Marian

The travels of a merry soul

allow the world to see the being

we all should be—blessed to

bring on blessings, loved as love

reflects itself, sometimes dimly in

uncertain days, but face-to-face

in heaven’s light. Marian is there.

And has been while on earth,

being your greatest fan—that’s

the Good News she has made

familiar, good news every day,

seeking ways to say it through a

card game, a backyard bar-b-que,

the gardening that carries on in

Sue, the smile of Bob and John.

And countless more. ‘Can-do’

translates to an I-love-you, as

you and I and everyone now can,

in fact, do: we can celebrate

beyond the barriers of pace-

makers and fate, the kisses of

a water dog, the meetings all too

fleeting as we hug each other bye,

a reason that an angel doesn’t die.

Cousin Dan

What Matters to the Magi

The professor asked our seminar:

of all religions, which is most attached

to matter? The question garnered questions,

muted guesses, loud silence, then thought,

the ‘matter’ seeming too material,

unBuddhistic, temporal, trite and raw—

it couldn’t be pure Christianity,

the kind upheld by Francis of Assisi?

Sell all you have, give to the poor,

your cloak and tunic, too… yet said by

the Word-become-flesh, the need for God

to dwell among us, eat and sleep as cycles

framed within the matter of birth and death.

The magi came on “camels galled,”

as Eliot imagined, nothing regal if not

ignoble, all as creatures through the desert,

notwithstanding anything. The starlit sky

materialized for them a route,

provided clouds would not obscure

and lend to their disorientation;

epiphanies require such pointers,

it seems, and whether kings or sheep

herders or witnesses of witnesses of wit—

the world would never be the same.

One could say it never had to be;

then again, why throw away Epiphany?

Here (hear!)

Happy to see the symposia active again, and joyful to see it stirred by the spirit of Josh and his love of music.  See is my key word so far - I have not yet clicked the links on Dan and John’s lists, but I am eager to give them a listen.

But first: here (hear!) is my own new list of songs.  I still pull up old songs from earlier lists, and I have all of Josh’s S2L2A3 compilations in my shuffle, but this year’s list compiles a DJ’s dozen of songs produced and discovered only in the last year.  I am a dinosaur, still listening to CDs and albums, but I have appreciated being kept fresh by the monthly samplers of new music offered by MOJO and Uncut magazines.  I also like going to other people’s year-end lists - even Barack Obama put one out this year, over 30 songs long!  Again (and again!), I look forward to listening to what all of you are offering to the mix.

1. Boys In The Better Land - Fontaines DC.  MOJO named this Dublin group the best new band of 2019.  Note their reference to “a James Joyce novel.”  The album, Dogrel, is said to be an instant classic, but so far I have only listened and listened to this song. 

2. Hey, Ma - Bon Iver.  A voice from the not too distant past, and to me it sounds fresher and more real.  Can’t say I understand much of the lyrics yet, but there is a call to “call your ma” now and then!  .

3. Cuz I Love You / Truth Hurts / Juice - Lizzo.  Maybe don’t call your ma with some of the lyrics to this set, but you gotta love the voice, the saltiness, the boldness of this Mpls mama.  Even NPR had to lay off the mute button for this, one of their “tiny desk concerts.” Hallelujah!

4. Supernature -  Modern Nature.  This is actually an EP remix of a 4 minute song, so I’ll offer both links.  I like the 12 minute version, a fine example of how music can soothe the soul.

5. Jonny - Faye Webster.  More accessible lyrics here.  The words were what pulled me in (“I want to ...get over how my dog is my best friend and he doesn't even know what my name is”), but I also love the horns and strings. Here’s the track and the reprise, both on Atlanta Millionaire’s Club.

6.  Muddy - Jamila Woods.  One (and only one) more song that starts a little salty.  But, please, listen past the first bleep or two.  This Chicago artist will catch you!  Her album, Legacy! Legacy!, is her own S2L2A3 list of sorts, attributing each track to individual inspirations (e.g., Frida, Eartha, Baldwin), including this one to the father of Chicago Blues.

7.  Ballad of the Hulk - Bill Callahan.  This artist had MOJO’s album of the year, Dream River, a few year’s back, so I was eager to hear another offering from him this year. Characteristically simple but poetic, consciousness streaming but story telling, with easy chords and a baritone narration.

8.  Last Straw - Nerija.  And now for something completely different.  Good old fashioned modern sound from an all female London band that won several newcomer awards in 2016 and 2017.   Josh would approve of adding some jazz to the mix!

9.  Walk Through Fire - Yola.  Title track to a debut album that garnered four grammy nominations this year.  I’m told this song is based on a true flame escaping story, but it stands on its own as what should become a classic “fire of love” allegory song.  Maybe a prompt for your song group, Dan? 

