Thou Shalt Dance I walked a bridge – never meant to crossI couldn’t see that it would be any loss Climbed over the rail, the end of my arcReady to sail…then a voice from the dark “Really?” I wanted no witness, I hadn’t foreseen thisNone of his business, an inconvenience I did not move yet I longed … Read More
When he orders a meal, he slowly raises his head The waitress comes into focus quite slowly And when he finally orders, no words are said But there’s a voiceover by Peter Coyote If there were an effect that bore my name Jittery out-of-focus closeup shots The subject drifts in and out of the frame … Read More
Albert was a kangarooWho lived in a zoo in Kalamazoo,Michigan, which is notAustralia OK food, OK viewFriends, furniture OK toobut then again, this was notAustralia One evening he spoke with Joe GiraffeWho told a joke, Al did not laughHe was low could only wonderhow to get over and go down under –Australia Elephant Jack said … Read More
She liked to tell the story, when she was sixty twoNominated in the category of Best New Artist DebutIf you were a woman of color, pretty sure to bePlaying undercover in obscurity Like Memphis Minnie before and Sister Rosetta TharpeAnd many more who blazed guitar to a wailing harpMisogynist racists kept them out of the … Read More
Eighty minutes of light went south of the border Trump thinks “Ya know, if we just had the wall.!!” I fear the night, the right’s righteous disorder But I’m privileged and white and there’s a sale at the mall Indigenous Day Discounts! The deals! For instance Fifty percent off! Shirts from Phnom Penh But I … Read More
2018 I am an American and reluctantly admit we’re an embarrassment because of that Twit Why can’t I be Paris-from or Belizean or Brit? with no wannabe Erdogan tweeting Holy Writs But I’m a U.S. guy queasily ashamed I can’t deny I was too easily framed Like you, currying favor with complacency While they found … Read More
Ashland, Oregon is a community awash with creative people: writers, actors, musicians, painters, sculptors, etc. How could I stand out here? What could I add? And then it came to me…of course! I would form a dance company! And so The Caraher Modern Dance Company was born. Like most kids, it had long been … Read More
Hi Every year, NPR sponsors a contest for original-music videos – pretty much the only requirement for the shoot is that a desk be visible. My entry this year was shot in my studio in my new hometown of Ashland, Oregon. I wrote this song a few years ago and the lyrics were read on … Read More