David Budbill Boeken

"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" --

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.