Since discovering Holly and her poetry, years ago, I keep finding her & her poems painted on walls, in alleys, on garage doors, in the market and Graffiti Alley.
This bleak alley went on for a mile, at least. Suddenly … beauty, like a Holly poem.
"Don't tell me what the poets are doing
Those Himalayas of the mind
Don't tell me what the poets been doing
In the long grasses over time"
But my heart can thank Holly, and all the wonderful poets I have found on WP.
“She called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy”
Hi, Blue Dude Raccoon here, with an Alley Gallery tale that will tune you in and turn you on!
It all began last summer when Nancy (great, great, great, great, great & about 55 more greats) granddaughter of Rocky Raccoon began wandering the alleys taking pics of humans on garage doors.
Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe
Made aware of this, kits in their late teens rebelled. They struck out into the alley spraying graffiti over the images of humans,
and churning up general mayhem.
Their mom’s, dressed in their finest matching period gowns, discussed the issue over tea.
Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe
They actually thought of asking Gideon Bibbel to help. He was the largest scariest raccoon ever. He was so big he lived in an abandoned warehouse, and took up all the space.
Unfortunately, he terrified the wee tiny ones, so they decided against it.
One night after a gig, the Jazz Racs, a local raccoon jazz band who played for humans, parked their car in an alley, after a gig.
Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe
The kits spent half the night spray painting the car, while everyone slept.
Something had to be done! The mom’s decided to consult Big Purple, the wise old leader of the Trash Can Clan.
Simple he said. The Kits need to be Jazzed Up. They need to channel their emotions creatively.
Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe
So, after making the Kits clean the paint off of the car, they all head down to the Jazz Cafe.
The Kits were wowed!
The Kits all decided to learn to play instruments, and start a band.
A couple of months later (Raccoons learn very quickly) they played their first gig,
… and their happy mom’s showed up to dance.
Teagan R. Geneviene via Night Cafe
Pics taken by Resa – 2024-2026
Toronto, Canada
The Artists:
For anyone who hasn’t guessed, I began this tale with inspiration from The song below.
AI was not used in the writing of this post.
Post Script:
Toronto is known as the "Raccoon Capitol", which is why there is so much raccoon street art in the city.
When Teagan, a most creative & whimsical writer, included the image of Raccoons having tea in gowns in a post, I got quite a chuckle out it. So I asked Teagan if I could include it in my annual raccoon street art post. Not only did she say yes, but out of the blue, in kind & generous spirit, Teagan did up more raccoon whimsy and sent it to me.
I think it looks like Amy… a healthy Amy with full cheeks.
She had full lips, tattoos, dark-lined mascara eyes and often a big flower in her hair.
She held her chin behind her wrist, at times.
Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote I Heard It Through the Grapevine in 1966. The next year, Motown stars Gladys Knight and the Pips had a #2 Billboard Hit with it.
In 2006, Amy and Paul Weller did a fabulous live version. I love the juxtaposition between Amy’s brave blues/jazz vocals and Paul’s straight ahead performance.
I drew Amy a couple of years ago for Holly and my series on Rock Stars.
You can check out the article on Holly’s House of Heart!
It was a regular post on Trent’s blog. He encouraged us all to find that smile, even if we thought we didn’t have one.
It’s been 1 year on October 5; one year since he wrote, made music, loved animals and nature. He was a John Lennon fan. It was Lennon’s message along with the music that we both shared a love for.
I drew this portrait of John Lennon after Trent passed. I think of Trent every time I look at it.
My smile is remembering Trent.
R.I.P.
Trent’s blogis still up, if anyone would like to check out a weekly smile post. OR, better still, why not post a smile on your blog!?!
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