Interview with Poet Jean Buschmann

1) What is the theme of your poem?

The title is a double-entendre. The real GIANT moment refers to the unforseen and unbelievably fortuitious kind gesture of a stranger. The experience stayed with me for all these years because the man was not a scalper, he just wound up with two extra tickets when friends had to cancel. So what were the chances that I’d oddly declare we’d get tickets once we turned the corner – and have it actually happen! Of course, what I didn’t mention in the poetic narraitive was that he didn’t try to pad the price. He simply charged me face value.

2) What motivated you to write this poem?

I love a creative challenge. So when it arrived in my email inbox, I couldn’t resist! – Especially since the stated goal was to share a positive and uplifting experience during these challenging quarantined times.

3) How long have you been writing poetry?

Since I was a child. But not often, and mostly for assignments. The best of which was for an essay exam on Shakespeare’s MACBETH. The English Lit. professor offered the class the option of trying to write a poem instead. I dove right in! Later she confessed that she didn’t think anyone would dare risk their grade on a time-pressued longshot. – That was the proudest “A+” I ever received.

4) If you could have dinner with one person (dead or alive), who would that be?

A certain carpenter from Nazerth. I’m hoping it can be arranged.

5) What influenced you to submit to have your poetry performed by a professional actor?

It’s always fun to share work with fellow creatives.

6) Do you write other works? scripts? Short Stories? Etc..?

Yes. I do freelance marcom and copywriting for a living. (As well as video production and editing). I’m also an award-winning screenwriter hoping to have my most recent feature produced. It’s called LOVE THY NEIGHBOR and it’s both timely and socially-relevant.

7) What is your passion in life?

Making a difference in some tangible way. Creatively, I’d love to tell riveting and socially-relevant stories that pack a powerful punch. That would be a dream come true, for sure!

Watch the Poetry Reading:

Performed by Allison Kampf

POEM:

BORED in San Jose, our home in the South Bay, we ventured to The City that day.
– It wasn’t ordinary, no way!
Sunny and bright, not a cloud in sight.
– For the foggy City By The Bay, that’s rare for May, let alone April Fools’ Day!
But it was no joke, so we were seriously stoked at the thought of some fun in the sun.
The grand opening of PacBell Park was our mark – an exhibition game between the
Yankees and Giants. Otherwise known as “The Spankees,” to their defiants.
As a native New Yorker raised in Queens, it was The Mets for whom I placed all bets.
But as if to put our love to the test, my Nor-Cal man loved The Bronx Bombers best.
– And no, that’s not jest.
So that was the original aim of our quest, but before long we’d learn it might not be best.
– Since such seemed the goal of all the rest.
And so, with slightly deflated hearts, we parked by The Palace of Fine Arts.
– Far far away from where we’d hoped to spend that day.
We then began to stroll around, stopping at every fascinating sight we found.
– Talking and laughing along the way, we could hardly believe we’d walked to the Bay!
Not ’til we saw my blistered feet, were we finally ready to take a seat.
That’s when we noticed something funny – all the ATMs were out of money!
“Uh-oh” we said to one another, ‘cuz neither of us had stashed cash for the other.
Hungry, with nearly no money at all, there was not even a cab for us to call.
That’s when something inside me said, “It’s time to get up and keep moving ahead!”
To that, my hubby scratched his head, not at all sure how I’d endure.
But despite my feet, I wasn’t ready to admit defeat.
As we neared the revered new stadium, out of my mouth came a strange shout…
“When we turn the corner, we’ll get tickets to the game!” – To which my man jokingly retorted,
“Are you insane?”
Then to his shock, I locked eyes on a smiling stranger, who waved me over to his Range Rover.
“I’ve got two tickets, if you need ’em.” He said. “That’d be great…if you can wait.” And so, I explained
our twisted fate.
The stranger stepped right up to the plate. Without so much as a pause, as if completely compelled
by our cause.
When he jotted down his address, I knew that we’d been truly blessed. Then I noticed his wife was
stressed.
So I smiled reassuringly, as if to say – “The check will soon be on the way.”
…And that’s the true story of that April 1st day!

A poetic memory by