Poem For The Editor of The Austin Voice

Brad Cummings

(Work In Progress)

Throughout decades during the month of April and beyond you helped thousands of people to paint a perfect picture with words,

With the West Side and the World as our canvas you showcased poems from every subject from Michael Jackson to the beauty of birds.

I loved each and every illustration that accompanied the poems because I could see that thought and heart went into every detail,

Emphatically I expressed that to you in an email. 

I got a chance to meet you for the first time when you came to the North Austin Public Library to photograph our Poetry Slam,

Man, you always put us front and center with your cam!

Over the years, I saw you at community events 

With camera in hand and I smiled,

The last time that I saw you was last year at the Arthur Lockhart Foundation 4th Annual  Breast Cancer Walk and 

before we walked for miles,

I approached you and gave you a copy of a poem that I wrote and you published in The Austin Voice called 'Never Give Up'.

Then I went onto the stage and read it to the crowd and it flowed freely from my lips without no interrupt.

Brad, I thank you from the bottom of my heart,

As I know so many others do for giving the West side of The

Chi a 

voice, a window to the world...a beautiful start .