You are just two years older than myself. Yet here I am getting to know you for the first time. How I would have loved to know you in the 70's. However, thanks to YouTube I have discovered you and your writing and music.
The imagery and mystical lyricism of your writing is so exquisite. At times, it reminds me of Rilke. You inspire me to elevate my own writing, to challenge myself to describe everyday things in a mythopoetic voice.
Thank YOU, PATTI, for this exquisitely wrought and spoken vision. Wisdom answered and expanded by Imagination. And, hey, the saucer might be the source. A great start to this Sunday morning. Let me pass along, too, these links to two videos differently soulful--Patti and FRED performing "People Have The Power" in March 1990 and video-doc of Fred from the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame's induction of him in 2018.
Synchronicity. Earlier today I watched the video of Patti and Fred performing People Have the Power. We need to play this from the rooftops during this election year.
Another lovely poem and so good to hear your voice. I love the statue of the little boy surrounded by birds so evocative of past times. It’s also something my partner and l do everyday, feed the birds. Nature brings such solace in these troubled days. Much love from London 🙏
The image of the boy with the birds in the reading and in the photo remind me of one of the stories from the Infancy Gospels of Saint Thomas; it’s always lovely to read what an incarnate deity is like in childhood, still learning how to be limited by flesh and five senses. “This little child Jesus when he was five years old was playing at the ford of a brook: and he gathered together the waters that flowed there into pools, and made them straightway clean, and commanded them by his word alone. 2 And having made soft clay, he fashioned thereof twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when he did these things (or made them). And there were also many other little children playing with him.
And a certain Jew when he saw what Jesus did, playing upon the Sabbath day, departed straightway and told his father Joseph: Lo, thy child is at the brook, and he hath taken clay and fashioned twelve little birds, and hath polluted the Sabbath day. 4 And Joseph came to the place and saw: and cried out to him, saying: Wherefore doest thou these things on the Sabbath, which it is not lawful to do? But Jesus clapped his hands together and cried out to the sparrows and said to them: Go! and the sparrows took their flight and went away chirping.”
Today,I heard a conversation in English between a British musician and a photographer who has lived in the UK for a long time. They said that punk, unlike in the UK, has aggressive and violent nuances in American English.
From my point of view, not all musicians want to be called American originators, as punk was established as a musical genre in the UK, which was then reimported to the US.
For me as an English person it’s generally thought over here that punk came from the States and a certain Malcom McLaren when in New York thought he would do this in London. There are huge discussions about this at university and Colleges here which l think is hysterical.
Anyway l agree with Patti especially that it’s a state of mind and an expression of new freedom! There have been many Punks over the ages!
For me punk may well have originated with Mozart or Rimbaud. It doesn't matter where or who, it is a state of mind, an expression of the new, of freedom.
Patti, is the photo of the boy with birds from your own garden ? He is surrounded by mugwort - most commonly thought of as a weed, mugwort is my favorite plant. Mugwort is a potent dream ally, which can help us from day dreams to lucid dreams. Using mugwort, in a tea blend, in a tincture, or even just bundling it and hanging it in your house, can inspire synchronicities and dream magic. Feels fitting to have the boy with birds surrounded by mugwort, and even more fitting if it was growing in your yard.
if you ever happen to be on the redwood coast and you want to see our small but mighty wildlife hospital. let me know. this last piece of the New Jerusalem makes me think you'd enjoy your visit.
I will pass it along to those in my book group, with whom today we had a probing, appreciative, serious and thoroughly delightful discussion about "M Train."
Thank you so much, Patti! I just ordered a copy of the book at the Nexus Institute (20 euro's and 5 for transport) . I live in Ansterdam, but all your followers can do that: just google 'Nexus Patti Smith' and you will at the side to order the book.
You are just two years older than myself. Yet here I am getting to know you for the first time. How I would have loved to know you in the 70's. However, thanks to YouTube I have discovered you and your writing and music.
I know someone with the voice of inexhaustible good....
The imagery and mystical lyricism of your writing is so exquisite. At times, it reminds me of Rilke. You inspire me to elevate my own writing, to challenge myself to describe everyday things in a mythopoetic voice.
Thank you, dear Patti
Thank YOU, PATTI, for this exquisitely wrought and spoken vision. Wisdom answered and expanded by Imagination. And, hey, the saucer might be the source. A great start to this Sunday morning. Let me pass along, too, these links to two videos differently soulful--Patti and FRED performing "People Have The Power" in March 1990 and video-doc of Fred from the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame's induction of him in 2018.
