This is the story of and by two old men.
The author was a poet who didn't know it
and the other was a singer who never got to sing.
They met in College. Dennis, a scholar, was in his third year
on an academic scholarship and Joseph, a student, was In his
first year with a music scholarship for voice.
Neither pursued those studies or
passions once leaving academia.
As loners, they had developed a bond.
But when Dennis finished his last year,
So too, was their relationship.
Or was it?
Each went their separate ways
Never again to see, to write, or
communicate in any way-
For the next 60 years.
Dennis went to Arizona for a few years and then
returned to his home town in the mountains of North Carolina
To have a daughter and a grandchild.
Eventually, Joseph wound up in
Santa Fe, New Mexico and continued life as an
artist and recognized photographer.
Dennis' wife of more than three decades
had died of a massive stroke and
he chose to remove himself from the world by
closing down communications with all but a
limited few and even that only by mail or occasional e-mail.
Sometimes, He would have Sunday dinner with his
daughter and grandson for his social life.
Then entered the muses.
It seems Dennis had been following
Joseph's photography career on his
web site for several years,
unbeknownst to Joseph.
After more than 60 years of silence between them,
In late September of 2023
Dennis sent Joseph a short note to his web address indicating that
he "might enjoy an occasional" note from him (Joseph).
Dennis wrote "We had the threads of friendship back then and
over the years they became thin.
But never broken."
It seems that Joseph had long wished to use
his voice for something worthwhile and tho' he had done
occasional commercials and voice-overs
he had given up hope of finding a "good script."
When Dennis sent him several of his "ditties" that
he wrote to amuse himself and his daughter,
Joseph saw something quite different.
He wrote Dennis saying
“The soul of an artist is not
something that is disciplined. It comes from a
place within that compels the artist to use a craft to touch others
and perhaps even the world in such a way that
defies cognitive thinking and skips directly to their hopes and fears.
This is what your work does. I anoint you as Artist and author.“
“Would you listen to my reading of some of your work (begging apologies
for not having sought your permission) and let me know your thoughts?"
Dennis wrote back "My work needed a voice.
I accept your offer. Having heard what you sent,
my daughter now has respect for me."
Such began their new relationship.
Still, they have not spoken or seen each other
since parting ways more than 60 years ago.
These stories and vignettes are
Of people you know,
Of people you don't know
Of people you don't want to know
Of yourself.
All the stories are true.
well, most of them …
Joseph Cosby May 3, 2023
Good luck on this artistic endeavour
Amazing!!!!