A Traveler Eternal
In the small pub named "School" in
Shinjyuku
A cozy haunt for the poor but passionate artists like poets,
painters, actors, musicians, etc.
I enjoyed drinking there often up until about 10 years ago
Occasionally I met a guy called Jack there
He was a rather small Jewish fellow with curly black hair
About the age just around mine, maybe slightly older
He used to amuse himself with the cross-word from an English
newspaper whilst drinking alone
When sometimes he talked with me, he answered in odd
humorous jokes
When he got drunken and exited
He took various sized harmonicas from his pockets and played
His play was definitely at a professional level
He played mainly jazz, but also folk, rock or even classics
with ease depending his frame of mind
<Still vividly I
remember I was deeply impressed by the blues he
played around midnight just before the pub closed>
About the time I became to
seldom visit there
Due to changing my work
I heard that he was playing with a Dixieland jazz band on
stage in
A pizza pie restaurant and that their performance was
recorded and released
Shortly after that, I heard from his close friend that he
had passed away
But, I did not ask too many details as to how his funeral
had been done or where he had been buried, etc.
However,
My memory now recalls that
He was definitely the type of persons
Who live their lives freely with no regret
<He disappeared
With a calm but ever lasting deep impression on me>