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Rod 4/16/04 Photo by Billy Iz
A Thought for Today
Vote early and often.
.ASK
ROD
FEEDBACK: THE ELECTION
Hi --your voting advice is a no brainer---(Ask
yourself if you were better off four years ago than you are today and
then vote accordingly) I'm a Republican and I'm going with Kerry and you
can't believe how many others are too---I've had enough! Let's
hope---Dolores
= = =
Hi Rod, I think I know the answer to this question
and you don't have to answer it if you choose not to. I am curious
(curiosity killed the cat). Who are you voting for in the election?
Myself, I am going with John Kerry. Marian
Dear Dolores and Marian, The following message may give you a hint. Luv,
Rod.
VOTE!
KERRY / EDWARDS
MOTHER & DAUGHTER
Dear Mr. McKuen, I just wanted to drop you a line
and say that you have been a very important part of my life. The first
memory I have of poetry is my mother reading one of your poems. It
opened up something wonderful in my life. I then began writing poetry
myself and it was as if your poetry taught me how to speak with my soul.
I am a 32-year-old housewife and sometimes I do not have the drama in my
life to feel the need to express my soul (thank God) but now and then a
poem wells up in my belly and needs to be expressed. Anyway thank you
for your beautiful poetry; it has been a very important and beautiful
part of my past and present. Love, Candice Levine
Dear Candice, I'm delighted to know that you and your mother have my
poetry in common and that I may have inspired you to put your thoughts
down on paper. I find it really helps to get "stuff" out of my head and
in front of me where I can deal with it in a positive way.
You have learned a powerful lesson on your own and that is that you
don't necessarily need the drama of reality to exercise your
imagination. All my best to you Candice, Rod
FRANK SINATRA JR.
Hello, I am emailing several people who may have
connections with FS Jr. and I have read your website review of his
European Tour in 2001 (I was at Wigan Pier Concert July 15th).
I wish to contact FS Jr. so if you have an email address or standard
mailing address or even phone number that you could let me have I would
be most grateful.
Many thanks in advance, Derek Harper
PS I was at YOUR concert at Birmingham (UK) Town Hall must be 25 years
ago.
Dear Derek, As far as I know Frank Jr. has no E-mail address but I'll
try to dig up his manager's address & get it to you. All my best and
thanks for reminding me what a pleasant time I had in Birmingham.
Warmly, Rod
MANUSCRIPTS
Sir, I wanted to write and Thank-you. I read your
poetry, many years ago and loved it. Your books truthfully got me
writing poetry. Writing has been and will continue to be one of the most
enjoyable parts of my life. Your poems are wonderful, thank-you for
sharing them with everyone. If you don't mind, it would be an honor for
you to read my poetry. Sandra
Dear Sandra, Your letter was forwarded on to me. Thanks for your kind
thoughts and if in any way I helped incite you to write I am really
pleased. Whether we write for ourselves or a larger audience the world
will always need those willing to set their thoughts down on paper. That
you get enjoyment out of writing is a real plus.
I appreciate your thoughtfulness in offering to let me read some of your
work. Alas, because I receive so many manuscripts that I couldn't
possibly read them all, I have had to make it a hard and fast rule not
to read any of them. I don't even read those that come to me from
friends. It wouldn't be fair to pick and choose and even if I did there
would be that much less time to get on with my own work.
You might think that a selfish attitude and it probably is, but I'm
jealous of any time that takes me away from one of my projects.
I wish you every success with your work and your life and thanks again
for taking the time to drop me an e-mail. Your support means a lot to
me. Warmly, Rod
OLIVER
I once picked with "Oliver". He was not just the
singer guy that got lucky. Bill was a great scat artist and solo picker
years after the hits.
Yes, from Hickory, NC to NY, NY to The Windy City was quite the journey
but not near the songs journey from Oliver. Jim Perkins
Dear Jim, I liked Oliver and am happy his version of Jean went to the
top. You bet he could scat and do almost anything with his guitar. It’s
a shame he never had the chance to make an album of standards with a
small group. Makes me wonder whether any tapes exist under the name of
Oliver or Bill Swoford. In a different time and under other
circumstances he would have been a great jazz artist, ala Kenny Rankin
or Mark Murphy.
