Sunday, December 19, 2010

Rabbit Run: Issa's Sunday Service, #82








Let me say right off the bat that today's song does not refer to John Updike's novel, Rabbit Run, which took its title from a 1930s song.

I believe that is, and may well be, the one and only time Mr. Updike's name gets mentioned here.

So, what does this lovely little song by Britain's legendary folksinger, Bert Jansch, refer to?  Well, here's a hint or two: Ratty, Mr. Toad, and the Badger, anyone?  Yes, it's the children's tale The Wind in the Willows and, of course, because it is out of copyright you can now get it for free from the new google e-book store, one of 3 million plus free books available there.  Load it to your e-book device of choice or simply read it on your computer.  Me?  I'll be reading a lovely non-virtual copy from the library, one of many illustrated versions also available for the very reasonable price of free.  And, when I'm done, I can bring it back to share with others, one of the many lessons which Mr. Grahame has provided his readers for over a hundred years: the lesson of sharing.

Of course, that's just me.

Here's a great version of one of Jansch's classic tunes, "Blackwater Side," which highlights his strengths in guitar and vocals:







[Note: this week's choice is prompted by the fact that I was very fortunate to see Bert Jansch in concert here in Pittsburgh Friday night, a spectacular show to an audience of around 300 of the faithful, dutifully aligned in pews, in the beautiful local First Unitarian Church.]

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This week's featured poem from the Lilliput Review archive comes from issue #127, November 2002, and is a very late autumn poem if ever there was one:



shifting wind
   the coyote's raised foreleg
      motionless
Ayaz Daryl Nielsen







the first snowfall
caps it...
the piss pot
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue








best,
Don

PS  Get 2 free issues     Get 2 more free issues     Lillie poem archive

Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 82 songs
Hear all 82 (or so) at once on the the LitRock Jukebox


3 comments:

  1. Dear Don,
    I'm glad that you also enjoy reading books made of paper, especially the illustrated versions. I'm not quite romanced by e-books yet and I'm glad I'm not the only one.
    Sincerely,
    Paula

    ReplyDelete
  2. 3 MILLION + e-books on one electronic device!!!?

    tell me... if I am in the bubble bath &drop
    this electrical device into the water do I get
    z a p p e d ... and die?

    FREEEEE!?

    &how much do 3-million "FREE" books this way
    cost..
    I'm getting very confused about all of this ...."stuff" !

    it s enough just to learn how to be politically, socially, poetically, artistically &religiously "correct" on every one of these
    400,257,339,117 + blogs

    & as Gawd knows (whoever she may be) I am if anything all ways and always
    ....correct.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks, Paula. Indeed, I've yet to fall victim to an e-reader myself.

    Ed, as you say, you are once again correct ... and always so. Thanks.

    All those free books google is offering - how could there be an ulterior motive, eh?

    It's a good thing the world won't be changing anymore after this - we all might have to do something different.

    ReplyDelete