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Photo by Dan Chapman ©2001 Stanyan
Entertainment Group
A Thought for Today
Love, the veteran of all wars, wins more
battles than the sharpest sword.
Good morning! The mail comes
from around the corner and around the world today . . .
TWO QUESTIONS
Sir, I
am 23 years old and my only experience of you is from my mother's
collection of your poetry books dating from 1965 or so until 1973. When
she gave them to me, I nestled you between Jim Morrison, Walt Whitman and
Emerson.
I do have two questions for you: You seem to me to be an icon of the 60's
and 70's. Perhaps your direction in life and the 60's and 70's were
intertwined. Do you feel that if the revolutions of the 60's and 70's
didn't happen, you perhaps wouldn't be as well known as you are now?
Second question: What event or events in your life do you feel most
propelled you on the course you took in life? I am somewhat of a restless
spirit at this point in my life, and feel that a greater road is before me
than that of what I can see. But I do not know a direction I can take.
Thank you much, peace, and good health, Richard Eckert
Dear Richard, Let’s address the most important question first; your
future. It’s tough not to be impatient at twenty-three and frustrating to
know there is something you should be doing while still wondering what
that ‘something’ might be. At your age I wanted to do everything and to
some degree along the way nearly all my wishes have been fulfilled, but if
it’s of any consolation to you I’m still looking for ‘something to do’
with not much of an idea of what that might be. In other words I’m not
totally satisfied with what I’m doing or have done.
It has been my experience that whatever you really want is attainable – if
you desire it enough. The trick is setting your sights on a goal then
letting nothing get in the way of your being able to achieve it. There’s
something you haven’t told me however, you must have an idea or two of
what you would like to devote your life to. Do you write, paint, have a
head for figures or mechanical hands? When are you the happiest and at
doing what? Give it some consideration and get back to me and I’ll be glad
to try and give you a few more concrete thoughts.
I think the thing that has contributed most to any success I’ve had is the
feeling of always being somewhat of an outcast. I felt different and
couldn’t seem to fit in anywhere. Because of that I was always determined
to find my own way in the world even if it meant making new paths. And
looking back, it has been much more fun leaving footprints than following
them.
I’m probably the wrong one to ask for an assessment of whether or not the
social and sexual revolution of the sixties and seventies forged or
contributed to my success. Certainly whatever is going on in the world has
an effect on the artist, especially if you’re a writer who chronicles his
own life.
While I’ve written dozens of songs (protest and otherwise) about the
social scene and plenty of poetry and prose on the subject, for every
“Soldiers Who Want to be Heroes,” “The Things Men Do” and “Some of Them
Fall” that fired peoples imagination it’s been my contemplative works and
love songs that seem to have hit the highest mark of acceptance. Perhaps,
even though I was involved in the 60’s & 70’s movement, my work was and is
a kind of antidote to the noise in the world.
From the many letters I now get from people of your age it seems as if a
new generation is plugging into my ‘stuff.’ Would I be thrilled at the
thought of being an alternative to Rap & Hip-Hop? You bet. As a misfit,
the need to be noticed becomes paramount so I doubt that there was much
that stood in the way of my making some kind of mark for myself. Success
is relative though and I still work at it.
Thanks for the thoughtful note and do write again after you’ve thought a
bit about what it is you want out of life. Warmly, Rod
KATE, TONY & JEAN IN OZ
Dear
Rod, I am so excited that I have found you. My husband and I have been
fans of yours since before our marriage twenty-nine years ago. We saw you
here in Melbourne Australia in concert on three occasions. We named our
daughter Jean after your song. She is now twenty-six. I stood in line for
two hours after one of your performances to get you to autograph a photo
for her.
We have always wondered what had happened to you and we are very pleased
that you are alive and well and still writing. Your songs are still played
on the radio here. I have just been connected to the web and I was
ecstatic when I typed in your name and up came all the news about you that
I have been waiting for years to hear. I just can't wait to catch up with
some of your more recent work. I would like to thank you for the
inspiration your songs and poems have given me over the years. Much love
Kate & Tony Kenyon- Down under
Dear Kate & Tony, Thank you for the sweet letter. As you and your friends
down under know I have great affection for the people of Australia. I’ve
visited your country many times for concerts and just plain fun. Looking
back over my diaries, I could write a whole book about my adventures in
OZ.
