Toni
Please push play to hear me recite this poem to Neil Young’s “Helpless”
Toni
This is the music that played through our days
The Canyon was our forever home
hippies roaming the sunset strip
parading after dark up and down
and right above that happy colorful freak show
was a glen called a canyon… Laurel Canyon.
We were being carried on the winds of change
and didn’t even know it,
because these were the happy innocent times.
Somehow you and I made it our home
and I don’t even remember how we met…
Looking back it seems you were always in my life.
You were so much bigger than Life
our own Canyon Janis Joplin,
so naturally gorgeous and a hostess
to all her colorful friends
who were constantly dropping by.
Her VW Bug, top down
Dumpster dog riding shotgun
until I sat down,
“Move over Dumpy! The Dons is here”
We played the superstar couple of our times
Me in my striped T-shirts and suspenders
you in velour and lace.
Mick Jagger started us thinking about unisex,
the gender neutral of the day
and I cut my hair like Rod Stewart,
a long shag and you looked
like a movie star,
an hourglass figure with wolf eyes
and the most contagious laugh in all of Hollywood.
My very first platonic romance,
with all the elements
love and jealousy, passion and tears
just where we became one
was not in a bedroom
but on horseback above
the Hollywood sign at midnight
looking down on all of the lights of Los Angeles
spread out below
holding hands and drinking wine
trotting in sync, knees bumping
each other from time to time
singing Neal Young
to the rhythm of our horse’s hoof beats
.
We sometimes fought,
and hurt each other but
we recovered and yes,
it was better to cuddle and laugh,
better to hit West Hollywood town…
See & be seen at the Gay Discos
lose ourselves on the dance floor
at The Farm.
Our neighborhood water fights were legendary,
our crazy ideas like Bath-time with Toni
when we were holding court in your bathtub,
our friends spread out on the floor.
Listening to Dr. John.
Crawling along the side of a mountain
the “doggy trail” laughing too hard to stand
Everything we did, we did in stereo- and in living color.
The hardest person to say goodbye to
was you, when I left.
I gave up so many friends and neighbors
even a good marriage just to follow the call
to travel down the Pan Am highway
with young Poett and get away from it all.
I said I’d be back in six months
I didn’t even know that was a lie.
You finally chose to forgive me
came down to visit me…
The rest is history.
Our love was and is forever
You were and always will be
That charismatic, energetic
bestest of the bestest
That spirit that still haunts
the full moon trails of the
Hollywood Hills with me
and haunts my dreams.
We made the magic happen
you and me and no one
can take that away from us,
because no one would even try.
Karima Hoisan
March 7, 2023
Costa Rica
Digital Rabbit Hole 
Wonderful.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you so much Jay, I’m glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Middle of the night reading this and all begins to flicker in my mind like one of those legendary long tapestries of olden times. It’s not so much ‘The Life’ as how you are weaving it together for others to contemplate. So many colours and the sensed shadows between the dappling pools of light. Snatches of song, whispered confidences, sudden laughter, and the sound of horses…..It’s extraordinary. Thank you for the Richness.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Belavar for this beautiful, very rich comment too. I love how you described listening in the middle of the night.. It’s a true story..but so many of those are actually stranger than fiction:) Looking back, this one surely was:)
LikeLike
What an amazing story, and so beautifully and personally told. Holding court in the bathtub! You crazy kids… 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
It was the magical times, Dale:) They don’t come around too often, and must be enjoyed while they’re here. Thank you so much, and yes it’s personal but it touches a time that I doubt will ever come again…at least not in this cycle. Toni was an iconic figure of those days..and today still has her horses and rides:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love your rich colorful tapestry woven of so much history Karima with your youthful fun loving ways. Cheers to a wonderful journey of sharing, caring, singing, riding and continuing your creative endeavors in love so full of life. Happy Birthday to you! Hope it is a blow out and reminiscent all those people and places you love! 💞
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Cindy for your words on Toni..a special person, in a special time.Now that I have “come out” so to speak about who and how old I am, these vignettes from the 70’s are possible. My birthday party was a total “blow out” hehe as you say. Was magical and extremely high- energy fun. I might make a small post tomorrow with a few highlights.. Thank you for your wishes and yes, many of my phases even 35 years earlier were were represented with wonderful people from those eras. ❤️🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re so welcome Karima! I could feel how special she was and I’m ecstatic you had an ammmmmazzzing time and a blow out like I would expect! Happy to hear and can’t wait to see the update! 💞
LikeLike
Such a wonderful tribute to a dear friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Dawn for taking the time to listen…so glad you felt it as I meant. as a tribute, yes.to a very special for me and from those times that were so unique too.🌹
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sunk its teeth into my psyche and left a deep impression!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your comment is a poem unto itself J. Looking forward to hearing you elaborate some time:) Thank you for listening and feeling it.