PATTI and FRED
“People Have The Power”
Arista celebration, March 1990
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEX_f4_5Yio
FRED’s induction into West Virginia Hall of Fame VIDEO doc, 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-hMSwEf8oo
Synchronicity. Earlier today I watched the video of Patti and Fred performing People Have the Power. We need to play this from the rooftops during this election year.
To "redeem the work of fools"!
Another lovely poem and so good to hear your voice. I love the statue of the little boy surrounded by birds so evocative of past times. It’s also something my partner and l do everyday, feed the birds. Nature brings such solace in these troubled days. Much love from London 🙏
The image of the boy with the birds in the reading and in the photo remind me of one of the stories from the Infancy Gospels of Saint Thomas; it’s always lovely to read what an incarnate deity is like in childhood, still learning how to be limited by flesh and five senses. “This little child Jesus when he was five years old was playing at the ford of a brook: and he gathered together the waters that flowed there into pools, and made them straightway clean, and commanded them by his word alone. 2 And having made soft clay, he fashioned thereof twelve sparrows. And it was the Sabbath when he did these things (or made them). And there were also many other little children playing with him.
And a certain Jew when he saw what Jesus did, playing upon the Sabbath day, departed straightway and told his father Joseph: Lo, thy child is at the brook, and he hath taken clay and fashioned twelve little birds, and hath polluted the Sabbath day. 4 And Joseph came to the place and saw: and cried out to him, saying: Wherefore doest thou these things on the Sabbath, which it is not lawful to do? But Jesus clapped his hands together and cried out to the sparrows and said to them: Go! and the sparrows took their flight and went away chirping.”
Yes, I love this story and often reference it. Thank you for sharing it.
Today,I heard a conversation in English between a British musician and a photographer who has lived in the UK for a long time. They said that punk, unlike in the UK, has aggressive and violent nuances in American English.
From my point of view, not all musicians want to be called American originators, as punk was established as a musical genre in the UK, which was then reimported to the US.
For me as an English person it’s generally thought over here that punk came from the States and a certain Malcom McLaren when in New York thought he would do this in London. There are huge discussions about this at university and Colleges here which l think is hysterical.
Anyway l agree with Patti especially that it’s a state of mind and an expression of new freedom! There have been many Punks over the ages!
For me punk may well have originated with Mozart or Rimbaud. It doesn't matter where or who, it is a state of mind, an expression of the new, of freedom.
Thank you for your reply. I too feel Mozart and Rembrandt as the source of punk.
I don't know much English, but when I look up punk in the OED, it seems that there is a great variety of slang in American English.
https://www.oed.com/dictionary/punk_n1?tl=true
When I look up punk music in the dictionary, it says it means the same as punk rock.
https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195176322.001.0001/acref-9780195176322-e-1303
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ja/dictionary/english/punk
This is the basis for my statement.
But my premise is that music and language should first of all respect what individuals think and feel.
Patti's readings are sharp.
Let's take proper nouns.
The Ramones released 'Sheena Is a Punk Rocker' (1977), and in several interviews they says that British musicians used to come to GBGB to see them
Excuse me, Mozart and A.Rimbaud; incidentally, Rembrandt also feels punk-ish.
Patti, is the photo of the boy with birds from your own garden ? He is surrounded by mugwort - most commonly thought of as a weed, mugwort is my favorite plant. Mugwort is a potent dream ally, which can help us from day dreams to lucid dreams. Using mugwort, in a tea blend, in a tincture, or even just bundling it and hanging it in your house, can inspire synchronicities and dream magic. Feels fitting to have the boy with birds surrounded by mugwort, and even more fitting if it was growing in your yard.
Thank you. Yes it is mine. I call him John after one of the lost boys in Neverland.
if you ever happen to be on the redwood coast and you want to see our small but mighty wildlife hospital. let me know. this last piece of the New Jerusalem makes me think you'd enjoy your visit.
Thank you for sharing this, Patti.
I will pass it along to those in my book group, with whom today we had a probing, appreciative, serious and thoroughly delightful discussion about "M Train."
Dearest Patti, your words were knocking on heaven's door. ❣️
Omg Patti! You are giving me Borges vibes and I’m loving every minute of it ❤️🔥
Thank you for the poetry reading. I have retrieved a copy from Holland and look forward to watching it again.
I thought from the content that perhaps frustration with the Trump administration was in the background.
It is a good insight.
Beautiful! I had a similar dream about this woman and the offering when I was a child. Thank you for re-kindling this ancient memory.
Thank you so much, Patti! I just ordered a copy of the book at the Nexus Institute (20 euro's and 5 for transport) . I live in Ansterdam, but all your followers can do that: just google 'Nexus Patti Smith' and you will at the side to order the book.
Just do it!