The Ark Coffee House
Ted and I started playing at the Ark on Wednesday nights. It was an open-mic night, and all the local musicians hung out there. Professional touring acts played there on the weekends. It was there that I met those who would be my closest friends and confidants while I lived there… for the most part.
While playing there, I met other performers who liked what we were doing. Russ P. was an excellent guitarist who eventually joined our band. By that time, it consisted of Ted, Guy, and me. I met a classical guitarist, Boris B., who liked our music and had a room for rent in his house on Church St, and he offered it to me. His dad owned the house. The room had been recently vacated by a student who had dropped out of school and had gone back home. The roommates were all students at U of M, except me. We all had to take turns making the main meal of the day, except on weekends. We were on our own then. There were five of us, so we each had one night a week to make dinner. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
During my time in Ann Arbor, I got more into the hallucinogens scene with LSD (Acid), Mescaline, and Psilocybin… along with pot and hashish. One night, as I was walking home after partying with some musicians and other U of M students, I witnessed the following:
The Black Knight
It was a crisp, early fall, late evening; and the very air
seemed alive, crackling with energy, shimmering in the
street-lights’ dim glow, where the colors of trees, bushes,
and parked cars were rich and deep on the deserted
street, with golden highlights on everything… I was
witnessing Shiva’s Dance.
Then it rumbled in the distance, like thunder, then
lightning… louder now, I could see the glow of it’s fiery
breath in the trees… As I turned toward the growing roar,
it rose from the road like a rearing warhorse, clad in black
and chrome armor, closing the distance between us in a
couple of heartbeats, and lighting the underside of
overhanging trees as it raged.
It was barely twenty yards away when I saw them,
mounted on its back, the ‘Black Knight’ in black leather,
with a red bandanna tied around his forehead, reigning in
his wild, windblown hair, as he held that mighty beast
almost vertical. And arms around his waist, clinging tightly
was Elspeth, or Rapunzel, her long golden braid trailing
out over her shawl of white lace.
As they passed, they both smiled, and that smile seemed
to glow, moon-like in the dark. I quickly turned to watch
as they flew by, wondering when the Black Knight would
finally let that steed drop back to the pavement… But all I
could see was the fire of its rage and the lightning in the
trees, until the fire and the roar finally disappeared in the
distant night.
It was a crisp, early fall, late evening; and the very air
seemed alive, crackling with energy…
–LE
CynOp 
12 responses to “Ann Arbor Part 3 – The Ark”
I have read poetry twice at the Ark in the eighties. A wonderful place.
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It was a great place to play or read. There were readings when I was there as well. But I hadn’t discovered my inner writer at that time…; -). Thanks for reading and commenting, John!
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Ann Arbor is different now. Need a map to find your way and you are welcome Liam.
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In my younger days, I drank plenty of booze, but never did drugs. Maybe, I missed something…lol.
Cool painting, Liam. It would look good on a coffeehouse wall—or mine. 😊
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In my youth, I did drink a bit too, but not as exessively as most of my musician friends did. I was a practicianer of yoga and meditation from my mid teens on. I only started drugs when some of my friends convinced me that they would enhance my meditation… and they did… made me feel more at one with the universe…; -)
I gave that painting to my oldest daughter about 4 years ago. She thought it would look good on her wall, too…; -)
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I tried yoga once and herniated a disk in my lower back. That was it for me. 😬
I bet your daughter treasures your painting. I have my dad’s harmonica that he played when I was a kid. He to sang as well. I still remember him playing that harmonica, singing, and laughing…
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I’m sorry about your yoga experience. The form I studied never harmed my body in any way, just gentle stretches, holding positions, moving slowly through them, lots of meditation. and of course, the philosophy preached veganism… which I followed off and on throughout my life. The arts that were really hard on my body were Judo, Ju Jitsu, and Aikido. Anyone watching us work out must have thought we were masochists… and perhaps we were…; -)
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It was a gentle stretch that got me. lol I’ve tried meditation but can’t still my mind, which also interferes with falling asleep. I distract myself by listening to a book when I retire for the night, and that helps.
You sound like a man who would be handy to have around in a dark alley, masochist or not. 😁
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Ha ha…; -) True… BUT… my training and instincts would keep me from being in any dark alleys unnecessarily. Plus, I’ve learned to listen to my gut before going into and ‘uncertain’ places…; -)
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Wise man…🙂
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You know, harmoica is a fairly easy instrument to learn. It’s all just breathing in and out. Yes, it takes a little practice, but if my brother could learn it, and he did and got quite good at it, I’m sure anyone can… Your playing it might even be a fitting tribute to your dad…; -)
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I think I’d rather just have the memory of my dad playing it. I take it out of my “special box” from time to time, hold it, and the wonderful memories come rushing back.
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