Rod McKuen - Flight Plan


Wednesday 16th May, 2007		A Thought for Today Without civility, civilization is useless. Be nice. This One Does It For Me! Dear All, Have just this minute landed back in South Africa after a very rushed but wonderful trip to London to see daughter Megan. The last time I was out of the country was in 1984 and the last time I was in London was 1957 so it's been a royal treat for me. Having spent the past five days walking what felt like every inch of London I'm way too tired to put together anything that would even remotely resemble a coherent column so I'm sure you'll understand if I opt out for today. Suffice to say I'm envious of the entertainment choices Londoners have at their disposal. The big buzz is the Prince tour in a month or so but what really got my attention was the news that Streisand would be performing two shows in the near future. This was tempting until I checked the prices - a good seat would set you back around Ł500! Other choices are Lionel Ritchie, Andy Williams, The Who, Jose Carreras, Bryan Ferry, Gloria Gaynor and Ladysmith Black Mambazo so there's something for everyone in this marvelous city. I'll be back with you next week after I've caught up on my sleep. Love, Ken. Click on the Stanyan House logo to buy Rod McKuen books, CD's and lots more Click on the heart logo to subscribe to the Rod McKuen mailing list Catch Rod McKuen live! Click on the links below for details of concerts and appearances. ROD McKUEN CONCERTS ROD McKUEN APPEARANCES



		Honore de Balzac o David Boreanaz o Pierce Brosnan o Bob Edwards o Henry Fonda o Tracey Gold o Woody Herman o Janet Jackson o Olga Korbut o Liberace o Frank Mankiewicz o Billy Martin o Robert Pierpoint o William Seward o Tori Spelling o Margaret Sullivan o Studs Terkel o Debra Winger

		All people have lessons they can give us even in rejection. There is no fresh air without love. A cloud. No single eagle ever sat upon one, and guns while piercing some have never killed or wounded any. They multiply, divide, and multiply again. I've never seen a cloud destroyed and certain birds are buoyed by them.

MIDNIGHT SAVIOR		Have you come to save me ? Very well. I'm teetering between the earth and hell. I'll gladly take salvation over pot and pills and cheap red wine. I'm grateful for your arms but open up a little more so that I need not love you out of gratitude but only for yourself. Let me lie against your belly inhaling all the night air you let out. Let me reach inside you slow and easy, deliberate so that your anatomy will be my primer, your sighs now heavy my own northwest wind. Let me probe a secret place no one else has so far touched. Allow me this small favor to pull you to me from the inside, to live inside you half of every night. The star-filled half. Don't be discouraged if I fumble or become inept. I'll try again, now slower still. Then moving to your face your eyes will dazzle me as our mouths match, the insides probing one another's insides. Slide next to me. See, no position is uncomfortable or wrong. Such space there is between your back and each new morning. Such emptiness my body and the sunlight cannot fill. I'll try, I will. Remember that you caught me on the heels of what I thought was love. -from "The Sea Around Me", 1976, 1977

AND FINALLY

I'll be back with more next week so please make sure you join me then. Meantime if you have a favorite McKuen song, poem or story you'd like to share, or a question you need answered, drop me a line, kenb@mckuen.com and I'll do the rest.

-Ken, Johannesburg, South Africa, May 16

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