[Leica] Ode to Black Tape

[Martin Howard <howard.390@osu.edu>]

'Twas four o'clock, early morn',
 and I was wide awake,
From gentle slumber I'd been torn,
 my sleep I would forsake.

My mind was mad, running wild,
 tearing at its seams,
A single question had it riled,
 depriving me of dreams.

Its gnawing, gnarling, gnashing self,
 inside my brain did scrape,
"Should my M6, on the shelf,
 be covered in black tape?.

So small and neat, with chrome so clean,
 it sparkled in the light,
Yet maybe such a pristine sheen,
 was too prominent a sight.

Like HCB and Depardon,
 this camera of mine,
Would capture Life, as it went on,
 around me all the time.

Unobserved, yet seeing all,
 I'd stalk the streets at night,
With my pictures I'd show all,
 my photographic might.

Yet gleaming chrome, stealth does defy,
 despite my best intention,
thus may require me to try,
 some shrewd circumvention.

But residue, black tape doth leave,
 when once it is removed,
And thus my plight this starry eve,
 remained, alas, unmoved.

For hours more, I tossed and turned,
 no answer could I find,
for sleep and rest I dearly yearned,
 and for peace of mind.

And presently, the day did break,
 and with it my resolve,
to end all future nights awake,
 and so a plan evolved.

I packed my camera, lens and all,
 and sold it to Kowloon,
A newbie shooter, guy named Paul,
 it couldn't ship too soon.

Then late one night, Paul called my home,
 he sounded in poor shape,
"Should the camera parts in chrome,
 be covered in black tape?"


M.

- -- 
Martin Howard                | "And many photographers will also appreciate
Visiting Scholar, CSEL, OSU  | the separate control rings for focus and
email: howard.390@osu.edu    | aperture."    -- Leica lens ad copy.
www: http://mvhoward.i.am/   +--------------------------------------------