Wales has given us many great exports besides coal. One has been the beauty of its poetry, and the other the beauty of its music. In the video clip below, from 1970, Tom Jones does something other than sway his hips — he recites for us from countryman Dylan Thomas’ A Child’s Christmas in Wales. Accompanying him is The Treorchy Male Choir, singing holiday carols in the lovely sounds of the Welsh choral tradition.
When I was writing this up, I found not just one quote to use, but two. I’ll title this with Joe Jackson’s song and include the video at the bottom. But following is another sonnet from Harper’s beloved Poetry Magazine archive (which really is a nifty source of material!)
How can I offer you the dull, frayed song Of love I know? Each word would stumble on A memory; and I should see a long Blurred line of faces grimacing upon A musty curtain of the past …. Ah, no …. Let me be silent …. Words would only sound A monotone: a toxic, cloying flow Of echoes would sift through, and eddy round My voice, and all the rapture that I feel Would turn into a harlequin and steal Away beneath the vivid, measured hum Of mockery. Ah, dearest, may there come An ecstasy of stillness in each day, That you may sense the thoughts I dare not say!
I love this song, and this video illustrates what we do in Second Life (as I did in my photos above) quite nicely, transforming ourselves for a time into whatever life we want to live, to change away from the humdrum and pains of daily Real Life.
It’s been bananas for a while for all of us except Morgan; she’s working on a story, but isn’t satisfied with her photos yet. Me, I’m driving my son into the university every single weekday, as he abhors driving, and I’m searching for time to get anything done. (I can’t testify to the others.)
I want to get something up, though, and I discovered this via British Pathé. Looks like “ombré” hair is nothing new ….
I can’t say why we keep ending up at clubs and bars and coffeehouses, except they’re convenient places with lots of poses laid in already, and often props to help out as well. Of course, for this song, a bar or club is really needed.
It’s quarter to three There’s no one in the place ‘cept you and me So set ’em up Joe I got a little story I think you oughta know
We’re drinking my friend To the end of a brief episode So make it one for my baby And one more for the road
I know the routine Put another nickel in that there machine I’m feeling so bad Won’t you make the music easy and sad
I could tell you a lot But you gotta to be true to your code So make it one for my baby And one more for the road
There’s some interesting things at the current events and the Fantasy Faire, but I decided to dip into my back Inventory, and stumbled across this dress. Conan was kind enough to serve as mon bel amour for a shot (well, he does live in Québec), and here we are.
Moonlight becomes you It goes with your hair You certainly know The right thing to wear
Moonlight becomes you And I’m thrilled at the sight And we could get So romantic tonight
As always on this night, we of Around the Grid bring you our joint wishes for the future, as voiced by Bing Crosby and David Bowie —
From Conan, Jem, Diana, Morgan and myself, may the day of peace eternal come to this troubled world for us, for you … for us all. And remember that all of us — every son and daughter of the Divine, however you see the Divine — are the parents and nurturers of that peace. It is up to us to bring it, somehow.
This is the night mail crossing the Border, Bringing the cheque and the postal order, Letters for the rich, letters for the poor, The shop at the corner, the girl next door. Pulling up Beattock, a steady climb: The gradient’s against her, but she’s on time.
Here are some photo tips from Strawberry Singh, which I discovered today on New World Notes — thanks, Ham! Even old hands can learn new things, and I discovered some goodies about WindLight and Firestorm I didn’t know about.
Be prepared for maybe a minute of dead air at the beginning as Berry is getting things set up; don’t touch your dial, as she’ll come in soon. Additionally, be prepared for a photobombing visitor in the background close to the end — a rather “EEEwwww”-worthy Hallowe’en clown (grin).
Second Life® with Harper, Conan, Jem, Diana and Morgan
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