fumie ishii

I saw him for the first time
reading a book
with a profound thinking face

in the train

He looked up and
smiled at me

I had never seen anyone smiled
who looked so much sure of himself

He had a crazy wild beard
dark curly sophisticated beard

Even if his face was covered
there was nothing hidden
a graceful face

We got off at the same station

and I felt in love with him

I kept seeing him once in a while

Fall came
He passed me by
at the entrance of our station

His red sweater remained vivid
in my mind till next spring

and I thought this was destined

Summer arrived in Williamsburg
I saw him in a black and white
picture on the local paper

and learned he was in a band
and learned what his name was
and learned what kind of instrument he played

He became no longer my anonymous beard man

A few years went by
he quit that band
and moved out of my neighborhood
I separated from my past
and moved to a new neighborhood

“Next time when i run into him,
maybe I can say hello”
I told myself

That was the night Daft Punk was playing in Coney Island
Saw so many kids in silver costumes
on my way back from the crowded beach

That was the night Beastie Boys was playing in McCarren Park
Walked by and danced a bit
along with a busted sound

At our venue in Lower East Side
He was there
In front of the audience
sitting comfortably and singing alone
He was there
in front of me
playing gently and glowing strong

At the bar I ordered a whiskey
He was next to me
talking all good
about his girl friend

I felt happy
genuinely and naturally
I said hi and we shook hands

8 days later
I met him again
at my friend’s house party
he was in his old band shirt

And learned he studied history in college
And learned he was a carpenter
And learned he didn’t remember smiling at me

I photographed him a few months later

My dream came true
when I woke up from my dream

My instinct was right
as usual
He was the fantastic beard man

— i wrote this poem for the current show in tokyo but didn’t go with the theme (happy love) and fyi i didn’t become a stalker