The Persistence of Song

The Persistence of Song

by Howard Moss

Although it is not yet evening,

The secretaries have changed their frocks

As if it were time for dancing,

And locked up in the scholars' books

There is a kind of rejoicing,

There is a kind of singing

That even the dark stone canyon makes

As though all fountains were going

At once, and the color flowed from bricks

In one wild, lit upsurging.

What is the weather doing?

And who arrived on a scallop shell

With the smell of the sea this morning?

---Creating a small upheaval

High above the scaffolding

By saying, "All will be well.

There is a kind of rejoicing."

Is there a kind of rejoicing

In saying, "All will be well?"

High above the scaffolding,

Creating a small upheaval,

The smell of the sea this morning

Arrived on a scallop shell.

What was the weather doing

In one wild, lit upsurging?

At once, the color flowed from bricks

As though all fountains were going,

And even the dark stone canyon makes

Here a kind of singing,

And there a kind of rejoicing,

And locked up in the scholars' books

There is a time for dancing

When the secretaries have changed their frocks,

And though it is not yet evening,

There is the persistence of song.

I have this book that I generally turn to when nice poems are needed for miscellaneous assignments at school; Good Poems, selected and introduced by Garrison Keillor, who hosts and writes the (since cancelled) radio station The Writer's Almanac. This poem, The Persistence of Song, is one of those that I usually skip over because it's too confusing or too long and I don't have patience. However, I thought I should shed my cape of poetic ignorance and try to decipher this poem, which I later realized was totally worth it. This is one of those poems that you have to reread several times to fully grasp the meaning of it. There's some strange and complex metaphors and the writing style is deceptively simple, so it requires some extra thinking power. But after the third or fourth time reading it I saw that this was a truly beautiful poem that shouldn't be tossed aside like a stale bagel. Ms. Robbins told us to pick a poem that's changed our lives, and this poem has. On, like, so many levels, man.

First, I will observe. This poem doesn't have much to pick apart technically, because there's no rhyme scheme or real rhythm. One of things that stood out about this poem for me was the sort of rewind style of the whole thing. The first two stanzas are said and then stated again, but backwards, and almost with the exact same sentence structure and whatnot. It's almost like the author wants to reinforce the ideas of the poem, yet the poem takes on almost a totally new meaning when rewound, which is probably intentional. I also noticed that strange, unexpected metaphors are very prominent in this poem - "who arrived on a scallop shell with the smell of the sea this morning", "at once, the color flowed from bricks, as though all fountains were going". They don't seem to really belong in the poem and might confuse the reader. In fact, the entire thing seems all over the place and all weird and stuff and doesn't really make sense.

Ok, now that the boring stuff is over with, I can get to the cool stuff. In-ter-pre-tation. Ok. So what is this poem really about? It took me a couple of rereads to actually get it. The author does this wonderfully balanced thing of only putting down a few things that evoke "song" to him without sugar coating it and putting in stupid things like rabbits and dandelions. It's not what someone would usually think of as being happy and sunshiny and song-like. It's the sheer simplicity of this poem that makes it so meaningful and appealing to me. Howard Moss is saying that even in the smallest actions we do each day, like changing our dresses even if we don't need to and reading a book, there always this underlying sense of joy and hope. Howard Moss is really expressing his love for music by associating song with a feeling of rejoice. This poem is different from many others that are about music because instead of addressing the topic directly, he sort of slides it in to a poem that appears to be about something else. Hm... clever. In many ways this poem evokes a sense of extreme hope - I was enlightened by the message that it was sending. In simple actions of hope and beauty, there is always song because this poem is saying that joy is song, and song is joy.

Right, I find myself verging into that state of blog posts where it all becomes mushy and repetitive. It's been happening a lot lately. Sorry.

It's so hard to interpret a poem like this because it's all mushy and there's so much simple complexity (oxymoron) in it. I feel like those metaphors aren't meant to confuse you, but it's just that the author is trying to express his complicated emotions of happiness to us and we might not understand them. Yet by comparing these joys and small moments to music, he's making it easier for us to understand.

oh goodness, this was a terrible blog post. i'm losing steam...not using capitals...i'm so sorry, readers, but i'm falling into a pit of crappy blog posts. forgive me... this sucked. i'll rewrite it when i'm not feeling so brain dead. i didn't do justice to a poem that really means so much to me.

