R.I.P. Jim Carroll

Little Ode on St. Anne's Day

You're growing up

and rain sort of remains

on the branches of a tree

that will someday rule the earth.

and that's good

that there's rain

it clears the month

of your sorry rainbow expressions

and clears the streets

of the silent armies ...

so we can dance

-- Jim Carroll, "Fear of Dreaming"

At 13, I read "The Basketball Diaries" because Leonardo DiCaprio (my future husband, I was sure) starred in the movie version of the book. For about a year after, I walked around with a notebook and wrote deep writerly thoughts about how totally messed up the world was, ma-an. Carroll made chaos and torment -- particularly of the teenage variety -- seem exquisitely beautiful and worthwhile. Thanks for that.