Royal Republic 995

"Life, and Death"

2008-08-16T20:11:00.003-04:00

This is a scene from HBO production of "Wit". A very moving, though painful film to watch. Still it speaks to what so many of us have experienced. A loved one nearing death. Struggling with pain, madness, the works.

Many of us have been care givers to both family, and friends. To you there's nothing I can say that you don't already know. No doubt many of you were braver, and wiser than I, but we all did what we had to at the best of our ability. Bless you all.

...death, thou shall die.

"Dreams"

2008-08-13T01:09:00.006-04:00

"Passionate Dream"

2008-08-13T00:42:00.001-04:00

"Boy Muse"

2008-08-12T23:25:00.001-04:00

"The Little Prince"

2008-08-03T09:35:00.000-04:00

"Angelic Muse"

2008-08-03T09:33:00.001-04:00

"Prospero's Books"

2008-08-01T09:25:00.003-04:00

"Dream Song"

2008-07-12T22:50:00.001-04:00

"Gentle Dreams"

2008-07-12T22:36:00.002-04:00

"World Dreams"

2008-07-10T09:08:00.004-04:00

(Click on Earth image to enlarge,...it's cool!)

"Grandmother Dreams"

2008-07-10T08:01:00.006-04:00

I've been dreaming about my family lately. All the passed on aunts, uncles, cousins, and yes my Grandma. I come from a multi-ethnic family. Soon most American families will be like mine or Obama's.

That's the America I love. A nation of nations. Anyway I'm a creole black with a chinese grandmother. This is why I never believed in race. Especially the black, white divide. It didn't seem to have anything to do with us. It just was a crazy thing that others did.

For example. I never shared the affection that many of my black friends have for Harlem or similar places. My love was, and is for Chinatown. This is where my Grandma lived, and where I was happy as a child.

'But to the Dreams. My folks seemed to be speaking to me. Letting me know I wasn't alone, and not forgotten.

These were very 'good' Dreams.

"Monk Dreams"

2008-07-06T06:04:00.002-04:00

I had a very vivid dream long ago about a monastery, and skyblue robed monks. There were newly built pagodas sitting in pastel green fields of grass. I could smell the fresh cut wood they were made from. I remember in this dream running up the new wooden stairs with many other boys.

Monastery lads decked in simple robes the color of the afternoon sky.

I remember gardens of crystals, and tall dark blue mountains in the distance. There was music too. A kind I's never heard before. Played by instruments I didn't recognize.

I always felt that someday I would find this place. I always felt that this was where I was supposed to be, and this dream was calling me home.

"Subway Dream"

2008-06-27T08:42:00.005-04:00

"My Silk Dreams"

2008-06-27T08:04:00.005-04:00

2008-06-27T07:42:00.006-04:00

2008-06-27T07:25:00.004-04:00

"Blue Skies"

2008-06-18T07:02:00.001-04:00

"Dollies"

2008-06-18T06:56:00.003-04:00

"Faerie Nights"

2008-06-13T04:36:00.009-04:00

I got a story for you folks. Now this happened a few thousand years ago when America was great, and even regular Joe's had jobs, dough, and laff's. Well one night in this long ago happy time I was sitting next to my dad on the front seat of our old Buick.

A 1955 sky blue, and white two tone. A classic! I'd give anything to have one'a them today. Well anyway, as is the habit of kids everywhere I was squinting my eyes to make the passing street lights look weird. I had just begun to do the same with the tail lights ahead of us when I see something.

Wow that's a big bug I thought. Only when I stopped squinting it wasn't. A bug that is. It wasn't tinker bell either. Ya'know whole generations of rubes got real wacky ideas of what faeries look like 'cause of all the Disney propaganda. Thing is faerie's is just like folks. Just alot smaller,..with wings,.. and feelers, sometimes extra arms'n stuff, magical powers, eh halos, and... Well okay faerie's ain't like folks at all, but so what.

Well there I am sit'n next to the old man as we're roll'n through Queens on our way back to Brooklyn, and there's these little faerie guys darting around the tail lights of the Oldsmobile in front of us. Hey, com'on ya can't make this stuff up.