10.  Leviathon - Nick Cave.  I will admit that Cave is a little bit too deep and cerebral for me sometimes, and yet his lyrics can be starkly simple.  He is definitely an artist, and, I think, a good balance to this list. 

11.  Western - Black Midi.  Another newcomer from Britain, and be prepared, what starts with a simple walking pace song sidetracks into a whirlwind about a minute thirty in.  But keep with it, the pace will return.  Reminds me of old days Genesis or King Crimson. 

12.  Every Last Coffee Or Tea - 75 Dollar Bill.  Instrumentality at its best, and on that note I offer you the 11 minute album track and a 4 minute clip of the artists at work. Interestingly, they sell their album only as cassette or digital, no CD.  I’m confused! 

Now, let me get back to those other lists!

- Jon

Happy 2020! Songs for a new decade

Happy 2020!

Thanks to Dan for the inspiration -   Sharing my 2nd songs to listen to again in honor of Josh.  My list is 24 songs long representing a double album (Josh and I had a discussion about playlist length) mainly because there are many meaningful songs to share.  

I miss Josh dearly, especially the times we spent talking music, family and life.  I love the holiday season and new years to reflect on and celebrate the good. Happy new year!  I wish peace and joy to all of you and most of all hope for the future. This family stays connected and that is a blessing and inspiring.  

Look forward to seeing you in Seattle, Chicago, Az or anywhere in the world we can meet up.  All the best in 2020!

To make it easier for a listen I made Spotify and Google playlists;  Also Youtube links on the songs

My playlist 2020 - Spotify Google

Dan’s playlist - Spotify Google

1. Shins - New Slang (2001) Resonated from the first listen - Paints a lyric picture.
2. The wood brothers - The Muse (2013);  Beautiful story.  Folk styling with strings with lyrics that make you think and smile.
3. The killers - Mr. Brightside (2004) A favorite song of ours - always inspires immediate singing.  This band played this song live to close out 2019 at the NYC celebration!
4. Jack White - Blunderbuss (2016) Jack White’s acoustic album is a wide ranging smash up of bluesy guitar and great lyrics.  The whole album is good - I picked this one for its crafty story.
5. Local H - Bound for the floor (1996) A friend from Chicago introduced me to Local H.  The band is originally from Zion Illnois! The band met in high school in 1987… similar timelines as some people in the family.  Kind of a cross of REM and Nirvana for me.
6. My Chemical Romance - Welcome to the black parade (2006)  An epic song that talks about being in a marching band and being a champion for the downtrodden?  Count me in. Pure energy.
7. Brandi Carlile - The joke (2018) Brandi grew up near Seattle, a new home for us.  This song is powerful.
8. Avett Brothers - Ain’t no Man (2016)  Infectious song with a great bass line.  GREAT lyrics and true… 
9. Jason Isbell - 24 frames (2015) Acoustic soul.  Might evoke thoughts of your brothers or sisters, mom, dad and all of the goodness.  
10. Train - drops of Jupiter (2001) Patrick Monahan’s great voice.  Another song that inspires singing although hard to match his range!
11. REM - at my most beautiful (1998)  A lesser known and different REM song.  For me this song captures love and friendship in a subtle way.  It has a line about keeping voicemail messages just to hear the voice - It makes me think of me wishing I still had messages from Josh and my sister - both gone way too soon.
12. The struts - Could have been me (2014) Inspired song with great energy.  Uplifting!
13. Blitzen trapper - Furr (2008)  Brilliant lyrics.  Weaves a tale - I always get something new out of this song depending on my place/mindset.
14. Portugal the Man - Feel it still (2017)  I’m a rebel just for kicks… can’t help but groove and sing - this song has a great vibe.
15. Heartless Bastards - Parted ways (2012) Heard this first on WXRT live, still a fantastic radio station I can stream in Seattle.  A favorite line “I need a little bit of whisky and a little bit of time to ease my troubled mind”.  Somehow captures an atmosphere of building space for yourself.  
16. Counting crows - Cover up the sun (2014).  The spirit of travel across the breadth of the USA and the people in between.
17. K’s Choice - Not an Addict (1996) Belgian band.  Interesting voices, lyrics and riff that sometimes can stay with you for a while.
18. First aid kit - Emmylou (2012)  Hauntingly beautiful.  Swedish duo. The song is a tribute to Emmylou harris.  They sang it to Emmylou at an award show in 2019 and it was perfect.
19. Oasis - Half the world away (1994) My favorite song from “the masterplan” after the band had already made huge hits like Wonderwall.  Reflective song. The vid is Liam live by himself, no oasis.
20. Zac Brown - Chickenfried (2008) Can’t help but sing along!  Uplifting country with pride. Knee deep with Jimmy Buffett is also great.
21. Arcade fire - Everything now (2017) Arcade fire has a lot of great music - this is one of my favorites.  Builds from start to finish.
22. LCD soundsystem -  All my friends (2007) This band is one of my current favorites.  Long hypnotic songs that inspired me to explore different bands in EDM.  Great 
23. Chris Cornell - Call me a dog (live) (2011)  Chris cornell passed away recently - he was a musical hero for me.  Chris sang with Eddie Vedder way back in the 90’s on a cool song called hunger strike.  This song was originally from the same album from a band called temple of the dog. This live version is totally unhinged and amazing.

