Good morning,
POETRY
From Edith Bergay, an excerpt from “In Sweet Company,” by Margaret Wolff
Edith notes that it is not a poem not about grief – but what we hope for in our relationships in grief:
We sit together and I tell you things,
Silent, unborn, naked things
That only my God has heard me say.
You do not cluck your tongue at me
Or roll your eyes
Or split my heart into a thousand thousand pieces
With words that have little to do with me.
You do not turn away because you cannot bear to see…
You stay with me in the dark.
You urge me into being.
You make room in your heart for my voice….
I breathe you in and I breathe you out
In one luxurious and contented sigh.
In sweet company
I am home at last.
MUSIC
Yes, the banjo occasionally sports great music:
“Red River Valley”:
Who doesn’t remember “Dueling Banjos,” from Deliverance:
And, although this usually is played on the banjo, here is a guitar version of “I am a Man of Constant Sorrow,” with George Clooney, from the amazing, and underappreciated Coen brothers film, “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”:
Finally, Steve Martin playing a medley of his own tunes:
Have a great weekend,
Glenn
OK, while I admire your verve and willingness to wade into controversial topics, the banjo is, even for you, a bridge too far. Banjophobia is one of the last acceptable bigotries, and it was shocking to see you give it creedence with your grudging admission that a banjo can on occaision produce music-like sounds. And then buttressing that observation with...Steve Martin! He was a perfectly fine opening act at the Bird Cage Theater, but at best a mediocre clawhammer stylist. It should be illegal to write about the banjo without a reverential genuflect in the direction of Earl Scruggs (acknowledged BOAT, who invented the modern banjo style). What about Bela Fleck and Rhiannon Giddens (her opera Omar is quite brilliant by the way, did you see it?) who have explored the banjo's African roots? And if you are looking for the definitive banjo version of "Man of Constant Sorrow" that would be Ralph Stanley (an actual clawhammer master) and the Clinch Mountain Boys, the clear inspiration for the lament of Ulysses. (George Clooney is not singing by the way, that's bluegrass artist Dan Tyminski).
Anyway, I beg of you, leave the poor accordian in peace.