Wednesday, October 20, 2010

October, seen from a hilltop meadow

This may or may not be the World Tree, "Yggdrasil," from which in Old Norse mythology Odin hung for nine days and nine nights as the price demanded of him to gain wisdom to be all-powerful in the nine worlds. I rather doubt it, but there seemed to be something mystical about this lone tree as it watched the October sun set in the distance. Perhaps, the tree wished to follow the sun. Perhaps, since I no longer have roots, perhaps, I will.

T.S. and I have a difference of opinion

In a segment entitled, "The Burial of the Dead," poet T.S. Eliot opens his indisputably most famous work, "The Waste Land," with these lines:

April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory and desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain.
Winter kept us warm, covering
Earth in forgetful snow, feeding
A little life with dried tubers.


That, friends, Romans and countrymen, unlike the drivel put out the past decade or two or three, by blank verse, free verse, open verse and/or no verse poets is an example of real, actual, genuine poetry.


But, just for the sake of argument, I vote for October or January as the cruelest month. (We shall leave any arguments regarding actual poetry for another time.) Both these months have foreshadowed sledge-hammer hard blows to my psyche. Each year, I hold my breath waiting for each October to pass. Some years, they are (thankfully) uneventful. Some years, they slam me in their opening moments. Other years, they ambush me at the last possible second.

So, you ask me, how can a month (October for now; we will wait on January) with such beautiful colors and such stunning sunsets be cruel?


To which, I respond: Why, or how, so often is that which is beautiful also cruel?

Oh, hell. Who cares? Time to lighten up.


Well, once upon a time they were boys

A few days ago, I posted the Thin Lizzy version of the song, "Whiskey in the Jar." I am not certain many, if any, actually listened to the song here and, if they did, realized that the men on stage were only some of the surviving members of this Irish hard rock band. Absent from the group was Phil Lynott, one of the founding members and the lead vocalist, who between liquor and drugs finished himself off at age thirty six.

I hate to shatter the image you must have of me. I mean the image of a mild-mannered, ivory-tower, conservative, old-school, polite, somewhat pedantic gentleman. But, I think that at this point in time, I must be in the mood for a wild night with a wild woman in a wild bar.

October, as I have mentioned, traditionally is a harsh month for me and I am holding my breath and hiding in the shadows as it passes by me this year. I need to cut loose. So, with a night at Dino's bar and grill foremost in my mind, here again is Thin Lizzy, here again minus Lynott, this time performing what is considered the band's only "major hit" song -- "The Boys are Back in Town."

Some lines
from the Thin Lizzy song

"The Boys are Back in Town"

Spread the word around
Guess who's back in town

You spread the word around

Friday night they'll be dressed to kill
Down at Dino's bar and grill
The drink will flow and blood will spill
And if the boys want to fight, you'd better let them

The boys are back in town
The boys are back in town


15 comments:

Magda Machnicka said...

Hi, Frammy, I cannot help myself thinking how cute this tree could look during a Christmas time, with snow and many little lights all over it.

Yes, I am very glad, too, about my "preparations", and getting really excited.

Kaya said...

Fram, you made me feel good with this post. You made me smile again. Wild night with a wild woman???? That is great!!! And that is a new Fram. I like it. Uhhhuu....

Eliot.... I read first time this beautiful fragment of poem in English and I can tell you it's beautiful in any language. I love Eliot and I have at home a little book I brought with myself to US. Thank you for this segment.

I am not going to ask why October is a harsh time for you but I would like to know what is your favorite season of the year. Spring? Summer? Or even winter? I used to like winter a lot but not anymore because driving in snow blizzard isn't fun .

By the way my image of you is quite different from what you write about yourself.

Ok, mild mannered... Let me think about it. Ivory-tower??? Whatever it means I am not sure. Conservative? I agree but only to a certain point. Polite??? Of course, but not always. Absolutely disagree with "somewhat pedantic gentleman".

I didn't know about Thin Lizzy. I wonder why so many musicians sometimes end up in a very dramatic way.

And I "spread" the world around or stop it for a while two week ago with friends in a bar in Park City with a lot of music, laugh and jokes. You can't believe but it was my first time in a wild American sporty bar (Yankee played on one of Saturdays). Ok, I listen to Gary Moore and not sure do I like him or not....

Great post. It changed my mood. Thank you for that.

Kaya said...

The photo of a lonely tree in sunset is soooo beautiful. It took my breath away. Love it!!!!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful tree.
I used to have my own Yggdrasil when I was a kid. An old, furrowed oak near my grandparent's house.
It was beautiful, majestic and sooooo old. My grandfather told me it was there when he was a kid too and I remember wishing I could talk to it.

Fram Actual said...

Yes, I agree with you, Mag. This tree would make a beautiful Christmas tree. Maybe, it will become one for someone -- but, remaining outdoors, I hope.

This photograph of the tree, with the sun and the clouds beyond it, actually makes me think of Easter. So, maybe, it is symbolic of the transition between the events marked by these two holy days.