24. Adam Sandler - Grow old with you;   In the movie wedding singer… He also sang this as a tribute to his wife on netflix. 

a small resolve

I want to fathom this year new,

not dither here nor piddle there,

but see the depths of every you,

at home, at work and elsewhere.

I need to learn from what I knew

(a Shakespeare’s span, amazingly)

to honor them from whom I grew

and strive to know more humbly.

I should become a grazing gnu,

a transvaal in my neighborhood,

protect the young of every you,

regard this world again as good.

PF 2020: Dan's S2L2A3

Josh naturally inspires this list, especially at Christmastime. His annotations per selection made each song that much more alive, so I’ve attempted to do the same. The theme isn’t a tidy thread, if most songs extend a sense of raw religion (with deference to the Greek etymology: ‘connect again’). All songs here have been produced after my 1993 departure from the U.S., explaining the conspicuous lack of favorites from Zeppelin, Bowie, Heart, John Williams (Fiddler), etc. Enjoy!

1.)  Silversun Pickups, “It Doesn’t Matter Why” (2019). The extension of the title is “we’re known, we’re just known.” While overtones of ‘Big Brother’ may be a concern for this Pasadena quartet, they also appear to satirize that notion.

2.)  J. Mascis, “SeeYou At The Movies” (2018). A gentler track from an east coast grunge guy, founder of the band Dinosaur Jr. This song comes from his most recent solo album, Elastic Days, a fair coming-to-terms with growing old.

3.)  Kurt Vile, “Bassackwards” (2018). Once the frontman of The War On Drugs, this Philly native has a hillbilly style and an amiability reminiscent of cousin David Strand. Play this vinyl record backwards—I betcha no controversies!

4.)  Wolf Alice, “Planet Hunter” (2017). Ellie Roswell heads this band from Camden Town, where she invariably ran into Amy Winehouse. Different styles result from these Londoners, yet both provoke a need to stand up for self.

5.) Andy Shauf, “Eyes of Them All” (2016). A friend in my writers’ group recommended this Saskatchewan artist while I was drafting a 1-act play called “The Bereaved”; it made the final scene and enhanced the mood of the reveal.

6.)  Justin Lavash, “Love Turns Out Alright” (2015). Fluent in Czech, this British bohemian often comes to Roztoky. His voice reminds me of Mark Knopfler and Joe Vold, and this song channels John Paul Jones’ mandolin in “That’s The Way”.

7.)  Spoon, “InsideOut” (2014). Josef Lev included this Austin, Texas band on his playlist while we drove from California to Arizona and back. They probe and push back on “holy rollers” who may or may not extend gospel truth.

8.)  Hillsong United, “Oceans” (2013). A prayer from Australia that Andrea gave to more of the world. “(Where Feet May Fail)” reminds me of Mark 9:24, and the rising oceans both of Noah and our own contributions to climate change.

9.)  Aşa, “Why Can’t We” (2011). Emma included “Fire on the Mountain” from this Nigerian-born artist some years ago. I’m reminded in this newer song of Lou Bega’s “Mambo No. 5” that Tilo loved stomping to in a Lombard living room.

10.)  Phantogram, “YouAre The Ocean” (2010). I reversed chronology on this list because I wanted the more meaningful ‘ocean’ song to feature first. Still, this upstate NY duo are candid about addictions and a need to address them.

11.)  Beck, “Volcano” (2008). Wanted to echo Kirsten’s choice of “Morning” a couple S2L2A3s ago, a more beautiful song. Why this one? We’re transported to a silent Japan in way of wonder and care. It rounds out my 5-act Echo Chamber.

12.)  John Prine, “Taking a Walk” (2005). Jonathan wrote good poems about taking walks with Yoshi. Prine is from Maywood, where I remember recording an interview with Grandma Lamken—a lovely walk that may be lost, but not really.

