John

Explore, May 4, 2008

 

Homeless and forlorn

in Hollywood, he was sitting

at a busstop on the south side

of Hollywood Boulevard just

east of La Brea, west of Orange -

and fumbling with a cigarette.

He accepted my donation

silently, and when asked

if I could take his photo

he winked his consent,

and when I lifted the camera

to my eye, he looked off like

this - and then in the other

direction - looking far but without

moving his head as if frozen

there - and I noticed his nose

is all messed up and his

mouth - whether from a cleft

lip or some accident -

is askew. And this just

a block from where and when

Sean "Puffy" Combs was getting

a star on Hollywood Boulevard

with some other stars

in attendance

and cheering masses of

people - and this ever close

proximity of wealth and poverty -

of the blessed and the cursed-

is again there for me

to witness

and record.

Done