Traveling is many things. It is excitement, it is work, it is learning, it is adventure. It also is discovery, about the places you visit and about yourself. I think you will enjoy your travels, Mag, and what you discover along the way.

Fram Actual said...

It actually might have been the old Fram reemerging for a day (or, more accurately, for an evening). I usually am an observer now, rather than a participant.

It is interesting, Kaya, to learn about your feelings for the work of T.S. Eliot. It is very possible he was born with a Russian soul, now that I think about it.

I suppose I have no favorite season. There are things I like and dislike about all of them. My thoughts about winter are the same as you expressed. For the most part, I like winter if I do not have to drive in bad weather. If I were to be pressed, I suppose May and June are the months I prefer the most these days.

Yes, in my "description" of myself I was being a bit facetious again. (You see, I like that word or, rather, like to be that way when I write.) I also am not above deliberately trying to mislead people at times when explaining the actuality of Fram.

I seldom go into bars anymore and, if I do, I look for quiet, empty ones. I like to have bars and restaurants to myself as much as possible -- or, to myself and the young lady who is with me, if that should be the case.

Oh, I was never a Thin Lizzy fan myself, but I really like the song, "Whiskey in the Jar," and last night I was in the mood for a touch of hard rock = "The Boys are Back in Town."

In fact, I never had heard Gary Moore sing before a few days ago (at least, that I recall). He is a great guitar man, but really not much of a singer. When I think of Thin Lizzy, I think of Phil Lynott doing the vocals.

I am glad you thought the photograph of the tree at sunset was beautiful, Kaya, and I am happy my post put a smile on your face. It served more than one purpose then.

Now, it has been several hours since you wrote your comment. I hope the day has been good to you.

Fram Actual said...

Yes, it is beautiful, Nanna, and it was born where it has an excellent view of the setting sun every day of the year. It is a lucky tree (so far), and I hope it lives for years and years and years.

So, you and your grandfather had your own Yggdrasil. I hope this oak tree is still alive and healthy. It was a lucky tree, too, since it was able to watch your grandfather grow from a child to be an old man.

It would be nice if you are able to visit this tree at times yet today and, if so, maybe, to try talking to it now. In my mind, you belong to this tree as much as it once belonged to your grandfather and still belongs to you.

Kaya said...

It's me again. Do you know what happen to me this morning? I came to your blog to tell you that I am going to delete my blog Notes but I decided to read your post first and... The photo of lonely tree, Elliot, Gary Moore.....

I changed my mind and decided to keep it for a while Notes. Fram, you inspired me to write something I would never ever dare to write.... Am I influenced by your blog???? Absolutely.

Fram Actual said...

We both are having a strange day, Kaya. I left a comment on your "Notes" page a while ago. Then, I did some other things, including one thing very stupid that will cost me some money. Then, I came back here and saw you had returned and left another comment for me. So, now I will respond to it. Our paths not only cross, but they crisscross.

Yes, I saw from your post what happened to you this morning. I am glad it happened. In the comment I left for you on your "Notes" page, I called you brave, and I believe you are, although you might not always recognize the strength you have within you.

If some of the things I write are beneficial for you and have a positive influence on you, then I am pleased our paths have crossed. And, as I said in my previous comment to you, then my post has served more than one purpose. It was good for both of us.

Magda Machnicka said...

Yes, I think the same, and that Miss Mouse will enjoy them, too!

Fram Actual said...

There is no doubt that, like you, Mag, Ms. Mouse will have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of new experiences. I hope she is doing her homework so she will be prepared for a new world.

I might also mention that White Bear is eager to see her again, and to show off his newly acquired skills and knowledge of life in America. By the way, he speaks English quite fluently now.

Magda Machnicka said...

Well, I wanted her to learn English, and she had been doing that, for a while, but you know how impatient she is, she wishes to speak and write perfect immediately, without putting too much work in it. I hope one day she will understand, that nothing comes for free.

Fram Actual said...

Yes, Mag, I remember Ms. Mouse quite well. And, yes, it is true she often is impatient and the world cannot keep pace with her.

But, she is very intelligent and wise beyond her years, and she really does have an excellent command of the English language, so I have no doubt she will quickly acclimate to the lifestyle and the expressions. I think she will surpass many Americans in her grasp and use of the local idiom.

She really has a cute accent, too, when she speaks English, so maybe it is best to let her go at her own pace.

Kaya said...

Fram, I will be away for a few days or maybe a week out of town. I will write you when I return back. Sorry, I deleted my previous comment. I made a mistake signing it by my real name. That is what happens when you are in a hurry.

All my best to you, Kaya.

Fram Actual said...

And, indeed, a very Russian name it is. Very nice name; very pretty name.

Thank you, Kaya, for mentioning your excursion and consequential absence from the sea of blogs. I am not sure how the rest of the world feels, but I appreciate knowing when someone is leaving for a while. Foolish as it might sound, I worry to some degree when a regular visitor vanishes without a word.

I will be curious to learn if you brought your camera with you on your trip. In any case, travel safely, and I hope your venture is an enjoyable one.

Something special ....