LikeLike
Wow Karima, I am speechless! This is powerful, touching, moving, exquisite, delicate, filled with love, heart warming and intuitively divine. We’ve talked about this before, but the way you write about “platonic romance” is just enchanting and truly touches the soul. Thank you for sharing this personal piece of your heart, it is a gift to read. I love how you write about the ups and downs of a deep relationship with such love and peace in the knowing that your connection will always carry you forward. Marvelous work, my dear friend…can’t wait to see what flows through you next 🤍🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sorry it has taken me so long to catch dear Grace..I have been in party mode for a few days:) Oh your comment touches me so deeply because it tells me you really felt it and yes the platonic romance is a real theme in my life and Toni was my first:) Thank you for encouraging me to let my muse lead and I too, as you know, never have any idea where that might be next. Toni was very touched by the way. She gave me the OK to post it and use her pictures..The riding horses at midnight over the Hollywood sign was such a monumental memory for both of us..as in all memories that are that big, we took a chance and it turned out fantastic..(perhaps a bit illegal hehe) but we got away with it:) Much love and will visit your site soon and finish my comment🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
I will tell you, your saying “platonic romance” is catching on in my house 🤣. It flew out of my mouth the other day while cooking with my family, and it became a hit. I relayed how a wise friend of mine came up with those GENIUS words 😊. Your stories and pieces move people beyond just this screen Karima, thank you for that :). Love your story with Toni here, and I love where your muse is leading you…you’re on such a beautiful adventure 🤍🤗
LikeLiked by 1 person
“your saying “platonic romance” is catching on in my house 🤣. It flew out of my mouth the other day while cooking with my family, and it became a hit. ” Haha you have made my week Grace…I love that:) Thank you for loving Toni’s story…she is probably monitoring these comments hehe and she will love reading that too.. I just wanted to honor her and us and that unique time that has gone.. You will someday honor your times now gone…that’s what a poet does as she grows older, a bit wiser:):) Big Hugss
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful people… at a beautiful time… a poem that speaks free of the cloudy hazy of ‘enhancing’ smoke, or the in, and out waves of the ‘needle’ train that the old suits who were born old thought everyone was using… a time when love was a flower… and the word freely used… a time when ‘pigs’ carried death on their hips, and moved so many of the innocent aside as if they were but corn with bone breaking sticks, or the tip of a boot… it was an ugly time… yet still… a beautiful time… and with reflection, the corner of our World would be worse today… if not for conscious words in song… and Beautiful People…!
🇯🇲🏖️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow what a profound comment..Some things you describe remind me of the mid 60’s on Sunset trip. There was much hostility, police harassment and punishment for opposing the War in Vietnam… I was in all of that too, but by the time I got into the Canyon, it was a respite for a few years and as I said a certain naive innocence prevailed. In any case, these times will be studied and analyzed, but for me they will be memorialized as some of the best moments of my youth….and Toni epitomizes the type of deep friendships we made then..that have lasted a lifetime. Thank you for this thoughtful, poetic comment.
LikeLike
What an adventure! What a friendship! The pictures, the music and vocals, the words. As always, you set such a fantastic mood with everything you do! You can transport us anywhere with your art! I love that!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ben and your words about transporting you anywhere ….wow it’s what I try to do in these cameos of unique and very loved people in my life. Thank you so much for feeling and appreciating my style of story telling…and letting me know, Ben:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You have a gift. Glad you’re using it, and sharing it with everyone!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you
LikeLike
Dear Karima. Thank you for sharing your verbal poetry. I loved every word.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ohh John, you are such a wonderful poetic friend and “encourager” of what I do:) Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome dear Karima.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on johncoyote and commented:
Please enjoy the amazing verbal poetry by a amazing writer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you once again John, I am honored and thrilled you saw fit to reblog this one…It means much to me my friend!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I loved how you defined romance dear Karima. I agree. Romance wasn’t the sex. Was the adventure of two seeing everything beautiful. They can. You are welcome.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh yes romance is a many sided thing..and not always sexual..and love is Love anyway you want to express it:) I have lived this a few times now….so I know:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I don’t remember the sex. I do remember the long walks holding hands and stealing kisses dear Karima.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your memory works a lot like mine John…:)
LikeLike
Its midnight from my side of the world as i listen to you reading this beautiful piece. I love how soothing your voice sounds and your choice of the background musis is just perfect.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Michelle for listening (at midnight is a wonderful time:) and for feeling my voice as it weaves around Neil Young’s:) This was a song we sang on the trail at the midnight hour. Griffith Park was closed, but we “stole” our own horses from Sunset Stables and made this unfading memory. Thank you so much for enjoying and commenting:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, you’re right midnight is just the perfect time…your soothing reading just lull me to sleep❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that it did🙏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful words and a wonderful tribute. I loved all the photos, too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you so much Lauren and welcome to my blog:) I am so glad you enjoyed Toni’s story way back in the 1970’s. I am lucky to still have a few photos..The tropics eat photos..but these survived:) I will visit you soon:)
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Karima. I found you from John’s blog and look forward to reading more of your work. 💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, John has been a very supportive poetic friend to me..I have met new people through him…like you:):) Look forward to your next visit!
LikeLiked by 1 person