Musicians/Diplomats

http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/2013/02/22/172710714/musics-new-real-ambassadors

"In fact, the purpose of this trip and getting a chance to meet people is to tell them that, 'Hey, this is nothing like what you're hearing in the news. It's nothing like that.' "
-Ali Noor

It's such a simple concept, isn't it? Musicians traveling abroad, playing their music...changing people's minds about other people, in other places. Not politicians, not weaponry, not belligerence nor fear. Just music.

Monday Mainstay: Shel Silverstein

 I have always loved this Shel Silverstein poem. Here you go:

Listen to the Mustn'ts

Shel Silverstein

Listen to the MUSTN'TS, child,
      Listen to the DON'TS
      Listen to the SHOULDN'TS
The IMPOSSIBLES, the WONT'S
      Listen to the NEVER HAVES
Then listen close to me-
      Anything can happen, child,
ANYTHING can be.

 

 

To believing that anything can be.

 

 

 

Hold On - Alabama Shakes

For the music video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le-3MIBxQTw

"Hold On"

Bless my heart, bless my soul.
Didn't think I'd make it to 22 years old.
There must be someone up above sayin',
"Come on, Brittany, you got to come on up.
You got to hold on...
Hey, you got to hold on..."

So, bless my heart and bless yours too.
I don't know where I'm gonna go
Don't know what I'm gonna do.
There must be somebody up above sayin',
"Come on, Brittany, you got to come on now!
You got to hold on...
Hey, you got to hold on..."

"Yeah! You got to wait!
Yeah! You got to wait!"
But I don't wanna wait!
No, I don't wanna wait...

So, bless my heart and bless my mind.
I got so much to do, I ain't got much time
So, must be someone up above saying,
"Come on, girl! Yeah, you got to get back up!
You got to hold on...
Yeah, you got to hold on..."

"Yeah! You got to wait!"
I don't wanna wait!
But I don't wanna wait!
No, I don't wanna wait!

You got to hold on...
You got to hold on...
You got to hold on...
You got to hold on...

This is one of those songs I listen to and just feel like somebody else completely understands how I'm feeling right now. To holding on.

Poems in Prison

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/12/170657765/in-a-north-vietnamese-prison-sharing-poems-with-taps-on-the-walls

I haven't read this book, but the title of the article intrigued me. John Borling, this Air Force fighter pilot, while imprisoned for six years and eight months in Vietnam, "composed poetry -  in his head, without benefit of pencil or paper." He had a tap code to communicate with other prisoners, and said, " a fragment of poetry — some remembered lines, however abbreviated — would be useful."

See, poetry can save lives! Okay, okay, maybe that's a little extreme. But hey, it helped make life more bearable in such a trying time. There's always beauty somewhere, right? We just have to find it, or create it.

To poetry.