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3月31日

The Dog Ate My Homework

Today at 9:13am
A glass of Chianti and I decided it best
that I put away this poem for a while
sealing the deal
with a sip
and a toast to the future.
 
We've been writing it
for more than ten years
stringing words together
like shells on a third-grader's
art project.
 
"Make a necklace, child,
use color, pattern,
imagination,
good taste and your artist's eyes.
If you have time and shells enough
make me a matching bracelet."
 
We decided at 9:13 on a Friday morning
it wasn't for lack of shells or words or wine
that my assignment is incomplete.
I seem to have misplaced
that roll of strong, smooth cord
custom made
of ideal substance, thickness
with just the right feel
to string shells together into bracelets for you
or words together into that poem.
 
 
 
cas (March, 2006)
 
 
 
 
 
3月15日

To the One We Least Expected

Lyrics to "Cactus" by Ferron from the album Driver
 
 
"...It's safe to say I took the long and winding path
and were it not for love and friendship
who knows how long I would have lasted?
You're young one day
but youth is rude
and while you watch it walks right past
hey, then
you will get your chance to think like me...
 
 
...Because it'll probably the one you least expect to
who will wager through your storm with you
who will give your fears respect
who will melt your burden down,
though you probably don't want that yet
still,
the odds fall sweet in favor
to an open heart...
 
Seems to me the tools for being human are wicked crude.
They're not so slick and smooth and shiny
as some stranger might allude.
And while your longest night might test you
you don't be scared of solitude
and remember
what is shared is also true..." 
 
 
 
3月13日

Joni Mitchell Again

I know this is long and boring but I lived during this time.  As grade school and Jr. High kids we weren't allowed to even brush up against each other during dance class.  Yes, we learned how to waltz and how to square dance in school, and we had classes called "debate" and "rhetoric" and we took Latin.   This song makes me smile...  The rulers (mentioned in the first stanza) were real, often 36 inches long, and for any of you who happened to go to Catholic school were also used in the classroom on your knuckles when you weren't paying attention.  Catholics and Zen Buddhists believe in physical punishment.  I love this era and Joni Mitchell but wouldn't wish rulers on anybody.  To me, this song represents the decade of the 60's, the best of of it.
 
Come in From the Cold.  That's the song title.  Nobody from South Carolina can appreciate the significance of that.  Canadians like Joni and Upstate NY'ers such as myself do.   Here you go:
 
 
________________________________________
 
COME IN FROM THE COLD Lyrics

 

 



Back in 1957
We had to dance a foot apart
And they hawk-eyed us from the sidelines
Holding their rulers without a heart

And so with just a touch of our fingers
I could make our circuitry explode
All we ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in
Come in from the cold
(we were so young)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

We really thought we had a purpose
We were so anxious to achieve
We had hope
The world held promise
For a slave to liberty

Freely I slaved away for something better
And I was bought and sold
And all I ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in
Come in from the cold
(we were so sure)
Please come in
Come in from the cold

I feel your leg under the table
Leaning into mine
I feel renewed
I feel disabled
By these bonfires in my spine

I don't know who the arsonist was
Which incendiary soul
But all I ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in, come in
Come in from the cold
(you were so warm)
Please come in
Come in from the cold

I am not some stone commission
Like a statue in a park
I am flesh and blood and vision
I am howling in the dark
Long blue shadows of the jackals
Are falling on a pay phone by the road
Oh, all they ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in, come in come in
Come in from the cold
(I was so low)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

Is this just vulgar electricity
Is this the edifying fire?
(it was so pure)
Does your smile's covert complicity
Debase as it admires?
(just a flu with a temperature)
Are you just checking out your mojo
(oohoo)
Or am I just fighting off growing old?
(just a high fever)
All I ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in, come in, come in
Come in from the cold
(it was so pure)
Please come in
Come in from the cold

I know we never will be perfect
Never entirely clear
(when the moon shines)
We get hurt and we just panic
And we strike out
Out of fear
(you were only being kind)

I fear the sentence of this solitude
200 years on hold
(for my loving crime)
Oh and all we ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in
Come in from the cold
(when the moon shines)
Oh come in
Come in from the cold

When I thought life had some meaning
Then I thought I had some choice
(I was running blind)
And I made some value judgments
In a self-important voice
(I was outa line)
But then absurdity came over me
And I longed to lose control
(into no mind)
Oh all I ever wanted
Was just to come in from the cold

Come in, come in, come in
Come in from the cold
(you were so kind)
Please come in
(so kind)
Come in from the cold
Come in, come in,
Come in from the cold  (etc.)
  
3月11日

For Your Car

The ultimate album for driving home at night in the summer with the windows down.  Night Ride home is the name of the album and the song below.  You also should check out cut #6, Come In From the Cold.  Absolutely outstanding. 
 
 
 
NIGHT RIDE HOME Lyrics
words and music by Joni Mitchell

Once in a while
In a big blue moon
There comes a night like this
Like some surrealist
Invented this 4th of July
Night ride home

Hula girls
And caterpillar tractors in the sand
The ukulele man
The fireworks
This 4th of July
Night ride home

I love the man beside me
We love the open road
No phones till Friday
Far from the overkill
Far from the overload

Back at the bar
The band tears down
But out here in the headlight beams
The silver powerlines
Gleam
On this 4th of July
Night ride home

Round the curve
And a big dark horse
Red taillights on his hide
Is keeping right alongside
Rev for stride
4th of July
Night ride home

I love the man beside me
We love the open road
No phones till Friday
Far from the undertow
Far from the overload

Once in awhile
In a big blue moon
There comes a night like this
Like some surrealist
Invented this 4th of July
Night ride home