My Life In A Quote

The minute I saw this quote in an outdated copy of Rolling Stone Mag, peeking out at the top of the "Random Notes" section, my heart exploded into a million pieces of grateful, fleshy confetti. Thank you, Damon Albarn (of 90's band blur, and currently Gorrilaz).

"Glee is a homogenization of everything, and ultimately will lead to emptiness."

Now, I could go on pretentiously psychoanalyzing this, or I could spend my time basking in its sheer simplicity and boldness and loveliness. I think I'll take the latter.

Now, readers, I don't mean to be one of those extreme, mainstream-television-program-haters who goes around trying to make a point about how bad Glee is, but if you're a person with a passion for good music, like me, you don't take it lightly when a preppy, make-believe glee club with pregnant teenagers and obnoxious cheerleaders sing (originally) great songs in ridiculous, suburbified harmonies. And it's aired on Fox.

Sorry, Glee, but you've destroyed the musical excellence of Beck, Parliament-Funkadelic, The Police... and you'll probably never read this post anyway. Once again, I have a newfound respect for a man whose music was already dangerously catchy. If only they had made the print a little bigger.

I Fought The Law, And The Law Won.

It's human nature to want to break the rules. Even the tightest-wound individual still harbors some smothered desire to do something that they're not supposed to do. For whatever reason it may be, we all feel the need to rebel against society - whether it be to quench an uncontrollable thirst for action or to "get back" at society for wronging you in some way. As for Terry Dean in Steve Tolz's A Fraction of The Whole, his past is what fuels his need to be a ruthless, unstoppable criminal.

Once an incredible athlete and the town's crowing glory, Terry's fame is instantly diminished after getting in a competitive conflict over a cricket match and ends up with a stabbed leg. Instead of doing nothing, Terry decides that the only thing that will give him a purpose in life is to find another obsession - in this case, that obsession was mugging, thievery, and all things to do with breaking the town's laws. What starts as a petty, somewhat hesitant attempt to wreak havoc on the town and its people gradually blossoms into a full-fledged criminal lifestyle fueled by Terry's traumatizing past and crazy vengefulness. Before we know it, Terry has thrown himself into a festering abyss of killing and crime, ganging up with fellow outlaws and again becoming the most famous person in his small town, but for a much different reason.

So besides Terry's past, what is it that drives him to break the law? I think that part of it is the mere fact that he's escaped the police and law enforcers so many times that his success has gone to his head. He thinks that he can fool them every time, and he teases them by going on insane killing sprees and fleeing from the scene. An incredibly talented criminal, Terry has realized that the so-called "authorities" of his town aren't actually as big as he knew them to be, and this would be a liberating realization for everyone. The thing that sets Terry apart from everyone else is that he springs upon each opportunity and approaches the situation in a way that gives him excitement - he shoves himself in the face of the law, only to tear himself away at the moment they bite. The ability to be quicker and almost invincible to the law's ever-watching eyes is a powerful thing.

I also believe that Terry's past fame plays a huge part in his desire to get in trouble. He's let the town down by getting his leg stabbed and losing his ability to participate in sports. However, his obsessive competitiveness still burns and he chooses to apply that force to another activity that will earn him fame yet again, even if the fame could get him killed. The fact that your face is known all over Australia is a blessing and a curse, and fame is addicting - once you've achieved it, you keep wanting more.

The fact that he murders only sports figures is obviously a refection of his past. Whenever he hears of a cheating athlete or coach he punishes them by killing them. Sports and crime are very similar - both can start a fire of competition in anyone who takes part in either of them, and when you've got both in you, it's like an explosion.

Although it may seem like a total cliche that Terry's hunger for crime is based on his traumatizing past, I believe that it's so much more than that. I think so many criminals perform ridiculous acts to "punish" society, Terry's motives are so much more complex. In some ways, I think he's doing what he's doing in order to be known again, to make up for his loss of athleticism by doing something that will also make him well known. I think in some ways he's trying to make a point, but in others, he's just doing it because he can. He's been raised on crime since he was a young boy, and it's really become a part of his life. Crime, like a sport, is an aspect of life that can fuel obsessions. In Terry's case, crime is used to fill the holes in his life, and make an impact on his world.

