Dubonet

...now browsing by tag

 
 

Intro to Old Black Women

Friday, May 29th, 2009

An Invitation to Celebrate

Two Crows in a Nest
Two Crows in a Nest

So my son Steffen Corby Naas and I (2 crows) are sitting up in my nest tree at Penthous #25, and he’s reviewing my poems.  Not an enjoyer of such yuck mucks by any means, he’s saying, “Dad, you love people so much, you ought to write stories about them.”  Spurt goes the spark that lights my bush -to what was to become 12 years later Changing Colors, a 2 book memoir about this white boy’s romancing a splendid woman of color, who goes by the name of Ms. Mahogany Kashmir Dubonet Moses.

But there’s not room enough in this true romance to include my shorter celebrations of people-the Clarks and the Ledlows, in shotgun shakes long side the easeful Mississippi river-the family I left home to discover.  So what I’m saying is, give this poet a chance for cripes sakes.  Every one says my prose poems, essays, whatever you choose to call them, are not dense, their doors swinging wide open, celebrating the divine blaze in each of us. Click to continue »

An Invitation to Journey

Saturday, May 9th, 2009

Welcome to the blog of Ronald Lee Naas

and his memoir Changing Colors

Ronald Lee Naas

Ronald Lee Naas

Welcome to the changing of my colors, a two book journey I’ve been working on for the past 12 years. This memoir keeps wanting to rewrite itself.  At age 66, I’m realizing it may take me to 112, and still this story may not be done taking its trip (I mean that in the hippie sense).  So my son Steffen Corby Naas suggested I put my magical mystery tour out there, in the form of a blog.  Am hopeful your comments will guide future revisions.

Being a psychologist by degree and nature, I’m obsessed with explaining why a 45 year old white boy named Ron Naas (rhymes with at a loss) is dancing on the dangerous west side of Chicago, already infatuated with his chocolate queen, who hails by the name of Ms. Mahogany Kashmir Dubonet Moses-his Princess Vicksburg from childhood, he hopes.

So I spent a year or so putting flashbacks first, trying to spell out Ron’s motivation, but that act seemed to lessen this memoir’s intensity.  I kept returning to Mr. Midlife Mess Ron hammering Kashmir’s door, trying every device he could think of, before she…. Click to continue »

Chapter 1. Dancing on the Dangerous Side

Thursday, May 7th, 2009

Changing Colors Book 1 The Long and Winding River to Kashmir’s Door

Gratitudes

Honoring my parents, Marjorie Ethel Jones and Samuel Arthur Naas.  Although in these 2 books they may seem like villains, in the end they too changed their colors.

Smiling upon my sister Nancy, who always believed in my talents to weave a true Irish tale.

Remembering the sisters who have rocked my soul, see-ers like Evelyn Green and healers like Berlina Baker at the Stream of life, South Side Chicago.

Loving, always as if for the first time, Ms. Mahogany Kashmir Dubonet Moses.  Without her spark our love story would never have been spelled out.

Thanking my brother Terry Naas, who continues to make my heart tender, and my Aunt Myrtle Waters, who gifted my child with the ocean whispers from her abalone shell.

Stealing another kiss from Princess Vicksburg, and high-fiving Bega-the bookends who represent my personal myth.

Hallelujahing the long-tailed Dragon.  Without her “Out, out, I want you out of MY house,” my kayaking adventures in the boundary waters of romance would never have gotten launched. Click to continue »