First the universe came into being, then the Earth cooled, and finally the 1970s happened. The best-selling pop/rock song in the U.S. in 1974, I am told, was "Come and Get Your Love," by a Native American group called Redbone, headed up by Lolly and Pat Vegas, who were from a town near Fresno, California. The version of the song from "Midnight Special" on Youtube is pretty good, I think. I always liked the funkiness of the song.
In 2006 Lolly Vegas was interviewed. Good to hear his history of his music:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klShZ7iYUOg
Rest in Peace, Lolly Vegas.
Video/reading of a short poem by Prévert (1900-1977), translated by Alastair Campbell--grateful acknowledgement to him:
Link:
Video/reading of a lovely, whimsical love poem by Robert Desnos, translated from the French:
link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPqht2HE7jY
(housebound)
the cat looks out a window I
look at the cat, which looks
at its paw and then at the woman
who looks at the cat and then
looks at me, who is looking out
a window and then looking at
the woman, who says "why
are you looking at me that
way?" and I say "what way?"
and she shakes her head
and looks at the cat and
the cat looks out a window
hans ostrom 2020
Reading/video of a short autumn poem by the French Modernist Apollinaire.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2caHsh8ZVk
Chilean poet Gabriela Mistral wrote "Decalogue of the Artist," a poem that sets some high standards for art. A reading/video:
An amusing poem (in my opinion) by Frank O'Hara--reading/video:
[re-posting one from a long while back]
"Defend and Proclaim the Faith Ministries' Founder and Pastor John McTernan has blamed Hurricane Sandy on homosexuals and President Obama," reports Gay Star News [October 29, 2012]"
I see where a pastor opined
that a big tropical storm
arose because of the homosexual
agenda, which I gather
goes as follows:
1. Call to Order
2. Approve gay minutes from the previous homosexual meeting.
3. Old Business: continuing to be who we are.
4. New Business: affecting the weather.
5. Adjournment.
Copyright 2012 Hans Ostrom
I think my favorite song by Mickey Newbury is the 3/4 tempo ballad, "The Future's Not What It Used to Be"
Anyway, here's a reading/video of a revised poem of mine posted a few years ago:
