A NOTE FROM ROD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Photo by Dan Chapman ©2001 Stanyan Entertainment Group

A Thought for Today

I may be sad at times but I’m still dancing.

 

While the Johnny Mercer / Frank Loesser STAGE Benefit performances don’t start till the first week in March the musical director heads out just after Christmas with a USO troupe and will be gone for over a month. This means keys have to be chosen & arrangements started before he leaves for the overseas bases. I’m off today to work out my song. See you tomorrow.
notable birthdays Marilyn Beck o Paul Cadmus o Erskine Caldwell o Eric Coker o Arthur Fiedler o Bob Guccione o Milla Jovovich o Eugene Levy o Richard Long o Julia Meade o Mike Mills o Novella Nelson o Sy Oliver o Katina Paxinou o Bill Pullman o William Safire o Tommy Steele o Nat Stuckey o John Greenleaf Whittier o Vanessa Zima
Rod's random thoughts Imagination always deserves a hearing.

The deeper the water, the higher the watermark.

I have no quarrel with your lovers, only admiration for their taste.

THE CHRISTMAS CACTUS
December 17

 The Christmas cactus
blooms against the wall -
its crimson vulva opening at night
and staying through the season,
the blossoms heavy
at the end of slender stems
of plants like octopi
sans evil eye and middles.

Pink and crimson
in the bath or after bath
hands dabbing at your arms
you were Christmas every silent night.
Today a woman in the East-end market
looked up from celery and salad greens.
For one slow moment, it was you -
Christmas in a black print dress.
I am hounded by the holidays
that come in bunches now.
Bright poinsettias and red ribbons
tied to cedar branch and pine,
great armfuls of you signal to me
question me at every corner.

Heavy-headed, staring down
avoiding Yuletide smiles
and New Year promises,
I stay as calm as crystal,
but I am still afraid
                  of looking up.

- from "The Sound of Solitude", 1983
 
© 1977, 1983, 1988, 1994, 2001 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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