Excelsior, a poem written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1841, has long been the subject of
parody and
reinterpretation. Submitted for your perusal, my pinholish take:
RECTILINEAR
The sun was dipping in the West, |
Gazing upwards, the light to test, |
A man, a tripod in his hand, |
Seeking vantage, as shadows fanned, |
RECTILINEAR! |
|
In his grasp, a brass and wood box;
|
The halves, now one, and interlocks. |
Inside, the film, the ISO |
One hundred, neither fast nor slow. |
RECTILINEAR! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBR-34e2X8gCtIkq5Kqb-i43Pob33mbBv3sTle8yHfrKSp_TbxlkglVsgTG7VB-qSnOKy9eBBF2cBrbQgXDQqGXykPtsUub9Ozt5maJcdgF-8MRpslqH4QjMmKCoHtUOrzoe2Pag/s320/46230004.JPG) |
A satchel hung around his neck, |
Swinging, thumping, impeding trek. |
Bicycles, buses, cars rolled past, |
The crosswalk clear, he moved at last. |
RECTILINEAR! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRllpOjeqltUkfQPMmIXTbip6pg4r6e1VJWcl3GAt1CjRN4XerPVnC9fdmKPASLCzL_MAXOrHpvG-iVtL56x7Qnck4A3VR1uZhihJOrjFHsWhErfT47xQn0lN6mjB2xArAKn8scw/s320/46420006.JPG) |
“Spare change,” a grimy vagrant said, |
Standing, blocking, eyes ringed with red. |
A shrug and laugh, “I wish I could. |
I must press on; the light's still good!” |
RECTILINEAR! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJD_TKhb6y4SG9aSrfRTiLjEweA3LkeLDKRGa0nAnp_hi1RkJkWgDSLZhhlKcSO0dW6suktBZD-tNBubFW6VyJWaqxFZuua1sx6RmT4zXoT3nN6hVvGG6HjaCQZ8NCG3r56JBPw/s320/46230008.JPG) |
“What is that thing?” a child cried, |
buckled fast in her stroller ride. |
“Photos it makes, with film. You know?” |
The blank look clearly answered, “No.” |
RECTILINEAR! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSBdv-3a1ERZbUcP1-Y6yZ_pVO505h9fh22rUd7DM68pBxpojruJyFpusiyYK13E8nZt2vgpAKawF-LO5Os1_zPdn7BCE8jrypWfbkUaoZgCwPbg21ZYsshA65hXQAjbwPfJNz7w/s320/46420003.JPG) |
Emboidered badge: “The park is closed!” |
The photog's thought: I think I'm hosed. |
“I'll be real quick. Only one shot!” |
I hope this works, the photog thought. |
RECTILINEAR! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMbxMCJ_wrqydSn8h82lfIlFgL72eVxyVpOVkR7zrp_1IPifrimuEa9ifhR6shMlT3J7Rl1S1tNyD_D62MsA0RU3u_ZjkQOAkdkHxzNUhfcA-WjAAP4Yeh5bcy0PV9b66LvqMFw/s320/46230006.JPG) |
Unfolds the tripod; meters sky. |
Composes landscape; aiming high. |
A furtive glance eastward when he |
Opens shutter; minutes twenty |
RECTILINEAR! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOoAKV1GBuSw9i8wnC7TwECLNKD0ys5EcKKB-BF9_YHtag1oK3UH7iCGCHP-yUvcatPsdZ8veM50nEsKulXqEzjlHf-X6PCnmeZyNWALpVl3Ztv-8zv6YM0tgxY_4b3FICSKKaQ/s320/46420008.JPG) |
Bearing down, diff'rent rent-a-cop |
“What is that box? You need to stop! |
You have to leave.” “I need more time!” |
Defiant: “Pinhole is not a crime!” |
RECTILINEAR! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMtdxYKTzds0tpjYnOOfLFxPrv_U6Emu684p27ABFuybJ236i2uhyphenhyphensoBJEJdSrGPN_Jr88maPZCD0smWizFwJzMxl4bjxUuQEKF28HmxXjaajP9pXxG9ZLif27s7bagW5Upe8GPQ/s320/46230002.JPG) |
Taking time, putting on a show, |
He packs his kit, painfully slow, |
A tapping shoe, the guard's arms crossed, |
The shutter snaps, the shot's not lost! |
RECTILINEAR! |
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Thanks for the input!