Just for fun, here's The Clash and their cover of Sonny Curtis's "I Fought the Law". Yay!

clawing myself out of the rut.

i'm listening to the song "mad world", which was originally by tears for fears, but everyone seems to know only the gary jules version, which is stupid because he sounds exactly like michael stipe of REM. ugh, REM. anyway, it's weird because this song is expressing almost exactly how i'm feeling about the world. it's crazy - just earlier today i was convinced i as falling into this downwards spiral of bad writing because i wasn't placed into the "advanced revision" group in class today. it's true, though - my draft really sucked. it was cliched, dry, uninteresting...i mean, what kind of kid would want to read this, unless they like torturing themself? long story short, it was really, really, bad, as was my foreword, which was almost just as bad. ok, enough with the self-criticism. but this year i was determined to reconcile my life as a writer and create something i really was proud of. it was hard work, and i feel like i occasionally wrote something sort of good, but then again there was always that aspect that was a bit off about it, like milk that's just on the verge of souring. gross, right? i took a few pathetic stabs at writing deep and profound pieces which turned out disturbing or stereotypical and mostly just really...bad. around this time of writing depression, while i was developing a terrible habit of over-eating crappy candy bars, i picked up Steve Toltz's debut novel, A Fraction of The Whole. It was just the kind of cold, slightly offensive, riotously funny Australian story that i needed to cheer me up. The end result of reading a few chapters would end up shaping my writing life....maybe forever.

Today, after an excellent prompt administered by Miss Lilabet Johnstongil, i managed to whip about maybe the wittiest piece i had ever composed, one that i was actually proud of, entitled The Predicament of Monsieur Chapeau, Jr. The positive praise from teacher and students alike was more than enough to convince me that i really hadn't fallen into a rut at all, i just was a much better comic writer than an epic novelist. i definitely saw bits in my story that were largely inspired by A Fraction of The Whole, and i thank Steve Toltz for producing such an inspiring, humorous book that made me realize who i truly am as a writer. although i occasionally feel dumb and silly for composing funny pieces, it rarely bothers me, and i am truly satisfied with writing things that make people laugh.

so, back to that tears for fears song. it really is a mad world, because you'll never really know when your life will flip itself around and you'll find something you like. but that song is over now, and now my ipod's playing a-ha's "take on me". i guess there can't always be a song to spontaneously fit my mood.

dad has a blog?

I didn't even know he knew how to work a computer. Just kidding, but really, my dad has never been particularly tech-savvy. I believe it was my mother who suggested the revolutionary notion to my father, and I knew he had been reluctant to do it for a while. But he's finally started, and regularly updating it - that is, when under the watchful eye of Mother Futterman.

My dad is a freelance music writer - mostly for jazz. He used to work full time for Barnes and Noble.com, until he got laid off one or two years ago. Since then, my mother has been attempting to "put him out there" in order for magazines and up-and-coming musicians to find him on the internet. It was only until recently that I ventured to check out his blog, "Can You Tell Me A Story?". I had asked him why it was called this and he said it had something to do with jazz, and that I would have to read his blog to know. Frankly, I had no interest in reading about a genre that I had next to no interest about. But this week, I skimmed over his posts and found that he truly was a great bloggist.

But for some reason I found it slightly embarrassing to read his writing...he sounded different on the internet. Not bad or anything...just more eloquent, and he sounded so much more learned in the subject of music. I felt almost like I was violating his diary, and i quickly logged out.

I'm proud of my father for adapting to the world of bloggists so quickly. I love that he is getting exited about his blog and putting his talent out there. But I'm apprehensive about seeing the bloggy side of him. Blogs give us this whole new freedom to adopt a new voice and a new personality, and to me, that freedom is frightening. I wonder if I scare people on my blog.

http://canyoutellmeastory.blogspot.com/

Talk to Your Analyst - Isn't That What They're Paid For?

Lately I've been revisiting some of my favorite artists and their best albums. On this reminiscent mission, I've stumbled upon disc one of a Talking Heads Greatest Hits Album, strangely titled Sand in the Vaseline. I listened to one of my favorite songs on that record - No Compassion, originally on the Talking Head's debut album, Talking Heads: 77. This is one of the many reasons why I love David Byrne - he's brutally honest and can come off to some people as just plain rude in many of his songs. Take these lyrics - "Why are you in love with your problems? I think you take it a little to far. It's not so cool to have so many problems, but don't expect me to explain your indecision. Talk to your analyst - isn't that what they're paid for? You walk, you talk, you still function like you used to! It's not a question of your personality or style! Be a little more selfish, it might do you some good!" I think everyone can relate to David Byrne's rant against always having to care about everyone else's problems. In fact, he's not being rude at all. "In a world where people have problems, in this world, where decisions are a way of life, other people's problems, they overwhelm my mind, they say compassion is a virtue - but I don't have the time." We're all busy, and it sort of stinks to have to care about other people sometimes. I don't always have the time to think about other people's problems, but when I do, it really stresses me out. This song makes me laugh every time I hear it, but mostly because you really wouldn't expect those kind of lyrics in any kind of song.

