23rd & 24th December, 2006

Photo by Edward Habib McKuen. ©2006 by Stanyan Audio Video Archives

A Thought for Today

Christmas is more like spring than winter; and because the name itself means mass for Christ, there isn't any reason this holiday or holy day should not be celebrated all year long.

FROM the¨BOOKS

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

Happy Christmas
and I love your ears
tomorrow we’ll untie
the package of another year.
Twelve more months of summer
if you stay
winter if you go.

Who said that Christmas crackers
hold surprises just for children?
I seldom let the daylight
come into the bedroom first
whatever time of year.
Because I want to be
the one who gazes down at you
as you begin your day.
I want you always
as that first surprise.

If I’m selfish
it’s only that I love you
as I’ve loved this year just past
and as I love that still uncertain year
that looms ahead.

- from “The Carols of Christmas,” 1971

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ROD McKUEN CONCERTS

ROD McKUEN APPEARANCES

Saturday 23 December

Chet Baker o Robert Bly o Jose Greco o Harry Guardino o Corey Haim o Tim Hardin o Elizabeth Hartman o Paul Hornung o Floyd Kaiber o Susan Lucci o Connie Mack o Buzz Miller o Ruth Roman o Vincent Sardi, Sr. o Helmut Schmidt o Joan Severance o Harry Shearer o Eddie Vedder o Madame C.J. Walker

Sunday 24 December
Christmas Eve

Noelle Adams o Mathew Arnold o Mitchell Ayres (orchestra leader) o Yves Mitchell Ayres (photographer) o Dave Bartholomew o Jill Bennett o Carl Brisson o Kit Carson o Ruth Chatterton o Mary Higgins Clark o Mike Curb o Ava Gardner o Johnnie Gruelle o Carol Haney o Howard Hughes o Robert Joffrey o Ricky Martin o Jonas Mekas o Henry Russell o Anwar El Sadat o I.F. Stone o Mark Valley o Harry Warren o Franz Waxman

Love is nearly always worth the trouble.

Winter is a word we choose to remember only vaguely till it blows in all its brilliance.

TWO CHRISTMAS POEMS

-from "The Carols of Christmas"

Christmas, 1972

This year
Let's buy each other nothing.
Give me your strongest smile
and in return
I'll let you have my hand.
These are presents quite enough
for two who love each other
        and each other's God.

- from the 1972 Christmas Card