Not your typical Valentine's poem or song

     But what would one expect form Bob Dylan? Influenced by William Blake's "The Sick Rose", Dylan writes about how his wife-to-be, Sara Lowndes, brought calm to his life. In typical Dylan fashion, the song is replete with literary allusions.

     This version is from Dylan's 1965 British tour, and that is Donovan Leitch in the room full of people and cigarette smoke. The song has been covered by many, from Joan Baez and Judy Collins (no surprise here), to Ricky Nelson and the Turtles (that is surprising).

     I post this for all the ones to soothe our lives! Blake's poem follows the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w1mCevu3sU

O Rose thou art sick.
The invisible worm,
That flies in the night
In the howling storm:

Has found out thy bed
Of crimson joy:
And his dark secret love
Does thy life destroy.

- William Blake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hHjctqSBwM

   Sylvia Plath died on 11 February 1963. I post her recording of her poem "Daddy". The caveat that I give to those not familiar with her is that her father was indeed a German immigrant, but not anything like he is depicted here. He died when she was young, and the poem contains some of that anguish.
 
   Her early death (a suicide) robbed the world of more poems and other writings. It also marked and haunted her surviving family.

In Altpoetics for the fourth time!

https://altpoetics.wordpress.com/2015/02/09/the-metropolitan-of-wallace-street-by-arthur-turfa/

     I have said it before, and will likely say it again! Kenyatta Jean-Paul Garcia produces an excellent e-publication named Altpoetics If you click on the link, you can navigate to read outstanding poetry in all genres, subscribe to receive e-mail notifications, and enjoy the experience! 

On 3  Feburary 1959, Waylon Jennings gave up his seat to the  J.P. Richardson, aka The Big Bopper, and so did not perish with him, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson. This week is a good time to post the following poem. 

In The Best of All Possible Worlds

In a backwater town
Far from the Interstate
But close to the siren call
Of rumbling freight trains,
I sit with Waylon Jennings,
Bottle and two glasses between us
In the glow of neon beer signs
Behind an empty bar.

Long-haired and bearded,
Freak and Outlaw we find
Common ground as we express
Who we are, as we chase
Our Holy Grails
Unconcerned with people telling us
We are wrong and foolish.

Each drink, each story, each joke
Fuses our spirits together.
We say the same thing
In different dialects.
Consensus does not imply
Betrayal of one’s roots
But the appreciation of another’s.

As rosy-fingered dawn spreads
From the east over the fields
Waylon and I revel in the
Best of all possible worlds
My lyrics melting into
His flawless music and
His gritty baritone voice.

Arthur Turfa, © 2015

Now It Can be Revealed

A sense of impending calm
over the horizon
awaiting me after
several lingering events lapse.

     My post from 15 Words a Day recently caused a few friends to wonder if anything major was about to happen. Actually,my term as president of the South Carolina Foreign Language Teachers Association drew to an end at our annual conference. Now I am past president (which sounds like a tense). Now there are fewer responsibilities, and more time to write, edit, and promote my coming book.

     Several gratifying things converged today. We had a dynamite keynote speakers and presenter, who has become a good friend. A few younger members asked me how to become more involved in the organization. I had time to mentor them, as well as some fellow German teachers. 

     For myself, I rejoiced in seeing some friends of several years time, seeing some newer friends, and making more. 

     Concerning the book, I am working on some ideas for cover art; the publisher asked me for some ideas. Looking ahead, I am thankful and blessed to have these opportunities and to also be thinking ahead! This is indeed the impending calm, and I intend to enjoy it fully!

     the first picture is our logo. The second shows two Chinese teachers (now long back home) congratulating me on my election two years ago. 

 

    Today was Signing Day in the USA for high school athletes to formally commit to colleges and universities. For a great many it is the only way they can afford post-secondary education. For everyone it is the culmination of years of hard work and dedication, with more to come. For about 1% of the signers, it is a step on the way to professional sports.

     But what about the vast majority who will one day have to stop playing for whatever reason? John Updike's "Ex-Basketball Player" explores that dismal post-glory existence. Poor Flick Webb has nothing on which he can fall back; as a result he is doomed to have his best years behind him.

     In high school I read Updike's "Couples", which was a magnet for teenagers interested in adult antics. When on my seminary internship in Reading, Pennsylvania, I started reading the "Rabbit" novels. Updike was born in nearby Shillington and captures the time and places perfectly. I regret that he never won the Nobel Prize for Literature.

     Enjoy the poem!

   
http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/172264

Early Spring or More Winter?

     Punxsutawney Phil knows, and will reveal all tomorrow. Northern Europeans grew tired of long winters, and wanted to know if there was a break. February 2 evolved into Candlemas, a day of light. When I attended Christ-Seminary/Seminex in St. Louis, the semesters were Michaelmas and Candlemas, aka Fall and Spring. We had a January fast-paced semester as well.
     German immigrants brought the traditions of Lichtermesse with them, and the prognosticating groundhog also. Actually, the idea of one; I doubt if they actually brought a Murmeltier with them
Phil is the only one to whom I lend credence; I will not deign to mention his rivals. Here is a link to the events: http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/01/groundhog_day_2015_guide_punxs.html

Another interesting thing from Western Pennsylvania! I thought yinz might like to know!