Sydney Schanberg 1934-2016 I He chronicled the master of Cambodia’s campaign Captured with camera the politics of pain Pol Pot led the Khmer Rouge bloody reign of terror Schanberg saw the truth, for moments brought us there A small town kid, ‘34, oh what life will yield From working in his father’s store to the … Read More
Not At All (audio) Two lives, incomplete Then Fate sets the scene: Provides then an empty seat Crowded coffee shop in Queens He was sitting reading “As You Like It” “Excuse me, would you mind If I shared this table? I’ll be quiet.” He knew his line “Not at all” She kept her promise for perhaps … Read More
On July 7, Jason Russell, while saving his eleven-year-old son, Aaron, died in the waters of Lake Champlain. I can’t stop thinking about that boy. And about us. About forgiveness. It Wasn’t Your Fault A boy swims. Too far. Trouble The ocean, as always, indifferent to struggle A father unskilled dives to the blue Willfully … Read More
The Night Cafe The Night Cafe Vincent Van Gogh What else to say? Where would words go? Le Cafe de Nuit (how bad my French is) It speaks to me (Christ I’m pretentious) It’s seventy kilometers It hangs at Yale It’s….oh God I’m not sure.. Words will fail Am I a critic? Here I stand … Read More
Noel Neill 1920-2016 Noel Neill played Lois, a reporter who wore pearls And pretended not to notice just who saved the world As a child, to be a journalist was her ironic plan Then her life took a turn and thus Iconic Man His entrance always casual straight after ascent His absence was fantastical, she … Read More
July 6 Have you seen the reviews for July the Sixth? Yays and boos. Decidedly mixed. John and Paul meet, the world is ecstatic But Anne Frank retreats up to the attic First Republican Party Convention They start perfecting the art of no dissension Richard the Third resorts to force In a few words, the … Read More
I finished this song a few weeks ago and love singing it. I especially love singing it with Molly Watkins and Susan Dillard (who also really knows her way around a kazoo). You can watch us here, on Vimeo. Thanks to Tom Adams for the video. Until July 23, when my Kickstarter completes, I am posting new … Read More