A Hunchbacked Trout or Allergies to Truth

Now for something completely different. The wondrous writing prompt does it again.

I’m not allergic to the truth, just reminded by Jeffrey McDaniel of days decades ago. Brautigan trout fishing in America among the telephone booths. Proctor and Bergman/the Firesign Theatre–the bureau of small animal reclamation where the power resides or the plague on an odd game show. Sketches, poems and more best enjoyed with a marijuana-augmented mind. The 70s. Ah reality, not always what it’s cracked up to be—as in the Cosmic Egg. On a road less traveled one might never notice the crack.

By the light of a full moon on a clear night one can leave the bounds of the earth to soar into the skies of the ultimate reality. Without drugs, go there now with Nam-myoho-renge-kyo. Fueled by the inner mounting flame Mahavishnu John McLaughlin’s fingers hyper-pluck the 12-strings electric in a fusion best heard at the speed of coke. But then, he himself, influenced by his guru’s metaphysical instruction perhaps refrained from the drugs. We know Frank did, even as he visited 200 motels with hot rats and big swifty. Tight orchestration fluid with segued improvisation impossible while brain-fogged. Hearing single notes or one instrument possible yet for the listening mind if not the composer/performer. Those were the days of future passed. Today I will be here now, amidst allusions not illusions.

6 thoughts on “A Hunchbacked Trout or Allergies to Truth

  1. Fascinating John. I’m not too familiar with some of the characters, except Zappa, who had a lot to do with the beginnings of Alice Cooper’s fame. But the picture your paint takes me way back to a time where I heard things but was too young to understand. 🙂

    1. It’s a mish-mash inspired by this odd poem by Jeffrey McDaniel. From there I recalled Brautigan’s Trout Fishing in America with its odd telephone booth motif and the hunchbacked trout (possibly “stepped on by a horse” according to him). From there it was off to the races of my musical memories and more. Just a little fun.

    1. Thanks, so much! Glad you liked it. Seemed like something you would from what I have seen of your writing. Small world, eh. You must know the meaning of my more eclectic blog, Views from Eagle Peak.

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