I started out singing jazz with Lionel Hampton ages ago and on this long
and far from finished journey I’ve had the chance to hear, observe and
even work with great singers and musicians. I really appreciate great
vocal talent. So does our mutual friend songwriter-producer (and now
fine artist with his paintings and sculptures) Bob Crewe. It was Bob who
brought both Good Morning Starshine and Jean to Bill. And I’m pretty
sure it was Bob who rechristened him Oliver.
Bill's death was unexpected and certainly untimely for such a young man
who had so much to offer all of us. I miss him.
Are you still picking and if so, where? And what part of the country do
you currently call home? Cheers, Rod
AN EARLY POEM & A LYRIC
Dear Rod, A friend of mine occasionally recites a
poem with a line that goes ..."I live alone, it hasn't always been that
way.." I am hoping you could tell me the rest.
Thank you. Which book is this poem in? I would like to buy it.
Take care, Debra
Dear Debra, The poem you are referring to is called Thirty-Six / I Live
Alone and it’s from my 1967 book “Listen to the Warm.” It was last
featured in the April 1, 2004 Flight Plan. To read it go to the search
link at the bottom of this page and enter “Thirty-Six” into the Google
Search Engine (don’t forget the quotes).
The first line of that poem and the music I used to score the recording
of A Cat Named Sloopy in turn inspired the song The Single Man. Both the
song and the poem are contained on the Listen to the Warm CD, which is
available from StanyanHouse.
Kindest Regards, Rod
ALMOST THE LAST WORD
This from John Frazar.
Dan Rather of CBS news was seated next to little
Tommy on the plane when Rather turned to the boy and said, "Let's talk,
I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with
your fellow passengers."
Little Tommy, who had just opened his book, closed it slowly, and said
to Rather, "What would you like to discuss?"
"Oh, I don't know" said Rather, "How about politics? Should we keep Bush
as president or elect Kerry?"
"OK" said Little Tommy, "That could be an interesting topic, but let me
ask you a question first. A horse, a cow and a deer all eat grass. The
same stuff. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out
flat patties, and a horse excretes clumps of dried grass. Why do you
think that is?"
"Jeez" said Rather, "I have no idea."
"Well then" said Little Tommy, "how is it you feel qualified to discuss
who should run this country when you don't know shit?"
Dear John, Depends on which version circulating on the net you read. Try
this on for size.
Pat Robertson, who talks to God (& he talks back} was seated next to
little Tommy on the plane when Robertson turned to the boy and said,
"Let's talk, I've heard that flights go quicker if you strike up a
conversation with your fellow passengers."
Little Tommy, who had just opened his book, closed it slowly, and said
to Pat, "What would you like to discuss?"
"Oh, I don't know,” said Robertson, "How about politics? Should we keep
Bush as president or elect Kerry?"
"OK" said Little Tommy, "That could be an interesting topic, but let me
ask you a question first. A horse, a cow and a deer all eat grass. The
same stuff. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out
flat patties, and a horse excretes clumps of dried grass. Why do you
think that is?"
"Jeez" said Rev. Robertson, "I have no idea."
"Well then" said Little Tommy, "how is it you feel qualified to discuss
who should run this country when you don't know shit?"
Thanks for tipping your hand, John. Luv, Rod
PS: I know Dan Rather, John, Dan is a friend of mine and you are no Dan
Rather. But then who is? Smile.
(NOTE: John’s and old friend & knows I’m joshing.)
AND FINALLY
Thanks to all of you who came to Austin this past weekend for The Book
Fair. I had a great time and of all the events I enjoyed the Q. & A. the
best.
Don’t forget to vote, whatever your preference. Sleep warm and join
Webmaster Ken on Wednesday for This One Does it For Me.
RM 11/1/2004 1:37AM PST
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