exceptional to be around
his mind and spirit oscillating
      this completely cosmic persons
          conversations fascinating

          pseudo faux felliniesque
tongue-in-cheekster i befriended
     artist of impressive stature
          crazy johnnie gumbo

brother louie down in d.u.m.b.o.¹
     quietly explaining how
          unshakably outspoken
     fauxbrow fan of frank n furter²

          rippling hippy mumbo jumbo
     (crazy johnnie gumbo)
morphed into some off-beat
     design dude in colorado

wandering port jeff at night
     approximating frank lloyd wright
          a' sculpturing this kool aid jing
               feverishly architecting

          hoisting freak flag high above
     a twinkly crested iwo jima
long before nick zedd and lungleg
     came to burst upon the scene-ah³

          this sweet heathbar crunch james dean
     a trumpet blast of day-glo green
intimating quality
     a store front he built up with care

up main street p.j.l.i.
     surprising goodness
          happened there

mounds of turkish apricots
     adriatic figs dates apple rings & raisins
          piled high on pine wood shelves
               jars of honey jam preserves

          almonds cashews walnuts
     all sold by the pound
past the barley baskets
      beans & sacks of flour

          in the dim lit back room
     vibrant atmospheric music
          mozart and vivaldi
               john the faccia in the front

          chatting with me fitfully
     at closing time i came to know
this outrageous architect
     community-concerned & caring
          crazy johnnie gumbo

lilliputians pacing teensy floors
     their furtive cheeks aglow
          fashioning this cartoon toast
               a fancy-free memoriam to
                    crazy johnnie gumbo