Tuesday 27 July 2010

What I did on my holidays

Hi all,

Following a less than satisfactory (90%) stay in the Norwich/Norfolk area; I decide to list all the good things about the stay rather than dwell on the negative, so here's the list (my favouright things):-

My new Dean guitar arrvied (for you guitar heads, explorer style Z79 in black with hot pickups).
Managed to get a re-issue of  a Count Basie CD (4 CD's including Joe Williams sings standards)
Listened to 2am: Paradise Cafe by Barry Manilow, some great Baritone sax work by Gerry Mulligan, vocals by Sarah Vaughan, Mel Torme etc.
Elkins Music, Norwich; very good store for singers sheeet music (low/medium voice)
Turkish delight ice cream at Gorleston beach.
GreatYarmouth: Allens music, Barry Manilow songbook (notes on songs) plus Olympia restaurant Southern Chicken with banana and pineapple fritters.
White leather top trainers.
Amber tooth charm.
Picnic in the grounds of Sandringham.
Reading King Tubby's biography.
Paddling in the the Sea.
Lobster tails in seafood sauce at Hunstanton.

Overall the above more than offsets the poor breakfast buffet, and too soft beds in the Hotel we stayed at!


Sifting (extract).

Sifting, just sifting


The good from out the bad.


Sifting, just sifting


Focussing on what aint sad.


Sifting, just sifting


I’ve decided to look to the light


Sifting, just sifting


Peel away the clouds uncover the bright.



The man at the seafood stall gives me plenty seafood sauce


Coating all the lobster tails,


Thanks me for calling, gave me two free forks...

My finest Blues lyrics? Probably not but an exercise in positive psychology ( positive cognitions, setting the filters to the brighter)

My friend Kathy wondered whether I should email those on the poems list re my ceasing -see my earlier post on  the dangers of internet postings- so I've decided to email the link to this Blog out.


NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,


Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.

Friday 9 July 2010

The Sea is calling...

The Seaside next week is calling me. Here's a poem, enjoy.



Shell Speech (extract).



My palm, pressed to my ear, makes two fleshed shells.


Cupping and containing the hollow sea, with sound of surf.


And, if I take off my shoes, the air and motion feels slightly cool


like wavelets, as I waft my feet...


From: "September Songs" © Louis J. Casson , Cryptic Furnace Press, 2007

All rights reserved.
 
 
I've always enjoyed the Sea and the waves with the Sun dancing off them. Like clouds watching there is something soothing in the aspect of water, grounding us again to the nature we are part of. 
 
Strangely enough thus week I posted on Linkedin a video clip of Rodney Crowell singing "Till I Can Gain Control Again"  -the song contains references to rowing, a lighthouse, and also the killer line "like sunlight dancing on your skin".
 
Is it the musicians, the words etc? Yes, but more so it's the song (and, as Trisha Yearwoood would sing "The Song Remembers When"). When all the elements come together then it makes for success.  
 
 On another note check out the single Gregory by a new band Chapter 24, on Facebook. A refreshing change to my ears, you'll probably like it too. Very good music, I also like the sound of the Fender Mustang bass, simple lines can be so effective. 
 
Had a listen to Dub Fever by King Tubby; Robbie Shakespeare's bass riddims are effective, seem simple - until you try to play them!

NB: All contents © Louis J. Casson , Purple Squirrel Poems,


Cryptic Furnace Press 2010 All rights reserved.