How the Tears and Laughter of Kahlil Gibran introduced me to the Life Story of Lenny Bruce.
Holding an antique book in one´s hands is a unique pleasure, not only can you smell the old parchment paper, and feel the fragility of time as you turn the pages, it embodies a living fragment of history. The allure lies in contemplating who once immersed themselves in its pages, holding it tenderly in their hands. The questions that arise, how did this book shape their lives? Did the author's words evoke change, resonate with their deepest emotions, pain, or joy? Were they inspired or comforted in the same profound manner that we are today?
Antiquarian volumes unlock portals to multiple realms, enveloped in a web of inquiries. Upon opening the front cover and glimpsing the name of a previous reader, one is often left with little more than a mere name. Discovering additional personal messages is a rarity, usually confined to inscriptions on the front cover or initial pages. These books become conduits connecting lifetimes, offering a glimpse into the unseen threads interweaving every human existence on Earth—threads that persist in impacting lives long after our departure, threads of influence extending across fifty, a hundred, or even five hundred years.
This is how Kahlil Gibran´s book Tears and Laughter, introduced me to the enigmatic Leonard Alfred Schneider, where a mysterious story is still unfolding after I visited my favourite second-hand bookstore nestled in the World Heritage city of San Miguel de Allende, a pueblo magico in the heart of Mexico. This city, a haven for writers and artists, became an unlikely destination for a book from Lenny Bruce's private collection in Los Angeles, California. The first thing I noticed was inside the front cover, a book sticker revealed the name of Benita Barrie Portas, a resident of Laredo, Texas. Perhaps, after Lenny's passing, this person may of acquired the book or was gifted this book which may explain how it came to be in a second hand bookstore in Mexico.
The sticker on the inside cover bore a fitting inscription: "This book if borrowed by a friend, Right welcome shall he be, To read, to study...... not to lend, But to return to me, Not that imparted knowledge doth Diminish learning's store, But books I find if often lent, Return to me no more."
Adjacent to this, a handwritten message by another person, a message in blue ink, unveiling a poignant sentiment:
"To Lenny Bruce,
´´He took my Sun;
The Golden Joy of Love,
He beat the rains, and
Swayed the sky above,
He took my heart,
And so may love again,
It will not be too soon,
And no not yet!
Love, Always......... Kayley/Raylepe ´´"
The subsequent lines read;
"Best of Everything to the most wonderful man on Broadway," dated October 14, 1965, San Francisco, hinted at the man in question, having a noticeable stature in Broadway.
Upon sharing this inscription with a companion, I delved into the intriguing history of Lenny Bruce, a radical comedian, screenwriter, prominent on Broadway around 1965. His birth name was Leonard Alfred Schneider, born on October 13, 1925, he must have therefore received this book as a birthday gift when he turned 40, just a year after enduring a stressful court case where luminaries like Bob Dylan and Allen Ginsberg supported his defense of free speech in the realm of the performance arts.
The writer of this hand written message, expressed a profound affection for Lenny Bruce, through poetic verses. He was a figure who stood defiantly for free speech, weathering many legal storms, the last of which clearly wore him down. The mystery persists: who was this eloquent poet or writer in Lenny's life?
Discovering Lenny Bruce's tumultuous life story, marked by arrests for his provocative performances, and his enduring legacy as a free speech advocate resonated deeply. His friendship with George Carlin, his notable trial in 1964, and his recognition on Rolling Stone's list of ranking third Best Stand-Up Comics of all time are even more surprising.
Go to the original Lenny Bruce website
Intriguingly, Lenny Bruce's real-life story now unfolds in a new TV comedy drama "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," highlighting his real life character amidst fictional counterparts.
Reflecting on Lenny's legacy, I find a shared commitment to advocating for free speech over the last three years of my life. Despite over sixty years passing, the struggle persists, encapsulated by my personal experiences as a writer, publishing articles and poems met with censorship, being deplatformed, and the suppression of artistic expression. It's a disconcerting oxymoron that, in this technologically advanced era, we still grapple with challenges reminiscent of Lenny Bruce's time.
In this zeitgeist, we must recall Lenny Bruce's legacy and draw inspiration from the poignant words of his affectionate friend´s poem, providing solace to a persecuted comedian, activist, artist. The fight for freedom of expression persists, echoing the sentiment: ´´it will not be too soon, and no, not yet.´´
"To Lenny Bruce,
´´He took my Sun;
The Golden Joy of Love,
He beat the rains, and
Swayed the sky above,
He took my heart,
And so may love again,
It will not be too soon,
And no not yet!
´´Best of Everything to the most wonderful man on Broadway´´
October 14, 1965
San Francisco.
by
Carlita Shaw
A note to the reader- If you should have any information on the poet that wrote these personal hand written words to Lenny Bruce, please contact me at [email protected]