Wednesday Word of the Week

Lugubrious (loo-goo-bree-uhs)
adjective

def - sorrowful; mournful; dismal

"Irish wakes are a rousing departure from the lugubrious funeral services to which most people are accustomed."

Alternative definition
adjective

Full of gloriously gooey lugi's

"Dude i've never seen so much snot come out of one kid! Yeah that is one lugubrious little shit."

The Black Swan

Ladies and Gentlemen prepare yourself for a Black Swan experience. No I’m not talking about that movie where Natalie Portman lezzed out with the girl from that 70’s show. I’m talking about an aspiring artist who hails from South Boston. If you’ve ever ridden the Redline from Quincy Adams to JFK, you may have had a Black Swan experience.

An eclectic group of individuals assemble on the northbound MBTA train everyday around 5:00. Bedraggled workers silently shuffle onboard to begin their commute home while others, donning their team colors, chatter excitedly on their way to Fenway or the Garden. One man, looming tall above the crowd, carries a pair of producer headphones and a backpack full of CD’s. This man is the Black Swan. Unassuming, he mindfully arranges his things, untangling the wires and mentally prepares himself. When ready, he powerfully announces his presence to everyone onboard,

“Ladies and Gentlemen, the Black Swan is on the train!”

I admit, the first time I witnessed the Swan in action I was taken aback, unsure of whether to be intimated or impressed. He exudes confidence and swagger and aggressively peddles his rhymes to captive commuters. Working from one end of the train to the other, the Swan asks passengers to don the headphones and listen to one of his tracks. Most people pretend to ignore him while others politely (or more often impolitely as is the norm in Boston) decline. The few that humor him or are genuinely interested are treated to an overproduced track with heavy bass lines and clean, albeit clever, lyrics (I’ve listened more than once).

“For just $5 you can own the EP and a piece of history” he entices. When the person inevitably declines, he offers this sales pitch;

“Alright, tell you what. I’m gonna spit one of the illest freestyles you’ve ever heard. You like it, you buy the CD. You don’t, no harm done, aight?”

Not waiting for an answer, the Swan launches into an impromptu rhyme session, usually riffing off nearby passengers or cliché Boston landmarks and sayings.

“Sipping on Dunkies crossword puzzle doin, my man rock the playoff beard like a Boston Bruin.”

I’ve seen the Swan in action many times, I’ve even been the subject of his subway flow-etry  (I proudly wore a Bruinesque winter beard). Despite his enthusiasm and undeniable talent, the Swan flies away empty handed most days. I can count the number of CD’s I’ve seen him sell on one hand. I’ve watched him get ignored, shut down, and even laughed at. My gut reaction was pity. This poor guy is humiliating himself for a few bucks. But the more I thought about it, I found myself respecting, even envying the Swan. He has the courage, and belief in himself, to go out every day and pursue his passion. He doesn’t let others judgment cloud his vision or impede his mission. He doesn’t waste his time working a menial job that society deems “appropriate.” Though I’ve never bought one of his CD’s I always give him a few words of encouragement out of respect and admiration. His path, though arduous and long, is most noble because he is answering his soul’s calling. We should all strive to live this way; stepping onto the subway-car of life and boldly giving the world a Black Swan experience.