13.)  Arcade Fire, “Neighborhood #4 (7 Kettles)” (2004). Montreal was Kateřina’s point of entry to what Dvořak commemorated in his New World Symphony. The band mixes nostalgia with angst in this series of neighborhood vignettes.

14.)  Sonic Youth, “Peace Attack” (2004). Perhaps nature in NYC needs to start as early as “3 Feb”, regardless what some groundhog might have indicated the day before. Oxymorons abound in “the great anti-hate: springtime is wartime.”

15.)  Outkast, “HeyYa!” (2003). From Atlanta to your living room, via the raves and craze of early rock ’n’ roll. André Benjamin is a showman, to be sure, yet also a thoughtful critic of the music industry, a la Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here.

16.)  Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Maps” (2003). Yeah, the sequence is a nice coincidence. Another NYC group, this time showing the dynamics of what a trio can do—Josh and I talked about #s for a band, Rush and The Police boosting the cause for 3.

17.)  Blur, “Coffee and TV” (1999). Another London band—one that Sparta hockey fans love when their team scores: “woo hoo” from their “Song 2”. I rather picked this ballad, though, for its nicer musicality and storyboard.

18.)  Smashing Pumpkins, “1979” (1996). Speaking of storyboards, this song has demonstrated that deeply at workshops, where I encourage teachers to add lyrics to poetry units. This Chicago band shares my fondness for Cheap Trick.

19.)  Phish, “Free” (1996). Trey Anastasio and his crew are granola Vermonters, like the 80s sitcom Newhart (Larry, Darryl, Darryl, et al). Josh bought me Billy Breathes some years ago and I’ve also used their song “Waste” in workshops.

20.)  Pavement, “Elevate Me Later” (1994). There’s something Oasis about this indie/punk band from Stockton, California. Ben and I have played a dozen games of chess with Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain in the background. He’s won most;)

+.)  Jon Batiste, “Prince” (2019). Technically not a ‘song’ (sans lyrics), this jazz composition leaves us to imagine if the New Orleans pianist is referring to the Minnepolis icon or, more likely, the Prince of Peace as Batiste would have it.

Play on! Everyone should have a S2L2A3…

as commemorations go

https://goodlessthangrand.blogspot.com/

Happiness & Joy

Happiness is what you have
when things go your way
and you’re carried by
whatever makes you smile.

Joy is what you have
when you see the way
your smile comes from
the world around you.

Happiness is what I feel
when you make me smile
and I start to glow
from the light you shine.

Joy is what I feel
when I see you smile.
I can feel the warmth
of the light you share.

Happiness
is what we need
when the way is rough
and the world is cold.

Joy
is what we have
when our walk together
never grows old.

                -- Jonathan Vold

Poems written while Dick was in hospital

Missing Autumn
      by Marilyn Jaeger, 

Morning skies of paintbrush coral reef
Norwegian red, gold and ombre leaves
Brisk air, bird song heights.

He lies hospital abed, barely seeing, not eating.
What if?
What if?

And I hear the response, the serif,
The Seraphim, who proclaim:
God is in this world.
This world of seeing and swallowing and striding,
He's got it covered!
                                             October 14, 2015


Wing Language
     by Marilyn Jaeger

A serif is a wing, in fonts
Of characters in a text.
They carry the eye more easily
From one word to the next.

I first feared this was beating
A dead horse; let it rest.
Then recalled a book of my father's
A Winged Horse Anthology - the best

In poetry to nineteen thirty
With Pegasus, winged horse, as theme.
Poetry, words,flying accomplishment
Wings, (serifs), leading on it does seem.

Trodding leafed Mendota paths
I listened to fragments passing by
Elemental, words reach an ear, like
Angel wings whisp from the sky.

Our words have wings, written or spoke.
How they may lift, or sometimes, suppress.
Take delight in the presence of seraphim:
Words fly to us, God's angels', "Yes!"
                                       October 18, 2015

The Blue Brick

by Dick Jaeger

Setting: Back patio of a suburban home

Actors:

Jim

Gary

GARY: It’s good to be back in the old neighborhood. What have you been up to lately,

Jim?

JIM: Had a great fishing trip up in Canada. We flew there. Caught so many fish the

return flight was overweight!

GARY: You’re kidding. The fish made the plane overweight??

JIM: Well, I had found a beautiful blue brick that I wanted to take home to Cleone.

But - - I hadda throw it out of the plane.

GARY: Hard to believe that made a difference, but I believe you. Still was good

fishing, huh?

JIM: Yeah, would do it again in a second.

GARY: Remember the day you asked me and Norm to help you and your brothers

to put together your above-ground swimming pool?

