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A Thought for Today

Who is not a love seeker when December comes? Even children pray to Santa Claus.

 

Dear Ken,

Just a quick note of introduction as I have 'relative' interest in Jo'burg; my kid brother lives in Bryanston and is a civil engineer working for Nedbank. Was particularly pleased to see "The Lion...." post recently. I was born in Southern Rhodesia in 1948 when my father was training in the RAF at Thornhill.

My love of things McKuen dates back to the 60's and being a computer novice I was delighted to find the RM sites and have made some good friends. Recently spoke to Stargirl and Tartan Doll in Oz and also speak to Sharon in Arizona. Have had no end of friendly welcomes and best wishes from all corners of the world : It's a great *family* to belong to.

My favourite poem by RM is Anagram and trying to pick a favourite song is almost impossible!

Cheers and keep up the good work,

David Edington
(aka Lion King)

Thanks for your contribution, David, and I'm so pleased that you've received such a warm welcome from some of our family members. If you ever get to visit your brother out here make sure you stop by and say hello. As a matter of interest, I went to school in Northern Rhodesia during the 50's so I know that part of the continent pretty well.

It's great to see yet another poem from our unpublished section being selected for this column. We're all looking forward to the release of "A Safe Place to Land" in book format - let's hope 2001 is the year it happens. I agree with you about picking a favourite song - I have about twenty or thirty McKuen songs which I love and play on a regular basis but I'd be hard pressed to select just one as my all-time favourite!

Your contributions to this column continue to fascinate so keep them coming. As always, ken@mckuen.com is the address if you have something to share.

                                - Ken, Johannesburg, December 6

notable birthdays Debbie Armstrong o Chelsea Brown o Dave Brubeck o Peter Buck o Andrew Cuomo o Wally Cox o Alfred Eisenstaedt o Lynn Fontaine o Ira Gershwin o Nikolaus Harmoncourt o William S. Hart o Tom Hulce o Joyce Kilmer o Don King o Jonathan King o Joyce Mathews o Agnes Moorehead o James Naughton o David Ossman o Wil Shriner o Ryan White o JoBeth Williams o Steven Wright
Rod's random thoughts God grant us kind contrition for our sins and our omissions and most of all our contradictions.

Smiles spread liberally breed satisfaction.

Accuse me of loving too much, never too little.

ANAGRAM

Just as I was thinking
Old loves mean the most because of
How we cherish past as perfect,
Newness comes in running.

Here you are
Entering my life without a pause
Reaching out to me as though
My arms offered something
And I was waiting too
No caution, no resistance, no reservations.

Oh the thrill of love again
Timid, troubling. Is it worth it?
Today it is, as for tomorrow
Everything is now, tomorrow takes its turn.

                                - from "A Safe Place to Land", 1998

© 1986, 1998, 2000 by Stanyan Music Group & Rod McKuen. All Rights Reserved
Birthday research by Wade Alexander o Poetry from the collection of Jay Hagan o Coordinated by Melinda Smith
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