Gary Lee Joyner: Heard and Not Seen

Heard and Not Seen

What kind of guitar do I like?

Do you mean a certain brand or style?

Or one particular fetish object?

Listen

A guitar needs to stay out of my way

A guitar must not get in my way

Transparent

As soon as I notice it I don’t like it

I like to make love in the dark

The touch that isn’t there

The touch that’s so elemental

It may not even be there

Listen

Here’s the truth

Here’s the deal

This is how it is

It may not have the romance you’re looking for

But listen

Listen

I’ve been married to guitars for 48 years

No divorce in sight

Three things become clear over that length of time

1. You now look like each other. (Check out Segovia at 90)

2. It’s hard to be in the same room together for any length of time (ignoring each other helps)

3. You accept that you are stuck with each other for the duration

OK, four things

4. Don’t you touch her without asking
I’m standing right here for god sakes

Listen again

As we both know

If she ever did leave

I would sit every night at an open window

With a cold-burning candle

Ready to guide her back home

Complicated, isn't it?

Gary Lee Joyner