art music poetry

Happy Birthday Pops

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Louis has a lot to say in the prologue to to this song. I wish what he wishes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgYgl4OodeY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxjzkttwpuQ
Gotta Hear Hello Dolly, Ya know?

You just gotta hear this one too He sings of angels singing above. He’s one of them now and I see why the singing of angels has to be so special.

(August 4, 1901 – July 6, 1971

When I was a child in Tennessee the only black people I got to see on TV were Sammy, Louis, and Nat. I was a little boy and I didn’t understand. I still don’t. Now I know they helped take us beyond all of that or at least get us on the road.
In a large way I grew up with Louis Armstrong. He became a part of all of us. Our love for this man flows because of the joy! If you took joy and condensed it, squeezed it down until it was pure, you’d have Louis Armstrong. You made one little boy smile and you’ve made the old man smile with a tear.
Hey Pops, thank you for the joy.

david michael jackson August 4, 2012

You Can’t Steal What Is Already Yours Poem by Cynthia Evans

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You Can’t Steal What Is Already Yours
——————————————————————————–

Embedded in our
bones, worn into sinews,
We carry the
memories of one another.

Drums beat in
the night; it’s fall time,
And you hunted
with your bad shoulder.

Rising and
falling together,
The ducks fanned
their tails.

The bow you used
was worn from use,
And your
laughter crossed the ages.

You can’t steal
what’s already yours,
And you belong to
everyone you know.

And knowing one
another is enough,
Because life is
words not the world.

We are not needy
or greedy with one another
Patience,
compassion is all, it’s the way.

We were forever
annointed by the sun’s dance,
Brought to our
knees by the smoke of life.

Now we’ve been
given to each other once again,
Your path looked
familiar and it brought me home.

Stay quiet now in
the knowing,
Your Creator has
you by the hand.
***

Poetry Reading: Ted Kooser

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Ted Kooser is a major poetic voice for rural and small town America and the award-winning author of ten collections of poetry, most recently 2004’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Delights and Shadows.