Words & Music

For the past couple of years, as Mom's short-term memory has slowly eroded, I've found that she really enjoys having me read poetry from her past. Often she will recite bits and pieces along with me; she is definitely of those generations that were required to memorize all manner of verse and oratory, as well. R.L. Stevenson ...Whittier... Longfellow ... Riley ... Wordsworth ... Burns ... Scott, among others.

When I was younger, hipper and much, much more contemporary in my outlook, I sniffed at those same classic writings (called "the canon" by one patronizing academic a Google search produced.) Now in my wiser or at least more experienced years, I realize just how being able to recite the same words bound old and young together across the generations. Today youngsters exercise their memorization muscle only to grab maybe 10 years worth of pop culture fluff (or agony), with no ties to a past shared with their parents, grandparents and possibly their own older or younger siblings, and certainly not their own children who will follow them. Too bad.

Which brings me to the song books pictured here, found among my LH's large sheet music collection. I recall the Golden Book from junior high school music classes. Checking copyright notices (earliest, 1915), it would appear to have served at least two, if not three generations of school kids with songs from the 1850s to the early 1900s -- again forming a bridge across the years. Hymns, noels, spirituals, patriotic and Civil War songs, rounds, plus sentimental ballads and a handful of marches and college anthems. I wish we'd had the more recent (1935) Silver Book, which included folk songs from around the world in addition to the standards. Collected, even before the Smithsonian got into the folk act back in the late 30s. Of course, I was looking for songs -- or their words -- that Mom might remember.

Here is the back of the third volume above, a product of 1927. Apparently The Cable Company, which made pianos, also operated a publishing division. And, if you were scratching your head about my combination of poetry and song, be aware that this division also published One Hundred and One Famous Poems: all the verse you love the most. Your old favorites: Browning, Wordsworth, Robert Burns, with the best work of the outstanding modern poets: Kipling, Sandburg, Millay and Masters. BTW, all these song books were published in Chicago, which, prior to WWII, boasted a lively book, music and magazine publishing industry.

The Google, of course, is a wondrous source of poetry. Recall a line or two? Move over, Mr. Bartlett. Just pop the words into the search slot and you'll have the complete work faster than Bob's your uncle. Besides, where but on the Internet would you find a list of Top 500 Poems, on which William Ernest Henley's solemn Invictus (#53) is followed immediately by Be Glad Your Nose Is on Your Face, by Jack Prelutsky (#53).

Scenes from the Alley 3: A Public Place for Poetry

As you turn from Gurley north into the alley heading to Prescott College's Crossroads Center, take a quick look to your left. That's where Dan Seaman posts his poetry and sometimes parks his Jeep.

Dan is a very public poet, active in performance and at slams. You can find out a lot more about all this at the site of Prescott Area Poets Association. If you're a poet, you might also investigate the group, Professional Writers of Prescott.

Good writing!