"I drove a cab in New York for three decades. Riding around, I would meet poets, drag queens and other people who were inspiring. It made me feel good. I started taking their portraits, sometimes with me in the picture. I had several cameras and would often have my strobe hooked on to my visor with a rubber band. This particular evening, in 1990,"
"But he had too much going on. I went out, got in my cab and started driving off, but then I thought: Hey, I think I'll cruise back. People were coming out of the building and I spotted Allen. I guess he recognised me. I was a pain in the ass to him, probably. Anyway he came over and got into my cab a great, real, joyful moment."
"I stopped at the Bowery to let him out and he was looking at the meter where I have this tape coming out of it, for receipts. He said: Hand me that tape. So I tore it off and handed it to him. He's looking down. I don't know what he's doing, but I'm not gonna rush him. A little more time with Allen. Turns out he was writing this poem about me, which I still have."
I drove a New York cab for three decades and met poets, drag queens and other inspiring people. I took their portraits, sometimes including myself, using several cameras and a strobe attached to my visor with a rubber band. In 1990 I went to a crowded book event and spotted Allen Ginsberg. He was busy when I asked him to introduce my book In My Taxi, so I left and then returned; he climbed into my cab and we shared a joyful, unhurried moment. At the Bowery he tore the meter tape and wrote a poem about me that I still have. I studied in Southern California and at Berkeley, made lithographs and photographs, and moved to New York in 1980 despite high rent.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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