Citizen Pete and The Commons (From The Front Range News, 2005) Folk music was my first musical love. Bob Dylan and Joan Baez took me by the hand and introduced me to Woody Guthrie, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Arlo, Odetta, Leadbelly, Jimmy Rodgers, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Bukka White, Richie Havens, Phil Ochs, Robert Johnson, … [read more]
Rock & Roll
Rock and Roll (Note: I wrote this in 2006. Levon just died the other day. RIP, friend, and thank you for the music.) The transcript that follows is my all-time favorite description of and commentary on American music, which you know I made a big fuss about last issue. As Levon Helm (above) points … [read more]
The Most Romantic Speech Ever
The Most Romantic Speech Ever Luis Puenzo’s film Old Gringo, the cinematic production of the Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes’ fine novel Gringo Viejo is one of my top twenty favorite pictures. If you live in most of America, you say “movies”. If you took lit classes or worse, film classes in college, you say “films”. … [read more]
Refugee Traveler
Refugee Traveler I travel a lot. Maybe a third of each year I spend in China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Korea and around the US. I realized this morning I have a refugee’s relationship to travel, to my home and to the stuff I have collected that I carry around the world. I discovered … [read more]
Rohatsu Week
Rohatsu Week One, not two then many, all Mu. Part time sesshin a collision of emotion. Walk through a wall bounce off four walls. Is it right or is it wrong? In this meeting, you must say. Do I really have to think that way? The zendo’s empty soft and round, the container fills without … [read more]
Like a cat
Like a cat… Sitting like a quivering cat terrified under the front porch. I look out at the light through the lattice, comfortable with my cobwebs and slugs I hear my voice calling “It’s sunny and warm. Please come out. Here, kitty, kitty, kitty.” 04/24/12