Searching for Frank Messina
by Ron Whitehead
drove to New York City may 1994
150 young people caravan
band of Kentucky gypsies musicians and poets
and I'm the only so-called adult
sposed to be watching out for protecting 150 excited
mad crazy passionate creative teenagers Lord please help me
cause I'm also producing New York University's
48-hour non-stop music and poetry INSOMNIACATHON
to kickoff NYU's week long 50-year anniversary celebration
of The Beat Generation The Beat Generation
Allen Ginsberg William S. Burroughs Gregory Corso
Herbert Huncke Lawrence Ferlinghetti Diane di Prima
Amiri Baraka Jan Kerouac Ted Joans Anne Waldman
Ed Sanders Yevgeny Yevteshenko and David Amram David Amram
yes David Amram master musician composer farm boy who did
1st ever jazz poetry reading with Jack Kerouac yes that's right Jack Kerouac
1957 Brata Gallery New York City and even tho the INSOMNIACATHON
performance schedule filled up fast with over 300 performers from
all over the world I'd been getting non-stop calls from one of the most persistent
determined and convincing people with a New York hm New Jersey? accent
who identified himself as Messina a Frank Messina yeah that's it he said he
was a poet spoken word artist with a fusion band called Spoken Motion and
yes he finally convinced me to give him them a performance spot so I
rearranged the massive 48-hour schedule a real juggling act and I not only
gave them a performance spot he persuaded me to give them a prime time
spot yes I made room for Frank yes I said Frank Messina and Spoken Motion
and boy oh boy was I glad I did cause right after their performance I introduced
them then took my seat by Allen Ginsberg and Allen and I were both
blown away and after their performance I went backstage to tell Frank
and Spoken Motion how great they were and that I'd like to do more work
with them so yes ladies and gentlemen that was the beginning the beginning
of a deep and abiding 14-year friendship with numerous
north south east west tours across the USA and Europe
and I'm searching for Frank Messina
"the one who'll shake the ones unshaken
the fearless one
the one without bullshit"
and we've been in the trenches of poetry of life
brothers in arms
in the spiritual battle the war
between light and dark
we choose the light we are Sons of Light
warriors in the trenches of poetry of life
never turning away from danger
never bowing down rather facing and embracing every challenge
working non-stop to help make the world
a better place in which to live is that still possible yes it is and
each one of us can make a difference and Frank and I are
fighting the good fight relentless spiritual warriors
and His Holiness The Dalai Lama looks deep into my eyes and says
"it's okay to be happy"
then he laughs real loud as only The Dalai Lama can laugh with that
heartbroken compassionate painfilled joyful laugh and smile
and when he said
"it's okay to be happy"
what release I felt years and years layer upon layer
of mountainous guilt guilt from all the pain and suffering and injustice
of life and The Mets Poet who has much in common with The Dalai Lama
The Mets Poet who has so much in common with our greatest President ever
Kentuckian Abraham Lincoln The Mets Poet reminds me time and again that
"it's okay to be happy"
and I'm searching for Frank Messina
on Glenn Avenue in Norwood New Jersey
on Route 340 in Sparkill New York
on Broadway New York City Columbia University
on Akers Avenue Montvale New Jersey
at Holly Place Northvale New Jersey where he bartered work
for a place to live where he finished his first 9/11 poems masterpieces all
on Main Street Hackensack New Jersey where he lived in
an office building he renovated into an apartment where
he finished DISORDERLY CONDUCT what an important book
on Grand Street Jersey City New Jersey where he started painting
painting 50 masterpieces in a tsunami creative surge
in Atrani Italy southern Italy near Sicily Sicily where his family
was birthed Atrani Italy where he wrote his 1st love poems alone
on the beach sunken WWII American warship peaking it's weary mast
out of the turquoise Mediterranean waters Atrani Italy where he
meditated on the war dead what price some must pay for peace
"Against a lamppost at Cedar and Greenwich,
it stands
dusted, war torn,
chained to the moment
of its own ceased labor,
awaiting the return of Juan Gutierrez
from a morning delivery at One World Trade…"
Atrani Italy where he had visions of ancient relatives fishing
off the coast Atrani Italy where his life was changed forever
and I'm searching for Frank Messina
and searching for Frank Messina
I see his Father powerful loving presence crossed over yes but
standing standing always present eternal presence guardian angel now
for his son Frank and his entire family his Father guardian angel
here tonight giving love and protection having fun with us
and searching for Frank Messina I recall the shows the concerts the tours
the INSOMNIACATHONs New York University The Nuyorican Poets Café
The Bowery Poetry Club Tribe Gallery Lowell Massachusetts Louisville Kentucky
The Rudyard Kipling Kentucky Center for The Arts New Orleans Louisiana
Contemporary Arts Centre The Howlin Wolf Club The Mermaid Lounge
London England The London International Poetry and Song Festival
Marquee Club The Ocean Reykjavik Iceland The Museum of Modern Art Glasgow
Scotland oldest pub in Scotland THE WAR POETS TOUR Edinburgh Scotland hip
hop club standing room only Ukiah California THE WANDERER TOUR The
Netherlands Meer dan Woorden More Than Words International Festivals yes The
Netherlands many tours and where I got ripped off by the producers of that first
tour but Frank went to bat for me getting my money and facing down the crooked
producers telling them he'd kick their asses if they didn't back
down and hand over and believe me they backed down and handed over so we
got paid and searching for Frank Messina I read his books I listen to his cds
including our WALKING HOME cd
"I saw you Walt Whitman
high atop the palisades
with your crooked finger
pointing south toward New York Harbor
what warning
what careful directive
did you propose
what broken ferry
what wounded ship
did your crooked finger
direct and lead me to
what pangs of memories"
yes "Visions of Walt Whitman" another masterpiece
and
"you're all under arrest
for giving in to your oppressors"
yes "Disorderly Conduct" "Disorderly Conduct" "Disorderly Conduct"
and the hits roll on important and entertaining poems and stories each
and everyone and I realized early on while searching for Frank Messina
that here was a lost brother a lost brother tough as my Kentucky pioneer
land hillbilly family and friends a lost brother now found and remembered
an ancient warrior poet trustworthy honorable friend with integrity
with all the traits the qualities of yes a southern gentleman someone to
stand shoulder to shoulder with in the trenches of poetry of life
and here on this Saturday February 16th night
at The Turning Point Piermont New York
glass of red wine someone please give me a glass or two of red wine
cause I'm searching for Frank Messina
celebrating his 40th Birthday with a grand music and poetry Bash
searching for Frank Messina
I hear his loud whispered poem
"I'm an American!
I got heart,
I got heart like no others got heart
I got heart like the Tin Man found
I got heart like Tony Bennett, George Foreman,
Marlon Brando, Jesse Owens, BB King, John Belushi,
John Franco and The Miracle Mets!
I'm an American!
I'm an American!
and
you will not break me!
you will not break me!
you will not break me!"
and I'm searching for Frank Messina fearless giant hearted brother
Congratulations Giants go Mets
I'm honored to be here on this holy holy holy night
this Frank Messina 40th Birthday Celebration Concert Bash
and searching for Frank Messina I conclude with a big
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY
to my dear friend
FRANK MESSINA FRANK MESSINA
Yes I said FRANK FRANK
that's right FRANK MESSINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
February 16, 2007
New York City
Copyright © 2008 Ron Whitehead
