09 August 2010

Now - Merle Haggard

Part A: Check out this wall of sunflowers I planted using seeds I bought from the Madison Farmer's Market last year.

Part B: Now, Merle Haggard - I first started to seriously think about becoming a fan only after seeing him open for Dylan in Atlanta a few years back. He was awesome. And, you know, a lot of socially conservative people down South love Merle for his outlaw image and songs like "Okie From Muscogee" and "If You Don't Love It." Most of these people do not realize that (a) Merle is from California and (b) that he also authored songs like "Irma Jackson." (see lyrics below)

Irma Jackson

I'd love to shout my feelings from a mountain high
Tell the world I love her and I will till I die
There's no way the world will understand that love is color blind
That's why Irma Jackson can't be mine

I remember when no one cared about us bein' friends
We were only children and it really didn't matter then
But we grew up too quickly in a world that draws a line
Where they say Irma Jackson can't be mine

If my lovin' Irma Jackson is a sin
Then I don't understand this crazy world we're livin' in
There's a muddy wall between us standin' high
But I'll love Irma Jackson till I die

She tells me she's decided that she'll go away
And I guess it's right but she alone should have the final say
But in spite of her decision forcin' us to say goodbye
I'll still love Irma Jackson till I die

If my lovin' Irma Jackson is a sin
Then I don't understand this crazy world we're livin' in
It's a muddy wall between us standin' high
But I'll love Irma Jackson till I die

08 August 2010

Kitchen Poem (for the Lincoln Cafe)

fill my cup, spread my cloth

fry my cakes, stir my broth

churn my butter, shuck my corn

make my skillet nice and warm.

06 August 2010

05 August 2010

A Word About Lake Superior


"This is Lake Superior and it doesn't belong to anybody and it's always been here and it will always be here and nobody can change that."

04 August 2010

Call / Response


//////The Winsome Stems Of Bettie Page / & This Puzzle Of A World / Are Cocked And Counterbalanced Exactly / In My Gadfly, Can't-Take-The-Void Mind / Of Pure Heroics And Evil Schemes Both Hatched / Into Thin Air's Skillet, Burnt Most Ways / -All Redemption's Makeshift, Porgie / Sure, You Bet - Why We Glow, Wilt, Talk Diamonds / And Spend The Night Locking Up Verbs / With A Violence We All Agree On / Not Long Before The Maimed Mother-Animal Comes Slithering Along / And Starts Naming Things For True

02 August 2010

Giant Stone Blocks

Sometimes I climb up here to meditate.

01 August 2010

BLT's In My Future

Today MTV is twenty-nine years old. In other news, this year's tumescent tomatoes have arrived, though still green. In another few weeks - watch out - the BLT-fest is on like music television.