Happy Birthday. Mr. Wolman!
Fame, I hear, is nothing but a gilded crutch.
Isn't - poetry - the making of it - never more than
One word at a time? Most of us, I suspect, in front of our desk
Survive to the sound of one hand clapping! Occasionally the full joy
Of public applause. But your son, giving it to you in the ribs, I like that.
Get it, occasionally, too.
Stephen V
Blog: http://stephenvincent.durationpress.com
> WANTING TO BE GIUSEPPE VERDI
> (on the author's 61st birthday)
>
> While Verdi was dying in Milan in January 1901, the Milanese laid straw
> on the pavement so the old man was not disturbed in his final hours by
> the clop of horses on the pavement or by the noises of cars.
>
> At the old man's state funeral Arturo Toscanini conducted a chorus in
> "Va, pensiero," and thousands of Italians joined in, singing softly. It
> was the unofficial national anthem of a 30 year old nation that Verdi's
> music had helped bring about.
>
> The old bastard ruined longevity for everyone else.
>
> Someone wrote of W. Eugene Smith the photojournalist "He could have been
> a Verdi or Picasso." They are the touchstones of creative longevity.
>
> This morning, I got a call at work. The voice sounded like a black
> female nurse's aide, asking when I was planning to check myself into the
> same nursing home where my mother died 13 years ago. The voice had me:
> "What the?...." until I realized it was my 26-year-old son calling to
> wish me a happy birthday. The unprintable names I called him were
> balanced by how hard he had me laughing.
>
> It's too bad there's no market for that kind of pathological talent or
> the kid could be the funniest standup comic at a Klan rally. He got
> that manical humor from me. There's no market for that either.
>
> I am not Verdi. I have made certain efforts to act like Picasso
> off-canvas, but they were not a great success. I am not Eugene Smith
> either. He took better pictures in his dreams that I take with a
> camera. But I survived him. It may be an imperfect trade, but I'll
> take it. I don't have a choice unless I want to be Hunter Thompson.
>
> KW/2-23-05
>
> --
> Kenneth Wolman
> Proposal Development Department
> Room SW334
> Sarnoff Corporation
> 609-734-2538
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