I hope Jean is well and thriving; gee, what could be a nicer compliment
than having a child named after one of your songs. Speaking of Jean it was
a great treat to see Maggie Smith reprising her role of a sort of Jean
Brodie School Marm in the delightful new “Harry Potter” film.
Let's hope we have a reunion in Melbourne soon. The various Australian
managers who used to present me in my Oz concerts have all gone on to
their greater rewards but my First Mate of music, Arthur Greenslade, has
settled outside of Sydney. Arthur conducted more of my concerts and
arranged more of my recordings than just about anyone. He’s the best. I
had a note from his grandson Nigel just the other day.
And, like his grandfather, Nigel has turned out to be a first class
musician.
My best to all the Kenyon’s and don’t forget to give my love to Jean, Rod
AN OLD FAN & A NEW COMPUTER
I just
wanted to say thank you for your poetry. I just picked up a
computer and there was a song on the radio that I knew was written by you
so I pulled up your name. I am glad you are healthy and still going. I
will look up some of your more recent works and read them. Thank you again
- bye, Gary Irving.
Dear Gary, Thanks for writing. Congratulations on the new computer and
most of all on becoming part of our web family here at A Safe Place to
Land. There’s lots to explore in these parts and if you check out The Site
Map you’ll find that among other things there are a couple of MP3’s you
can download and a complete book. If you’re into MP3’s you can look for
more here soon. All my best, Rod
CELEBRATIONS OF THE HEART
Dear
Rod, I am a big fan. I was wondering if you could tell me where I might
find "Celebrations of the Heart. MY local bookstores do not have it and
cannot get it. I start my day by reading your flight plan. Your poetry
touches my heart. Rudi
Dear Rudi, Thanks for asking about “Celebrations of the Heart.” Dwight
Michaels just found another carton of the books in the warehouse, so it
can be ordered from Stanyan By Mail. And, Rudi, thanks for the kind
thoughts. Warmly, Rod
THE SEA / EARTH / SKY TRILOGY
My
mother loves the album "the sea” done around 1967 with Anita Kerr. I was
wondering if that only came out on vinyl or if the WB records had put it
on CD. Any info would be helpful. Thank you so much! Susan Jones
Rod, in answer to questions, you said there would be a release of The Sea,
The Earth, and The Sky on CD (or was I just hoping?) at the beginning of
the year. Is that intended for the year 2002, or is there no present plan
for this release? I did get The Sea on CD, but my LP's are worn.
hopelessly so, and I am very interested in the CD's for the other two, as
well. Eamta
Dear Susan & Eamta, No week goes by without heaps of requests for The
Elements Trilogy and all the other San Sebastian Strings albums that Anita
Kerr and I created. None are currently available on CD but stay tuned
because in the coming weeks I’ll have some real news concerning all the
albums that comprise the series. Warmest wishes, Rod
WHERE TO FIND IT
Hi my
name is Stephanie and I heard about you through a very close friend who
has been hooked on your music since she was little. She has always wanted
to find the album “Listen to Warm” and The Sea...I believe those are their
names, her birthday is in a couple of days and I was wondering if you
could help me locate or get these two albums for her, and maybe if you
could suggest your most profound paperback.
She has about 10 of your poetry books, which she loves and adores the
words. Your thought are profound to her, if you could help me I'd be so
appreciative....Thank you. Stephanie Battista
Dear Stephanie, Thanks for the requests. I answered the question about the
CD of “The Sea” above. It was issued several years ago but is no longer in
the Warner Bros. catalog. The “Listen to the Warm” compact disc is
available from Stanyan By Mail.
As for recommending a book, that’s a tough question for any author to
answer. What you might do is find out which books she has and then choose
something from the list that she doesn’t own. I hope this helps,
Stephanie. All the best, Rod
THE FINAL WORD
Today it belongs to SharonAnn
Sewell.
“Skinny
people piss me off! Especially when they say things like, "You know
sometimes I forget to eat." Now, I've forgotten my address, my mother's
maiden name, and my keys. But I've never forgotten to eat. You have to be
a special kind of stupid to forget to eat.”
Tomorrow Webmaster Ken arrives here with his weekly “This One Does It For
Me” feature. I’ll be on hand to see what he’s got up his sleeve this time
and I hope you will too. Sleep warm.
- RM 11/26/01
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