An Interview

Meet Gary Orphey— Songwriter, Poet, Writer, Texan, and Creative Rascal.

Let me take your hand, and let us discover a spirit out there amongst the crowds and busy highways

©Joanie Adams — Joanie Adams; Gift A Tea: https://ko-fi.com/joanieadamms

Today, I would like to introduce everyone to a dabbler of words, a jockey for the rolling of RockNRoll, and the flaring heart of a Texan well!: Gary Orphey or Jocko James, as he is fondly known on here.

In this interview between us —

We shall be introduced to this mere stranger, who is now becoming known to you by the medium most befitting of him — that is of words; no awkward first appearances or reluctant shows, he is hereby shown in the best of will; no wonder he is a faithful Lover of Words, Song, and Spirit.

See him for what he is worth —there, you cannot go ill. I shall be your guide and interviewer, as I know this particular Texan for an adequate amount of time now, so without further Ado as the decrying bard would usher unto us — let it begin.

“My first thought would arrive at: What dragged you into the world of words? Of music and the such. What captured you as a child?” — J

“I fell in love with the written word at the age of thirteen, when I discovered the Modern playwrights of the time. Tennessee Williams, Arthur Miller, Edward Albee, Eugene O’Neil, etc; ‘Nature also, running wild in the forest, beach combing, etc. Lived in a vacuum other than that. That freedom saved my sanity; They became my escape from a life for which I never asked.” — G

“The fair transport! But what then? What gripped you, or what could’ve been?; What would your name be by the numerous IFs of life?” — J

“In 1957, I devoured ‘On the Road’ by Kerouac until the pages of the paperback fell out. In my mind, it was a call to break the rigid restraints of society just as rock ‘n roll was doing all across America; If I had discovered writing as a young man — being anti-authority and askew of center — I would have been a beat poet. That is why Kerouac’s ‘On the Road’ sang to me.” — G

“How did writing continue to serve in your life afterward, after the misadventures of youth I know you served, for that is a sudden change it would seem; which service were you in?” — J

“I served in the United States Air Force, enlisting when I was seventeen. Needing an outlet for an overactive mind and dream state; When I was discharged, I became a multi-disciplined illustrator, designer, fine artist, traditional and abstract, for over fifty years. I am a latent poet/writer for sure.’

‘Read like a madman though, every major philosopher, plus Gibran, Rumi, plus biographies of artists. Noa-Noa by Gauguin, all the letters of Van Gogh, multiple times. Expert on Jackson Pollock, Everything Jung wrote, Julian James, Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Kafka, Lord Byron, Shakespeare, and on and on, great female writers included.” — G

Then came the beat poets, including America’s first beat poet, Walt Whitman, and who could forget the maverick Ezra Pound? Not me, that’s for sure. Dylan Thomas, Samuel Beckett, Kahlil Gibran, and others, more than I can name are included, as is every major and minor novelist I could lay my hands on.

“Who would you say is your current obsession?” — J

“Currently fascinated with Derrida.’ ‘That aside, also Eastern Philosophy, Lao Tzu, Nisargadatta, wise men, and ancient poets of the world. Especially Welsh poets and writers, no matter when they wrote.” — G

“So, who or what revived this writing and creative boom in you? — Why do you write?” — J

“Why do Write — Because the most intelligent, well-bred European woman I knew opened my eyes to so many things. I considered her a mentor and trusted her implicitly; after reading my first poem, she said: “Oh Gary, you must write more!” ‘So I do. She is gone from my life now, but as fate would have it, I have another poet/mentor from across the pond assisting me in this journey, for which I am most thankful. Sometimes things just work out.” — G

“I’m curious now to know what all your monikers mean in your actual life — Where did you work at and as?” — J

“Got into the arts in the mid-sixties. Mostly self-taught. I had my own Architectural Rendering business for twenty-plus years. Expanded into fine art with abstract art, hung in some of the finest galleries in Dallas, and then into commercial design for bread and butter. I love the act and the process of creating. Makes this journey worthwhile.” — G

“Brilliant! So to bring our wee interview to a nice close, how about your State, I notice Texas comes up much; have you always been a Texan?” — J

“Undeniably a Texan since 1960… did my basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas. I promised myself I would come back to live there. Met a Texas gal…and boom, back to Texas after my service.” — G

“Alright, homecoming ends it well, but as the Attentive Gods have already allowed us this time: What would you like to say to the folks new to you?”

“To the new folks? Every day — every moment is new; Just live it, folks!!” — G

“And with that simple, heartfelt message, we shall conclude our talk here!” — J

And so concludes our interview with Gary Orphey, an Orphan of the RockNRoll scene from way back when, but alas, he has formed pleasingly into this Texan Dog poet, which I hear is being uttered.

May you gather your impressions well, and please, follow up on Curiosity’s itch, which seeks to know more and more — he would be most pleased.

Gary has been a dear patreon of my words, being one of the first true endorsers of my zeal upon this platform, so it is about time I returned the favor!

I do hope in the upcoming days he shall write more and more and gain confidence on this Medium platform — in all its beguiling and wonderous qualities to One and All — with a community rich in firmness and earnestness to his words, memories, and ideas, there is a lot here to uncover, especially what he may miss in his words to be revealed by another…

So that is my little message to you, Gary expressed with richness in my hope and the days revealing themselves to you; I hope you shall all stick around to this guy — watch this man.

With the day arriving that his song shall be sung. Ta-ta & Farewell, As ever, dear Reader.

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More from Gary Orphey:

HIS LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-orphey-60442919/

STAR TOSSED — A POEM:

WHITE BONE DEEP — A POEM:

COME ALONG WITH THE DOCTOR’S NEWSLETTER

DO SHARE ADORATION FOR THE GLORIOUS ILLUMINATION-CURATED:

WITHOUT ATTENTION — THE TREADMILL OF CONTEMPORARY WRITING:

The CURATION — THE FINE RABBLE’S PUBLICATION:

HUSHED DAYS — YOU WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT THE WRITER AND THE WEEKENDS:

As ever — we go, Dear Reader.