: The Forest Primeval
Sorry, no humorous observations this month, just some vague philosophical musings…
“What is so rare as a day in June?” Indeed. Generations ago, it was a regular part of American education that kids were expected to memorize poetry. My father would regularly break out into Longfellow around the dinner table…
“THIS is the forest primeval. The murmuring pines and the hemlocks,
Bearded with moss, and in garments green, indistinct in the twilight,
Yadda yadda yadda”
The yadda yadda part is what my 11 year olds ears heard after the first couple of lines. Much later in life, when I first moved to Montclair, we had a neighbor across the street, Mr. Balsh, a WW I veteran – may he rest in peace, who had lived in the same house for 80 years – and he too would break out in poetry on occasion. He recited the whole “What is so rare as a day in June” poem for me once. Fortunately for me (since I’m terrible at memorizing) by the time I was going to school in the 50s & 60s, memorizing poetry was no longer part of the curriculum. Now, I don’t know. I’m not advocating bringing back this particular form of childhood torture, but it feels to me like we’ve lost something. Anyway, in memory of Mr Balsh, I’ve included a snippet at the bottom.
Meanwhile, I’ve got some fun stuff going on in June. It’s the last regular Lunatic Fringe show at Piano’s, there’s a Woodstock Retrospective thing going on, and there’s a fun gig at Ruthies at the end of the month. Also, in July I’m back with Arthur Neilson at Robin’s Nest on the 2nd and I’m doing the West Orange Blues Festival on July 3rd.
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June 12, Saturday, 8-9:30 PM – Lunatic Fringe, Piano’s Bar & Grill, 36 Broad St, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 (973) 743-7208 Reservations: (973) 429-1527
It’s the last show of the 2009-2010 season. There is a cover charge of $12. And Carl? Visualize yourself walking out of your front door at 7:30 this Saturday night. Visualize going to the left to the corner, then make another left turn. Visualize baby sitters.
http://www.pianosbarandgrill.com
http://www.lunaticfringeimprov.com
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=122790521067191
June 18, Friday, 8-10:30 PM – Kosmic Replay- The Spirit of Woodstock Revisited, Hendrix/Janis/Santana Tribute, Port 41, 355 W 41st St, NYC (212) 244-4408
Those of you who attended the Woodstock Show that Nikki Armstrong put on last summer will remember a great night. This show will feature just the Janis Joplin, Santana, and Woodstock sections of that show – I’ll be playing with Nikki on the Janis Joplin tribute. Don’t be put off by the location, it’s a safe and fun place!
http://www.port41bar.com
http://www.myspace.com/nikkiarmstrongbands
http://www.nikkiarmstrong.com/
June 30, Tuesday, 7:00-9:30ish PM – Shuffle, Jump, & Moan at Ruthie’s Bar-B-Q & Pizza, 64 1/2 Chestnut Ave, Montclair (973) 509-1134
I will on my toes all evening, as I will be sitting in with some very talented musicians who perform under the name Shuffle, Jump, and Moan. The band features Ken Adessa on Drums, Brand Schwartzseid on Bass, and Rob Signorile on Guitar & Vocals. Hopefully, Ruthie’s proprietor Eric Kaplan will be able to dust off his apron for a song or two near the end of the night. As always, the shows at Ruthie’s are outdoors, so if the weather is uncertain, please call first.
http://www.ruthiesbbq.com/
http://www.shufflejumpandmoan.com
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What is so rare as a day in June?
For those of you who have gotten this far, the actual poem is “The Vision of Sir Launfal” by the 19th century poet James Russel Lowell. The “What is so rare” is but a small snippet of a fairly long poem about the serach for the Holy Grail. I got this from http://www.lib.rochester.edu/camelot/launfal.htm.
And what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, if ever, come perfect days;
Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,
And over it softly her warm ear lays:
Whether we look, or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see it glisten;
Every clod feels a stir of might,
An instinct within it that reaches and towers,
And, grasping blindly above it for light,
Climbs to a soul in grass and flowers;
The flush of life may well be seen
Thrilling back over hills and valleys;
The cowslip startles in meadows green,
The buttercup catches the sun in its chalice,
And there ‘s never a leaf or a blade too mean
To be some happy creature’s palace;
The little bird sits at his door in the sun,
Atilt like a blossom among the leaves,
And lets his illumined being o’errun
With the deluge of summer it receives;
His mate feels the eggs beneath her wings,
And the heart in her dumb breast flutters and sings;
He sings to the wide world, and she to her nest,–
In the nice ear of Nature which song is the best?