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David Budbill

    David Budbill possessed a profound gift for the written word, storytelling, and striking to the heart of matters with astonishing clarity and simplicity. His work, deeply inspired by his life in rural Vermont, frequently explored themes of race and class, reflecting his keen attunement to the world's suffering and passion for social justice. Budbill's distinctive voice, characterized by unadorned elegance, resonated with audiences in diverse venues, from schools and prisons to avant-garde performance spaces. With a deep love for life, humanity, and the natural world, he left a legacy celebrating simple pleasures and profound human connection.

    Park Songs
    Broken Wing
    • Broken Wing

      • 168 pages
      • 6 hours of reading
      4.3(28)Add rating

      "Set in the remote mountains to the north, Broken Wing is an allegorical tale about a blackbird with a broken wing who can't fly and therefore is trapped in the inhospitable north for the winter, and an African-American man, known only as The Man Who Lives Alone in the Mountains, who lives a solitary life of nurturing attentiveness, simple kindness, and passionate emotional intensity. This is the story of how these two different lives come together, and about what it is like to be a minority in a strange place. Exploring the themes of loneliness, survival, tenacity, and will, David Budbill examines the natural world around us, the wonders of birds' lives, and one man's deep connection to our flying friends. Broken Wing becomes a song of praise for the cycle of the seasons and a meditation on the reality of dreams and the dreamlike quality of reality. Told with simple, dignified prose, it takes on the timeless, mythic aura of a folktale" --

      Broken Wing
    • Park Songs

      A poem/play

      • 114 pages
      • 4 hours of reading

      Set in a struggling Midwestern park, the narrative weaves together the lives of diverse characters, including a caretaker, street preachers, and teenagers, who find refuge in this green space. Through poetic monologues and conversations, the community shares their stories, enriched by blues songs. The voices of the homeless serve as a powerful chorus, creating an epic tapestry of comedy and tragedy that reflects the human experience amidst urban challenges.

      Park Songs