SOME OF THE BEST
6 January, 1999
 Click
on the Stanyan logo to subscribe to the McKuen Mailing List 
|
|
Photo by Dan Chapman ©2001 Stanyan
Entertainment Group
A Thought for Today
Labor looks to heaven without a blush.
PERSEVERANCE
Most of us give up too easily
in nearly everything we attempt or hope to do. Designing a bridge takes
talent, building it, muscle and diligence. Each of us has those qualities
in one measure or another.. Why is it we can identify these talents so
easily in others but find it hard to discern them in ourselves? That is
not so much a question as it is a fact. Early in our lives many of us (and
I include myself in that number) never stick to a plan long enough to fail
at it. No one succeeds in everything they try . . . but without failure,
how do we learn to prevent failing the next time.
Whether it’s athletics, a career or avoiding the bully ‘round the corner,
down the street: Make a plan. Stick to the blueprint until you’re sure it
doesn’t work. Rethink, come in sideways if front on doesn’t lead you to
your destination. You will be amazed and strengthened as you discover how
many hidden talents you employed in getting from A to Z.
Perseverance works, I promise you. It built The Pyramids and The China
Wall. Apply it. Surely it can do a little something for you. Energy is
everything, but without it talent hasn’t got a prayer. And, true talent
sans perseverance is a long way from anywhere.
- from a speech on accepting the 1969
Horatio Alger Award. First Published 1/6/99
Details of Rod's next
appearance can be obtained by following the link below.
"Tap
Your Troubles Away" - the music of Jerry Herman
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Martin Balsam o
Laura W. Bush o
Art Carney o
Sean “P. Diddy” Combs o
Walter Cronkite o
Daisy Eagan o
Alexz Johnson o
Anthony Kavana o
Ralph Macchio o
Matthew McConaughey o
Felix Mendelssohn o
Cameron Mitchell o
Louise Nurding o
Markie Post o
Will Rogers o
Arthur Schwartz o
Loretta Swit o
Pauline Trigere o
Yanni o
Gig Young |
|
 |
|
Success never arrives by accident or on time.
Without hardship and bad times how would we
recognize good times and success?
Good work consists of habit. Lose a day and
you risk the loss of the rhythm that drives you.
|
|
FOUR POEMS FROM
"FIELDS OF WONDER" |
|
Vermont
However small this time
let me catch it
in my teeth
holding it as it holds me
tightly and for now.
If the snow
runs faster than we planned
I’ll hold on when you let go
and lead you back again
through that powdered Vermont snow.
A Wind
You could feel the rain
before it came,
the signals were that good.
At first the wind
then follow the leader
leaves and twigs
until the rain in earnest
smashing them to the ground.
Afterward
The dandelion hasn’t yet
been known to make a choice
between the pasture and the lawn
and love’s as blind
to rank and right
as politicians are to pulse beats.
Only desperation
cuts through everything.
Know that I’m a desperate man
when in your arms -
and more so when away.
I wind the watch
when it needs no winding.
I puzzle harder puzzles
than my mind can comprehend.
By these simple acts
I manage for a time
to ward off facing
yet another confrontation
with your absence.
How is it that I’ve come to this
Unable once again to fill up
Even one more day alone.
Ten By Ten
In ten years
of watching you
and never knowing
that I’d share
your Christmas bed,
I’d learned to live
with just the want.
Now with no point of reference
but your arms,
I can’t go back.
- from "Fields of Wonder",
1971 |
|
|
|