JIM: Do I remember?? (pause) My brother Ted was as stubborn as I was.

GARY: You three were arguing how to do the work. Nothing was going right.

Norm and I were lifting up and holding the frame best way we could.

JIM: Wasn’t working.

GARY: Finally you said, “If you guys can’t settle on how to do this, we are going to

have to read the instructions!”

JIM: Yup. When all else fails. . . .

Say, did I tell you about the excitement we had last weekend at our backyard picnic?

GARY: No, what happened?

2

JIM: A bear surprised us as we were eating. Boy were we scared. It approached slowly,

and we just did not know what to do. All of a sudden, the bear stopped. And a blue

brick hit it right on its head!

GARY: What? Where did that blue brick come from?

JIM: Oh, that was the blue brick I threw out of the airplane in the last story!

GARY: Arggh!

Well, gotta be going. (pause) I saw a blue brick out by your front door.

What’s that all about?

JIM: That? That’s the brick that hit the bear. I keep it there to remind the bear – or anyone

who shows up – that I’M ARMED!

THE END

Paper Routes

1

Paper Routes

by Dick Jaeger

Setting: A park bench

Actors:

Arnie

Bill

Casper

ARNIE: Remember our good old paper-delivery days? Boy, we had to work. Well,

it was sort of fun too, and we could always catch the eye of some young chick.

BILL: I guess I wasn’t a very good paper boy. I only received one tip.

At Christmas. A quarter.

CASPER: My first route was twenty-six papers and I had to walk two and a half miles.

ARNIE: I remember one day in particular. It was springtime. As I got closer to this

house, I noticed they had removed the screens on their front porch. And the

front door was open. Ah, here’s my chance to show what a great paper boy I

am, I thought. I tossed the paper through the open door!

BILL: Good boy! Did they come out and thank you?

ARNIE: Oh, not quite. The next Monday at school my classmate – it was his house.

Johnnie said the paper landed in the bowl of soup his dad was trying to eat.

Boy was he pissed!

CASPER: One winter evening...I remember, it was already dark and the streetlights

were on. I finished my route and headed home. But then, I thought I heard

someone behind me. Stopped and looked back. No one there. Again – I

stopped to check on a funny noise. Nothing. Made me decide to sprint home.

I got to the end of the street and cut the corner across the end lot. But I didn’t

see the wire they had strung across the yard to keep kids from cutting through.

Hit that wire with my shin, and man did I fly.

BILL: I can say I never threw a paper on a customer’s roof!

2

ARNIE AND BILL: Well, I did a few times.

CASPER: I had a customer who never seemed to answer the door. Or he never had

any money when I came around to collect. Another Saturday collection,

another “no answer” at the door. Dad said, “Did Jones pay you?”

“No”, I answered. Dad picked up the phone, called Jones and in a loud

voice Dad made clear I was on my way down to their house right now and they

will pay – now!

BILL: When I started high school football, practice was after school. I had to give

up my paper route. Well, by that time it was a pretty good-sized route. 75

papers and nearly every house.

I had a buddy who agreed to take over the route. But he didn’t want to collect

or be responsible for the money. So we agreed that he would deliver and I

would collect on Saturdays. We’d split fifty-fifty.

When my Dad found out about our good business deal, he just said, “If Donnie

does the work he gets the money. No discussion.”

I was out of the paper business.

ARNIE: Reminds me of my Dad. I had a Sunday route for four weeks. But I

decided I did not want to deliver those heavy Sunday papers. I got a

friend to take it over. A few weeks later he asked me to sub for him. It was

Easter Sunday, but I agreed to. And I was amazed that so many people had left

an envelope with a card and some money for the paper boy! When I got home

I told my Dad of my good fortune.

Wrong.

He clearly told me, “That money is for the boy who delivers regularly. You are

to turn it all over to him.

Yeah, my Dad too was a firm believer in justice.

BILL: One of my paper routes, the papers were delivered to my house in a big bundle.

After grade school all the neighborhood guys would get together and play

basketball on our driveway off the alley behind our house.

Mom would open the back door and yell “The papers are here!”

ARNIE: That got you moving, right?

BILL: Not quite. It’d only put a pause in our game. But when the door started

opening the second time, I knew I’d better be heading toward the front of

the house and get to work. She always had to yell twice, but I knew I’d

3

better not push it. When Mom was unhappy we were all unhappy.

CASPER: Ah, yes, the good old days. Wonder how it works now. But I guess I already

know. Our paper gets delivered by an adult throwing it from an open car window. And we pay by credit card...automatically. Folks are missing something today. We had it good.

ARNIE: And you know what? We sure got to know a lot more people in town!

THE END