4th & 5th November, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rod 4/16/04 Photo by Billy Iz

A Thought for Today

America endures, whether we pass the torch or share it.

 

A FLIGHT FROM6THE PAST
8 October 1998

TODAY'S RESOLUTION

A day or so of doing nothing should be required work. But is it worth it to fall farther back while piles of things unattended still need tending to? A question I can’t answer and one that must stump more than just a few of us. I can’t help but think I used to work harder, faster and get more done. Looking back and reflecting on a canon of work, there is some. Sadly quantity doesn’t always equal quality.

Today’s Resolution: Everything can’t get done. Okay, if you say so. So what gets done will have to be done a little better every day. Sounds like a plan.

- R.M. 10/3/98

AND FINALLY

What a day for birthdays. What can you say about P. Diddy, Yanni and Felix Mendelssohn all arriving on this earth on the 4th of November. On the other hand I’ll bet Laura Bush is spending a happier than usual birthday today.

RM 11/3/2004 7:20PM PST

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ROD McKUEN APPEARANCES

notable birthdays

Thursday 4 November

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

Friday 5 November

Bryan Adams o Mark Breland o Eugene Debs o Will Durant o Myron Floren o Art Garfunkel o Walter Gieseking o Jonathan Richard o Guy Greenwood (Radiohead) o Jon-Erik Hexum o Vivien Leigh o Javy Lopez o Mantovani o Joel McCrea o Peter Noone o Tatum O’Neal o Gram Parsons o Roy Rogers o Natalie Schaefer o Sam Shepard o Paul Simon o Elke Sommer o Ike Turner o Bill Walton

Rod's random thoughts Wisdom lurks between the lines; it’s seldom verbalized or written down.

Contempt for people’s baser habits hinders contemplation.

Love is more a single movement than a symphony.

THE FIRST
 

No matter when I start
that first day’s walk
along the tide’s white ragged edge,
someone’s been ahead of me.

I went at noon the first day,
                ten the next.
Finally at sunrise
I started out
and on this very morning
I was up before the sun
guided by the whitecaps only
luminous in the dimming starlight.

When at last the light
began to rim the far horizon
I saw beside my own, new footprints
in the Monday sand
a larger imprint trailing on
                         ahead of me.
And beside the wide stride
on this quiet beach
the soft impression of a dog
who must have trotted
by his master’s side.

I’ve but one more morning
left to me
before I trade Tres Vidas
                 for the city,
but if I have to start out
down the beach at midnight
                            or before
I’m determined to confront
the brown beach man
who dares to think
he loves my ocean
more than me.

And anyway,
the ocean’s all
that I have left.
There won’t be anyone again,
but there will always be
sea water and sea things
to wash the memories
             into one another.

That’s a comfort
not to be taken lightly,
considering the sea
                 is all I have.

- from "Moment To Moment" 1973, 1975

 
© 1973, 1975, 1998, 2004 by Stanyan Music Group & Rod McKuen. All Rights Reserved
Webmaster: Ken Blackie o Birthday research by Wade Alexander, coordinated by Melinda Smith
Poetry from the collection of Jay Hagan o Sound & Fury: Dr. Eric Yeager o Editor at Large: Bruce Bellingham
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