Miami Nights
Dr. Ruth, Oprah, Grizzly Adams,
Caspar Weinberger and Amy;
didn't know them before,
do now, one better than the others,
and I'm grateful for that.The surreality of Miami Beach during
a four-day monsoon of books, Scotch
and conversation with those just met,
dampened only by the shortness of time
and the never-ending rain.What ignites closeness? What extinguishes?
that which distinguishes one from the other
lies deep within and is not often shown
for reasons rarely understood and
even less frequently logical.We seldom risk exposure and
even less occasionally are we rewarded;
but without openness, there is no gift
great as that of new friendships
forever denied the closed.The odds are not as great as feared,
but sufficient to limit the players
to those of confidence and willingness
in this hot humid south Florida night—
Ruth, Oprah, Grizzly and Caspar had retired.The child of a grandfather's song,
connected to a sister's college play;
no one can predict nor should they try,
for the lone thread of a web
belies the strength of what it can become."Ply her with bonbons, poetry and flowers,"
till now a studied one-ply approach
in an otherwise three-ply Broadway world;
few can create confections,
and fewer still blossoms...and poetry?Fantasy, fact and fiction,
the grist of ABA days and Miami nights;
what will survive the flight from Florida?
if nothing, the value is not diminished,
without risk there is no real future.If something, the worth is incalculable,
that which is so rich is often so rare,
for that moment—and the next—
I'm glad that we were there,
grateful we were brave enough to share.© 1993 AZTexts Publishing, Inc.