathing down my neck.

"And where are we going to put all of these wood carvings?" she asked. "Do you Realize how many carvings you've bought These Last few days?"

or something to that effect. Frankly, I don't know what she said since I conveniently left my hearing aid at the hotel. But I knew one thing for sure, she wasn't going to talk me out of this wood carving, and that's for damn sure! It's a favorite of mine. So I thought I'd draw the original and share it with you.

I'm just a beginner, but being a beginner has some advantages one of which is that I am in a constant state of becoming.

The wood carving that I chose as a subject was found in Grindelwald, Switzerland. When I first saw the original carving I informed my wife that I was going to buy it.

"Another carving," she said. "How are you going to get it home?"- and on and on.

Fortunately, my wife knows how much I love wood carvings, and she finally gave in. "Now that's the last one. There's no more room in the suitcases, and besides,we're going to run out of money!" Well, you know the old story. And just to think, had I not bought it those many years ago, I would not have had the pleasure of sharing this drawing with you.

African Chief, Zimbabwe

I was thrilled when I found the old carving of an African chief in Zimbabwe, South Africa. The original is carved from teak wood and weighs about 12 pounds. The wood carving is starting to crack which accounts for the black, vertical lines on my drawing.

My wife often moves my carvings and other collectibles from place to place in our home, so when I bumped into the one I chose as the subject for my drawing it was like meeting up with an old friend. It's a favorite of mine, and the drawing looks pretty close to the original, so I'm happy with it. I'm finding that I have the most trouble with noses, eyes, and shading.

While visiting Warsaw, Poland a few years ago, I went to a very interesting flea market. As usual I had my eye out for a wood carving to add to my collection. When I found the Polish peasant carrying wood I immediately purchased it and then celebrated with a plate of pierogi and a liter of Polish beer.

Cheers, Doug