grace of the land

somewhere
a long long time ago
in a very far-off land
your great-great-great
grandfather existed
and lived by the grace of the land

Nobody says moola anymore

Man, I did so much writing at work today. 

That's good to hear, farmboy. Any writing you do is good for you.

I know. That's why I write every fuckin' day, man. Gotta keep working those muscles, you know. More and more it's what gives my life meaning. Which doesn't mean that I like it any more, it just…I don't know…

Go ahead, farmboy. Tell me what you get from writing.

I think, in a way, it's like anything else that's a discipline. You build up these little muscles one day at a time and then after a while you see how much stronger you got. You respect yourself because you know the hard work and determination you had to use. And then you keep on doing it.

For me, when I don't write, words feel very costly, like you become afraid to spend them. It's like money. Moola. I like the word moola. Nobody says moola anymore.

Anyway, what I want is to write so often that words become fuckin' cheap. So you can afford to spend them in order to find out how you say what you want to say. Or it's like fish in a barrel, or any one of a number of cliches.

Why would it be like fish in a barrel?

Oh, I don't know, man. It's just sounded good at the time. 

how are you

how are you
is a complicated question
but I really have to mention
it's a good question anyway
because how are you
makes you look inside yourself
it can hurt your mental health
if you answer right away

so I say
I'm fine
that's right
I'm fine
what's mine
is mine
I'm perfectly fine

bad foreign movie

today is moving 
like a bad foreign movie
I can't understand 
a word you say
I need subtitles
and you won't provide them
but you're gonna
talk, talk, talk, talk
anyway

dogs I have known

when I need a peaceful place
to feel safe at home
I close my eyes and remember
the dogs I have known

I stroke and stroke and stroke and stroke
and stroke and stroke their fur
you know, if dogs were cats
I'm pretty sure they would purr

I've known dogs who are smiling
with their wet tongues hanging out
I've known dogs who are geniuses
in the usage of their snouts

I've known dogs who like to snuggle
when the temperature is low
I've known dogs who jump on the bed
and sleep there by your toes

I've known dogs who have no idea
of their cuteness or their charm
I've known dogs who will protect you
from the hungry hands of harm

I had a dog named gordie
who was my trustworthy friend
I would give most anything
to see his face again

my good friends matt and nancy
have their sweet annie montana
you should see how great she looks
when she's wearing a bandanna

my fiddler friend chris kokesh
has a loving dog named chloe
I hope she likes Wisconsin
in the winters when it's snowy

I've known a dog named waffles
and two other dogs named sam
a handsome dog named romeo
who loved to lick the pan

I've known a dog named molly
I knew her daughter, too
and I'll never forget patches
who loved me when I felt blue

I had a dog named ginger
when I was just a kid
I'd like to say I'm sorry
for all that kid stuff that I did

oh, I have known some dachshunds
and some chihuahuas as well
but my favorite small dog of them all
is my sister's dog named belle

I'd like to apologize
to those whose names I have forgotten
if they were here, I'd serve them all
some bacon and steak au gratin

to all the dogs I have befriended
I dedicate to you this poem
to say thanks for your affection
to all the dogs I have known

morning bugle

I don't want to give up
I don't want to lay down
I don't want to fly
so close to the ground
I want to soar high
give my life to the sky
I want to hear that morning bugle
not a lullaby
let me try
let go of my hand
here I am

More desert island discs

Hey, you know that list I made the other day?

The albums you would take if you were stuck on an island?

Not just any island, man; a desert island. There's a big difference.

But, yeah, so, I think I want to make another list. I keep thinking of albums I didn't put on it. I'm pleased with the list I made, but…shit, man, I just want to fuckin' make another list.

Then please, make another list, farmboy. By all means.

Thanks. Here goes:

Marshall Crenshaw by Marshall Crenshaw
Walker County by Eddy Lawrence
Sail Away by Randy Newman
London Calling by the Clash
The Band by The Band
Let's Go Scare Al by the Gear Daddies
Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys
Wrecking Ball by Emmylou Harris
The Roches by the Roches
Beleza Tropical by various artists (Luaka Bop compilation of Brazilian music)
High Violet by the National
Modern Vampires in the City by Vampire Weekend
Paul Simon by Paul Simon

Nice. Who's Eddy Lawrence?

Eddy Lawrence is an amazing songwriter from the south who lives in northern New York State. 

So, anyway, I'm sure I'll think up more. I'll know 'cause I'll start feeling guilty about what I left out.