Yes, it’s true, The A Cappella Handyman is BACK! Let’s just say a sabbatical was in order and I got some home chores done, re-started my Friday Blog and gave a shot in the arm to my “Taproot & Aniseweed.” And yes, this IS my 361st column for the Benicia Herald. Really, since 2008, 360 weekly columns, we’ve all been down this Word Highway several times before.
What’s new? TRUMP IS NEW. Well, sort of new, but can you believe it? Inauguration as President of the USof A on Friday? Some of you may have already received my poem, “November Sun, Letter to Donald Trump,”so I’ll let it be at that. But really? How does Russia’s Putin figure into this scenario? What about Trump’s NOT adhering to a Blind Trust for all his business interests from here to far? And his KIDS are his Blind Trust of Sorts? Really? They won’t discuss pros and cons of Trump Business(es) over Easter Brunch? Thanksgiving turkey? And is NATO really an orange drink served in upscale coffee cafes in Washington, DC? NATO = North Atlantic Treaty Organization? Really. And we’re members! Tune in, Donald!
On the other hand, wife Janice bought me Bernie Sanders’ book on political Revolution for Christmas from Bookshop Benicia, and I’m already reading it. Stay tuned for updates as they occur. We lost both our friend and Benicia First Poet Laureate Joel Fallon and Leonard Cohen too during my absence from this column, and both amigos are severely missed as are their talents in their own adjacent fields of creative excellence. Benicia First Tuesday Poets gained Johanna Ely as our 6th Poet Laureate last June and Benicia Literary Arts recently gained Allison Angell as their new President with Lois Requist returning to her former supporting role as board member. Thank you, Lois, for organizing all those fun and educational events, including performance events at the Rellik Tavern and at Carter’s Biz Cafes in the Arsenal and Bookshop Benicia for its events on First Street. Watch for the next Love Poetry Contest in February at the Benicia Historical Museum and First Sunday Poetry at Rosanna’s European Delights on First Street and our next Ekphrastic Poetry event at Arts Benicia. Promo cards AND FLYERS ARE IN THE SNAIL MAIL OR EMAIL!
See ya same station and time next week. Definitely a HOOT to write and publish in a small waterfront town. – Pedro
You and Fyodor and Change
You and Fyodor and change
came down to my place
in the summer’s sun
and brought with you
the nighttime in all its splendid color.
And it pulsed me
through the evening
like some mammoth trucker’s tailgate
hauling onions from San Josie
to the East Coast through the night.
©Peter Bray 1975
All rights reserved
Magazine Decor & Pedro’s Pine
I like your new magazine,
it’s like Quality Everything
on fine, slick hardwood pulp,
a Ferrari or Mercedes
or Beemer sedan, a fast Coupe.
Me, I still drive the Tan Pony
loaded to the gills
with wood scraps and tools
I’m still the Equivalent
of a construction grade pine or fir,
lumberjacks can easily get to me,
marking my bark
with their ambitions or
the neighborhood mutt
marking an anxious stand of me
as his property and his turf
one leg into the wind, a stay-away gesture.
But I can make a fine home decor
or a man-woman-or bat cave
or a shelf for your best read books,
kitchen spices, or going-out-this-evening’s
underwear.
©Peter Bray 1/13/2017
All rights reserved
Peter Bray lives, works and writes in Benicia
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Sorry your back Peter. Liked it better without you. If you consider yourself a political article writer then you are open for negative comment. But as a poet that is different. So if you continue to write as a political opinion writer I will the first to comment on your narrow views.
“My narrow views?” THAT’S RIPE AND RICH, Mr. LIVESAY, or do you prefer “Owlie” or “OwlMan?” AS YOUR READERS All KNOW THE width of your views are largely misogynist and anti-environmental, and Mayor Patterson is your favorite power-female adversary…
I’d say that that gives you a bandwidth of about 1 centimeter, the width of a keyhole if “looking on your knees,” to quote Bobby Dylan. Sorry if I don’t tremble or curtsy, you and I have jousted before and my response was usually hahaha and it remains the same…are you protesting Mr. TRUMP tomorrow or praising him and if so, FOR WHAT?
‘MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.’ President Trump will do that. As you know Peter I am not a Socialist like you and your very favorite Mayor. are. I also do not want Benicia to be a sanctuary city as your mayor wants and I assume you also want. I am a Republican and every one knows that. Republicans won and now hold very close to 2/3 of all elected offices in my America. Peter you are going to have a very long 20+ years as Republican are in charge. Many things will change and it will be good. But you can always read poetry and sing a song. That will change every thing. I think not. . Sorry you are on the losing end.
You’re not even warm, Mr. Owlie. Not even warm. – pb
Peter it takes more than street politics from the Mayor and Council member Young to work for the city. Their street politics are personal ideals and agendas and trying to take them to Benicia . For what reason? Do what you were elected to do. Benicia First!! Personal ideals have no business in Benicia needs.
BENICIA first Mayor Patterson. Not your personal ideals or agenda. BENICIA FIRST is the new cry for elected Mayor and Council Members. who represent BENICA.
I do hope you got wet at the vigil this morning. All ten of you. Not much of a vigil or protest was it. I was going to come down and play Kate Smith singing God Bless America. But I was not sure if the group would understand that very patriotic sing.
Now Bob, play nice!! LOL
Today is a great day in America as we transit peacefully (for the most part) from the worst President in history, to one whose book is yet to be written. So as we say good bye to the Obama’s we should give him a gracious send off and I think this recording sums him and his presidency up in a fair and honest manner:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2fklppAAXs
Correction, Dennis, Trump’s book has already been written, “Making the Deal,” or something like that and it has all those bigger than 4th grade words in it, that’s what ghost writers get paid the big bucks for. In 3-6 months and he’ll be fully investigated and impeached, you watch. “Prevailing Conflicts of Interest” is my guess, that’s why it was so important NOT to share his taxes. You know, the same old story, “You can fool some of the people some of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” That’s why he had to resort to insults and bullying…trouble is, that doesn’t work all the time either. Discuss that sometime with your faulty-reasoning colleague, Owlie. Happy New Year too! Write more for the Herald, you’re a Crackup!
Correction Peter: As a writer and poet, one whose reputation extends almost to the city limits of Benicia, I thought you would have understood the use of a euphemism, as indeed ‘the book’ on Trump’s Presidency, has yet to be written. But considering you posted at closing time it is easy to see how you could have missed the obvious.
Peter where you at the vigil Saturday?