Labor from a Different Angle
This past weekend was really nice. For one, Joe and I did some more roadtripping -- lucky that, since we were surprised to find my grannyhoopdie could make it an hour out of town. We headed down to Northern Mississippi, got lost in mind, pulled off to get a map (NO! not $5 when you can peek and go), got tempted by the chicken strips and corn dogs in the deli, stopped off at a state highway surprise state park, and then shot on down to Oxford.
We circled the streets, poked our fingers at old-Southern-school, wide-porched houses we SHOULD be allowed to live in. Got over to Rowan Oak -- Faulkner's house -- and walked around the grounds, me imagining what passage he might've written looking out which window at what time of day.
We walked the Square for some coffee and headed back to Memphis, diving towards sunset. Got back and had a few friends for beers and rum, sat on the floor and listened to music and jawed. Pushed towards dawn.
Saturday night, we saw Hero and Monday afternoon I watched Black Hawk Down. Not sure what happened, but watching both these movies stick-stirred me and I found I was able to find that zone of skidding words and was able to write several poems over the weekend. I am not raising the roof on the quality of these really -- just re-charged to have that feeling when writing again: that what I am knowing as I write lies in fuzzed-out corners that I refuse to simplify and enjoy experientially fleshing out, gesturing towards, in the very act of scribbling.
All said, the weekend felt earthy and rich. Which makes me think I am finding that aesthetic again. Musically, I am happy to say I have been in this zone: Anybody ever heard the Be Good Tanyas?
www.begoodtanyas.com
Vancouver ladies who grip the traditional -- country? bluegrass? folk? -- and strip it down to a sharp thing that can be used -- tool-like -- right now. It's about the continuity to me. Blue Horse is the best thing.
Here's to your hands in the cold, dark earth of your choice. Maybe work will never be the same again ... . Hehehehehe.