Shane Blackman is an Irish-American writer. He received a B.A. in Literature and History from Wabash College, where he was awarded the Walter Fertig Prize for Excellence in Writing. After earning an M.A. in History from Indiana University, he served as Lecturer in World History at Indiana. Shane has been a Visiting Scholar at Oxford University and a Visiting Fellow at Princeton, Yale, and the Marine Corps University. At Oxford, Shane was trained by the Irish poet and Nobel Prize winner, Seamus Heaney. Shane’s poems have appeared in The Galway Review, The Mythic Circle, and the Latin American Literary Review.
Boorstin’s Trilogy
In the spacious Reference Section at
The Library of Congress, I enjoyed
“The Discoverers”, a book about the
Explorers who learn new facts by science.
I journeyed through “The Creators”, reading
About artists inspired to make magical
Concertos, plays, novels, songs, & frescoes,
To cross the terrain of the imagination.
“The Seekers” is a text about philosophers,
Theologians, priests, nuns, monks, & pilgrims
Who walk on life’s footpath in ways sundry.
“Education is learning what you didn’t
Even know you didn’t know,” observed the
Student and professor, Daniel J. Boorstin.
Singing in Ireland’s Rain
In August of 1912, a star was born:
He was raised in the Irish parts of Pittsburgh.
Baseball was this lad’s game and sport of choice.
He dreamed of playing in the Major Leagues.
In October of 1939, the good
Gentleman starred in “The Time of Your Life”,
With Misses Julie Haydon and Celeste Holm.
Broadway opened a route to Tinseltown:
In March of 1952, Gene Kelly
Broke through with Debbie Reynolds in a film
On optimism and all of its benefits.
The closed umbrella & drenched suit told a story.
Gene sang in the rain, because he learned from kin
How rain caused Irish farms & homes to prosper.
Mescalero Snow
I have a cool pal, R. David Edmunds,
A wise Cherokee from Illinois, and
He has a cherished Apache friend from
New Mexico whose hero is John McEuen.
Dave told me that if I wanted to hear
Great lyrics which never get old, I should
Travel to the mountains and let the wind
Whisper across the heart, soul, and mindscape.
Together we climbed a wintry path to see
This Native American, Cochise, who played
The banjo and violin, as if he had
Been trained at Julliard in Manhattan.
“I am a self-taught genius,” he declared.
“I’ve penned a tune called…Mescalero Snow.”
Basketball Lore
When I lived in Indiana’s New Richmond,
There was this one guy who seemed to make all
The shots he launched towards a ten-foot hoop.
He was a lefty named Richard Hickman.
When I saw the movie “Hoosiers”, I could
Relate to watching a Jimmy Chitwood
Align his arm, straight and perfect, with baskets,
Draining shots like Chicago’s Michael Jordan.
In 1954, a guy named Bobby made
A last-second shot to win the championship.
In 1991, it was the man from
North Carolina who conquered the Lakers.
Sometimes, facts and legends work in tandem,
To showcase the real trophies and true folklore.
When Jennifer & I Danced the Two-Step
When I want to recall the yesteryears, I
Browse albums and collections of pictures.
Each time, a thought surfaces or beckons.
That’s how the memory works, here and there.
Once, I asked a lady out for a date,
And felt the joy and comfort, as Jen said,
“I’m happy to go on a date with you.”
“What about dinner and a movie?” I wondered.
“What about a movie and dinner?” she replied.
We went to the cinema first, as Jen
Suggested, then she asked if we might grace
The Montpellier, to slow-dance and wine-taste.
At the restaurant, they started Chris de Burgh’s
“Lady in Red”, where Jennifer & I danced slow.
The Galway Review 