joe

i wish this picture was a little bit sharper, but i'm glad to have it, regardless. its a picture of joe strummer, needless to say, quite young. he was always a raging bohemian, from what i can glean from his published history. i have no idea how old he was, exactly. but that face remains familiar and graceful. i'm not sure if he was still being called 'john mellor' at that point. i know he tried to go by 'woody,' for a while, after woody guthrie. i think this may have been right around that time. it looks like he's in a graveyard, but i can't be sure. i would've loved to just sit out there, smoke some cigarettes, and listen to him talk. i've read he was always tender towards his girlfriends, but admittedly, a bit distant. i keep having dreams that i'm kissing him. (i know, that sounds crazy... like i believe his ghost is visiting me in my sleep or something, to reward me for my devotion.) so dig the rare picture, and, as usual, wherever you are tonight, sweet joe... i ardently kiss you good-night.