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MEAN HISTORY, 101 |
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Today in 1642 the British Civil
war rages. In 1685, and still in England, Elizabeth Gaunt is burnt at the stake at Tyburn
for concealing Clarendon rebels. In 1707 England’s first parliament was convened. The
confederacy’s Sterling Price has a defeat at Westport Missouri that brings an end to
fighting west of the Mississippi.
On this day in 1933 Movie Tot Baby Leroy says his first word – off camera. His mouth
is immediately washed out with soap. Moving ahead a bit to 1945 The United Nations set
it's charter. 1963: Famous American Farewells: The great western writer Zane Grey bit the
dust today in 1939 and, after eating Clam Chowder & prawns at San Francisco’s
Fisherman’s Wharf in 1963, Al Jolson took his final bow. Last words; "Well boys,
this is it - I’m going." And he went.
In 1972 earthquakes in Nicaragua killed more than 10,000 people and at the Bonneville
Flats in Utah Gary Gabelich in his rocket powered "Blue Flame" hits speeds
upwards of 650 mph.
This is your last chance to see the swallows at San Juan Capistrano. Today they fly off
for winter vacation. It’s Friday, and I’m off too. . . . singing Amapola &
Bobalu while weaving toward another safe place to land. Have a quiet, unproductive weekend
except where relaxation is concerned..
- RM 10/15/98 |
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Sarah Bernhardt o
Robert Bridges o Johnny Carson o Michael Crichton o James Daly o Diana Dors o Gertrude Ederle o Jean Louis Forain o Doug Flutie o
Ellie Greenwich o Sen. John Heinz o Emily Kimbrough o Pele |
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The universe beyond
the mattress holds more danger than a fog.
We should be nicer to each other. We’re all we’ve
got.
A Sweet tooth doesn’t always crave the richest cake.
Sometimes cookie and a glass of milk will do.
Hate is an excuse for vulgarity. |
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MIDDLE NIGHT CONFUSION |
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As the sun has just now
bent down into the ocean,
bend down to me.
Rising up
I promise you’ll not frown.
As the stars
begin appearing
move in closer
begin to pull me
to you
as I pull you down.
As we roll sideways
see the path of moonlight
stretching on the water
wide enough to walk on
with an army
if one of us was God.
God is here somewhere
between us.
I can touch and feel Him
lying up against
your back,
one arm extended
through the roof
exchanging bulbs
in burnt-out stars.
But wait
there is no beach at all.
No moonlight on the water
no waves sing out to me.
Can this be so,
that in these hills
away from everything
I knew before,
the only singing
my ears
hear
is your sighs,
heavy full of thunder ?
One more time
and one more time again.
You are my ocean
and my stars,
my God and all his heaven.
And life for me begins.
Beach-bar lingo
being all the same
we were left to make
whole conversations
with
our eyes.
Add to this
that glances must be tentative
for none should know our business
but ourselves.
I wonder then
that we met at all.
Perhaps the language
of the desperate
is the strongest one yet made.
How else could you explain
an understanding without words ?
A moving out the door
with no pre-arrangement ?
- From "The Sea Around Me, " 1976, 1977 |
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