Now ya'see by this time I'm an 'experienced' kid, and know better than to tell my dad that I'm seen'n glow'n bug people buzz'n around the butt-end of the car in front of us. Hey gimme some credit. I still remember the shit storm from one of my previous visions.

I foolishly told my folks that I saw flaming batwinged demons flying out of an open manhole on Flatbush avenue. My mom made me kneel on a steel rod while I said the rosary ten times over for being in league with Satan. Heck I never even met the guy.

Sooo, I keeps my young trap shut, and enjoys the doing's of the wee folk in front of us. If dad saw anything he wasn't about to tell me. He knew better too. Still they was fun to watch, and they meant no harm.

Not like that seriously scary furry sky-monster-thing. Ya know the one on that famous "Twilight Zone" episode w/the pre-"Trek' Shantner. The hairy bastard, not Shantner, just floats in the air chase'n after airplanes. When he catches one he rips their engines apart so they crash. Remember that one? Forty years later it still scares the crap out'a me! Rod you was one scary genius!

"Yes very interesting", I hear you say, "but Uncle Sidney what the hell are you getting at with all this?"

Ah, I'm glad you asked! See with the warmer weather coming we has to prepare for "Faerie Time!" As we know from tradition handed down from kid, to kid. Generation to generation, like the varied rules of stick ball or ring-a-leave-vee-oh, or ring something. It varies from block to block around the world, but you know what I means.

Like "Ring Around the Rosy" passed from kid to kid for nearly a thousand years. The knowledge of "Faerie Time" in the same way has come to the 21st century.

Come June 21st at midnight, on that 'Longest Day' all "Faeriedom" awakes! They pops out of their hidey holes,and begins their summer frolics! Which is to say it's their mating, and general screwing around w/humanity season.

They never hurt anybody ya understands. 'Least not on purpose. One thing tho' don't rob or try to mess with them. These guys don't kid around about that sort'a thing. They may be seriously cute,..some of them, but they have poisoned thorns.

Get my drift?

Otherwise we're all welcome to dance the summer away with them. That business about them abducting folks for years is crap told by the Church, and the CIA. They don't do that,..the demons on the other hand. 'Word to da wise,..stay clear of them gumba's.

How long has this been going on? "Faerie Time" No one knows. Maybe it's from before Ur or Babylon. Legends is full of all sorts of traces about "Faerie Times", and it's goings on. That Shakespeare story kind'a got some of it right, but he mixed it up with all the class, and culture bullshit of his times. I guess we all do that in a way.

But "Faerie Time" is real. My older cousins told me, and I told my special friends at school, and they told their friends, and so, and so, and so through the years, and generations, and ages to come. An unbroken tradition from kid to kid.

When I was little I danced in a faerie circle with the sweet wee folk by the light of a full moon in Prospect Park. Then again on warm steamy night in Central Park when I was a happily crazed'n horny teenager. Now in my demented pissed off late middle years I still hear their songs.

Bless the little fuckers!

"Simple Gifts"

2008-06-13T03:45:00.003-04:00

Simple Gifts was written by Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett, Jr. in 1848. It was first published in The Gift to be Simple: Shaker Rituals and Songs. Simple Gifts was a work song sung by the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearing (more commonly called the Shakers, an offshoot of the Quakers).

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

Refrain:

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

Refrain:

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

Refrain:

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

This dear old Shaker Hymn has always been a great comfort to me. I'm sure it's been that to millions around the world now. "Elder Brackett" would quietly smile I think on hearing that. These are hard days for many of us. Difficult times in the world, and in our hearts.

So I thought I'd share "Simple Gifts" with those that happen by this page. It's always been a healing piece for me. I hope it helps you on your way.

("Simple Gifts" video below)

"Hope Reconsidered"

2008-06-12T22:17:00.003-04:00

"Beatle Dreams"

2008-06-12T22:03:00.001-04:00

2008-06-12T21:54:00.001-04:00

"Angel Views"

2008-06-12T21:13:00.001-04:00

2008-06-11T07:21:00.002-04:00

2008-06-11T04:19:00.000-04:00

"Ship to Ship"

2008-06-09T06:29:00.001-04:00

I've decided to start another page independent of the others.