ohn rossrebel journalist
1938-2011
1938-2011
john online
(last update feb. 16)
(last update feb. 16)
| Memorials and pachangas for John will be held in San Francisco, Trinidad, Mexico City and New York. |
San Francisco Memorial for John Ross Saturday, February 26, 2011 A short video Photo album |
Dawn without john There is no long hand attached to that sassafras cane There is no bulging yellow eyeball behind that magnifying glass reading la jornada That toothless mouth is not sucking on a joint. There is no black pen cradled in the other hand ready to write That fine fine brain can´t remember the history of mexico Those new York ears can´t hear Coltrane or parker My youngest daughter gabriela won´t be receiving a birthday present from her beloved godfather or dogfather as he liked to say. And zoe won´t be skyping with her abuelo tonight. The apple trees are still blooming The sun rose again and the moon is full Our neighbor is threshing his harvest of wheat And the roosters are crowing 48 hours ago I held you in my arms as you struggled and fought: And then for the first time in your life you surrendered, gave in, And took your last breath with the rising sun. 24 hours ago as the day dawned we cried and arminda and the saxophone of Oscar el vampiro; street musician from mexico city; wailed over your cold lifeless body ,and in one last act of defiance, Oscar and I smoked a joint of the humboldt grass you smuggled into mexico , making it doubly illegal and especially irreverent, blew the smoke over you, and stuck the roach in your mouth. Before you were baked we placed a pen in your hand Compadre, I saw that smile on your face as you went up in flames with a joint in your mouth and a pen in your hand. It took two hours to turn you into ashes. This dawn I am alone with those ashes, the flowers, the candles and Coltrane. The beret, the magnifying glass, the leather vest, the keffiyeh, and the sassafras cane are all wondering? WILL THERE BE ANOTHER JOHN ROSS ? Kevin Quigley Santiago Tzipijo jan 19 2011 |
| Arcata John Ross Reading & Memorial April 29 & May 1, 2011 Photos |
| Panel discussion on John Ross Casa Lamm, Mexico City May 16, 2011 Write-up in La Jornada |