Talking Heads are one of the most influential rock groups of the late seventies and early eighties, and I think this song really exemplifies that talent that the group possesses. David Byrne's unique voice that doesn't have much range gives all the songs a totally different meaning. The strange sounds stimulated by electric guitars and songs about unexpected topics such as which city they should live in or dancey songs about burning houses make them a group like no other. Revisiting their greatest hits made me realize all over again how great they were.

let me into your window!

During my month-long stay at summer camp, I happened to hear a song at a karaoke party that was like none other I had heard before - "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush, from the album "The Kick Inside". The song is painfully corny and ridiculous, with an even more goofy music video. Nonetheless, I immediately fell in love with the singer, prancing around in a white billowy dress, and I loved the song even more. That's the main reason why I was so compelled to read Emily Brontë's classic, which the song was named after. I wanted to find out what had driven Kate Bush to write such an unexpected song, and how the lyrics corresponded to the actual book. Before I go any further, though, here's the lyrics so you can get better acquainted with the song:

Out on the wiley, windy moors
We'd roll and fall in green
You had a temper, like my jealousy
Too hot, too greedy
How could you leave me?
When I needed to possess you?
I hated you, I loved you too

Bad dreams in the night
They told me I was going to lose the fight
Leave behind my wuthering, wuthering
Wuthering Heights

(Chorus) Heathcliff, its me, Cathy come home
I'm so cold, let me in-a-your window

Oh it gets dark, it gets lonely
On the other side from you
I pine alot, I find the lot
Falls through without you
I'm coming back love, cruel Heathcliff
My one dream, my only master

Too long I roam in the night
I'm coming back to his side to put it right
I'm coming home to wuthering, wuthering,
Wuthering Heights

(Chorus)
Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
Oh let me have it, let me grab your soul away
You know it's me, Cathy
(Chorus)

Well, that certainly is an interesting song. I'm only half done with the book, but I have a pretty good idea of which parts of the book Kate is referring to. She touches on the major parts of the story, from Catherine's jealousy of Heathcliff's kissing Isabella, to her never-ending love for him, even if she is married. It mentions Heathcliff and Cathy's childhood friendship at the beginning, and she calls him "cruel Heathcliff" at one point in the song, which is how Catherine sometimes refers to him in the book. This makes me wonder why there aren't any more songs about such passionate love stories.

To me, love stories are perfect for putting music to. I feel that music is so much easier to connect to than a complex novel - for me, at least. I have a passion for music, and this song made me appreciate the art of song writing even more. Songs are such a good way of communicating difficult opinions or ideas to people. Everyone can listen to a song and appreciate it tune, and some people can truly understand its lyrics as well, which is so important since many songs try to express a deeper message or meaning. I love how Kate Bush sums up the main ideas of the story in a simple song.

I also think that it's important to express different aspects of culture in songs. Kate Bush does a wonderful job of introducing this wonderful book to a large audience in a way that gives them the context of the story and displays the passion of the book. I don't know about the other listeners, but this song made me want to read the story.

Kate Bush is obviously incredibly ambitious and talented artist. She was smart to write a love song based on a book. Maybe she didn't have a love story of her own to share in a song, so she took someone else's. That what makes the song so unique.

see the music video here...

wow. sorry. sudden urge to post this.

alright, so i know that it's sort of really, really late for me to be getting into this song, and yes, i know, this is the song by radiohead that EVERYONE knows, but i just cannot stop listening to radiohead's masterpiece of music, "creep".

every time i press the replay button on itunes and thom yorke starts crooning these twisted lyrics into my ears...i feel like i'm going to cry. i don't know...it must be the beautiful, horribly bittersweet chords mixed with the brutally honest lyrics, but there is something about this song that makes me feel like i have to roll myself into a ball and swallow myself and lie in darkness. there's some sick pleasure in listening to this song. i feel the singer's pain as i hear the lyrics. i think a truly great song can do this. i can connect so deeply to this song. i know what i'm writing doesn't sound very deep...but i just can't convey my feelings for this song. i fall in love with thom yorke every single time i hear it.

listen and watch, please. beautiful.