Uncertainty Finds Obscurity

by 

Jerry Dale McDonnell©2014

                                                      Published in MungBeing#56--2014

Scene 1

While he was surveying at his meager library (14 narrow shelves in three freestanding units and 3 hung with adjustable brackets) he finds a slim one-page quarter folded pamphlet opening at a measurement of 11 x 17 inches (roughly) titled “Obscurity,” by Don Skiles, published by Cross+Roads Press, Ellison Bay, Wisconsin. Yes, he remembers it. A gift. Opens it to its full size and begins reading.

Now consider just three evenings past while he was awaiting to read a piece of his own at the launching of a literary journal he was sitting next to a woman whose photo was the cover of the new edition of Cirque (not or herself, but an abstract image) made mention of a poet of which he did not have knowledge. Published poetry.

“His (he forgot the infamous or famous poet’s name immediately) poetry has been published by Norton,” she said. “Not small presses.”

Now consider further that this statement did not desert him over the next few days. Then we must posit, as we are sure he also did ask himself, why is this judgment posed by this lady cameraperson about writers at a presentation of a handful of writers among which she herself did not have words published in said publication?

Which takes us back to Mr. Skiles “Obscurity.” which addresses the issue of money earned from writings worked, submitted and published or not published and why does one continue to do art when one is as Mr. Skiles states one, “is always confronting Uncertainty.” Skiles (a writer who has many publishing credits over many years but whose name lives only on the tip of the tongues of a few) goes on to say that the “normal, or average citizen does not, or scrupulously avoids Uncertainty.

Now the man, who was innocently merely arranging his somewhat disarrayed small room (9 ft. 3 in. x 10 ft.) in which he writes, wondered what hand uncovered this “Obscurity” while he was in the midst of also arranging his mind around his next writing project among all his notes, thoughts and daily chores including time to do day shift five days a week for his 2 year old granddaughter, mind his diet, his personal hygiene, housecleaning chores and personal finances, the latter a slim fixed amount often under attack from well situated politicians. An ill regular schedule of by necessity ill regular hours, a flexible schedule shall we say, much effected by a 2 year old girl among other daily duties levied by society.

A hand of providence is too easy a term to attach to this reappearance of “Obscurity,” and too cliché for a writer (a writer published in small presses, newspapers and literary journals) who searches for edges that present options to genres: mysteries, historical fiction, sci-fi, romance, spy novels, etc. that beckon on supermarket checkout stand racks and front row shelves of nation wide corporate book sellers by authors whom have had the monetary success that has gained them name recognition and on occasion a late night talk show host may throw them a few minutes of air time near the end of the show after the comedian who is allowed five minutes, the movie star who can give clever retorts, a skit or two by the personality and perhaps on occasion an animal with handler. Perhaps even a college professor who has found fame with his literary skill.

A hand of providence?

Scene 2

Or perhaps this discovery was a gentle hand on the writer’s shoulder to get back to work and rearrange his small library later.

Or . . . a muse is in the room.

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