i am hidden in plain sight
like the genius busker
on the underground
i blend with it all effortlessly
like a cloud in the sky
i am everyman
everyday
you do not notice me
i am a force of nature
and you are blind to it
looking in all places for
the saintly ones
for the clerics
for the gurus
the sifus
you do not notice me
time traveling shaman
next door
on this ordinary street
where life unfolds
as it should
as a flower does
naturally
i notice it all
Mr Benn was a BBC children’s program from the 1970’s. I loved it and when I look back now I can see why. The magic really appealed along with the idea that there were doorways to other worlds and times. The shopkeeper was a Zen Master as was Mr Benn.
Tonight’s prompt for my Scribble It hosting at Toads Why not pop by the Garden and leave a poem of your own?
Also submitted to OLN night at dVerse
Wow, Mr Benn as urban shaman.
It’s one of those series I remember as being around an awful lot, but they hardly made any episodes.
I like the idea of magic happening next door, right under our noses.
It never occurred to me as a child to think of him that way but looking back…….
Shaman and guru are often / usually hidden in the humble ones, who are often overlooked. Loved this, Paul.
The real ones. Yes.
Oh, I love Mr Benn, Paul, – he is indeed an everyman everyday! I think I need to watch the whole series again 🙂
This cartoon sounds adorable! Your description of it was quite charming.
It was a must watch for me as a youngster.
I did not know about this. It sounds quite worthy.
They only made 13 episodes which were then shown on repeat over maybe 2 years. Late 60’s early 70’s BBC threw up some fascinating children’s programming.
I had never heard of Mr Benn… but it’s truly wonderful to have a shaman next door… Magic should be in every ordinary day.
I loved Mr Benn, he was a true wizard. I always wanted a door like that. I once lived next door to John Cooper Clark…I suspect we all have extraordinary ordinary lives. Maybe it is more important that we notice rather than that we are noticed…I am not sure.
I didn’t know Mr. Benn, either, but I’ve know others like him. They blend in effortlessly and exert considerable control with no one knowing it. Sounds as though I would have enjoyed that series.
You Tube is your friend 😉
Wow! I like the image of Mr Benn as urban shaman 🙂 very cool poem, Paul!❤️
Makes me wonder if a Shaman lives in my neighborhood. We certainly put a lot of stock in our observations that often miss what should be seen.
I was kind of coming at it from the perspective of Lao Tzu “Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”
Didn’t know this Paul…thanks for introducing me to the time travelling shaman ~
It’s just how I see him. He would not agree I suspect.
as a flower does naturally
i notice it all
It takes that sensitivity of a poet to see that others ignore!
Hank
Lovely write. Thanks for sharing.
Sounds like a fun show!
The one who notices all is unnoticed.
I know a shaman and I do believe he holds the key to different worlds. I really enjoyed this poem.
I’ll talk about the way you set up this poem, which is wonderfully in keeping with the topic. The first stanza denies that there is a mystery, the second affirms there is one. In the final stanza you reveal it. Fairly basic… but done very well. The killers are the separate lines, of course. Together it clicks, and clicks well (as befits a percussionist).
I knew I saw a prompt mentioning doorways somewhere and liked the idea but couldn’t remember on which site. I do subscribe to the shaman present in all of ‘ordinary’ humanity.
Never saw this program. Wish I had.
We may think we are invisible and mutate into everything else, but the fact that you notice it all means others notice too.
I like the idea of finding something magical on an ordinary street corner.
We didn’t have a Mr. Benn in the states, but we did have other ‘influences’ on children. Mr. Rogers who pushed kindness, etc. Howdy Doodie who ….I don’t remember what he pushed, but I guess it was good for the kiddies. Cookie Monster, who my father loved when he was dying….those scary four little aliens that delighted my young son and terrified me….perhaps they all had a sorta Zen message. But I like your poem, Paul, cause it sums up what should have been.
love this poem, though i’d never seen the show…
wonderful to think of all the unsung sages among us.
Puts me in mind of Dr Who. I was your basic kid. I loved the Three Stooges and still do. I like that the most extraordinary people hide in plain site.
PS sorry Paul. I missed the part about writing from the character’s POV. I don’t think Curly did a lot of writing.
I love the way this reads. The format and the flow of your words. I did not see that show but I didn’t really need to to get a image in my mind. 🙂
‘”clothes maketh the man” and Mr Benn was a masterful chameleon – the narrator is so nicely understated.- as are these lines, revealing what is right before our eyes.
The single best exercise I’ve found while traveling was to see ‘it’ in all people: the vendor, the street sweeper, the commuter, the child shining shoes. Admittedly, it’s much more of a difficult exercise to practice this way of seeing in one’s home town.
It, in truth, is in all people though for sure harder to see in some than others.
How easy it is to take for granted the ordinary in our midst while seeking some extraordinary revelation. Like Robert Pirsig says, “the truth knocks at our door, and we say, ‘go away! I’m waiting for the truth!'”
Godot everywHeRe
but NoW
heaR
mY
friEnd
ReaL NoW
EVeN iN TraiLer
PArk DeSserts
CaribbeAn IsLands..:)
I remember viewing Mr Bean a classic comic
I responded to this prompt very late here
much love…