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A Trule Tale
written by Martín Perna
illustrated by Ricardo Cortés
Austin, Texas
Brooklyn, New York
Years ago,
they took from us
the night
and replaced it
with electric light
One hot August day,
on the eastern part of the USA
We lost all electric power,
for a night and a day,
over 24 hours
Thousands of people deep underground
“Everyone out of the train, we’re shutting down!”
With the subway trains stopped,
everyone was walking
Over every bridge people smiling and talking
A man gave away free ice cream to the kids
Otherwise, it would have melted in the fridge
On the park meadow,
old men flew their kites
Drinking in the sunset and the slowly creeping night
People behaved like never before
Finally making friends with the people
next door
Radios blasting music and news
People dancing in the street,
doing the boogaloo
People sat on their stoops with candles of all colors
Whole families – grandparents, babies,
daddies, and mothers
The night sky had its color true
Not brownish orange but black-silver blue
Up in the sky, they saw an amazing sight
Hundreds of stars and their twinkling light
A red dot visible, far in the sky
Planet Mars, in orbit, oh my
Power plants shut down,
and cleaner air to breathe
We enjoy the outdoors,
and forget about TV
A chance to follow the rhythm of the earth
Which we now forget, but once knew at birth
The blackout only lasted a day
But the beauty of darkness never fades away
The End
...or is it?
What else could you do with no power in your home?
Can you draw an idea here with a rhyme of your own?
Dedicated to Jane Perna and ACB
∞
Copyright © by Martín Perna, Ricardo Cortés 2006
This is the digital edition of the original printed book:
ISBN 0-9760117-3-5
Library of Congress Control Number 2006905960
Printed in the United States by Ocote Soul Media
About the writer
Martín Perna lives in and around Austin, TX and
Brooklyn, NY. The 2003 blackout remains one of
the most magical days of his life. Martín makes
music with Antibalas and Ocote Soul Sounds, and
has a few other tricks up his sleeve. Visit him at:
www.ocotesoul.com
Published by the Magic Propaganda Mill
The original BLACKOUT! book was printed on
100% recycled paper with vegetable-based inks,
designed with a computer powered by the wind
and ocean. For more information, or to order
copies of the book . . . visit our website:
www.theblackoutbook .com
About the illustrator
Ricardo Cortés loved the blackout, too. He runs
Magic Propaganda Mill Books, and he lives in
Brooklyn. Visit him at: www.Rmcortes.com