Neal..Pat? No, Neal.

So, slightly short post, however, large and powerful meaning. On the Road is going to be made into a movie, and guess who looks just like Neal Cassady? This guy. That's just silly, but i thought id throw it in there.. Now, the real question is if the story will stick to the book. The movie isn't being made off of the original scroll, so the characters all have the pseudonyms Kerouac used under the publisher. I've heard good things, except Kirsten Stewart as Camille.. (bleh) Anyway, I'm sure she will do just fine. This book has got to be my favourite of all time, and I just hope the movie is correct and just as interesting and adventure inspiring.

This guy's good.

 So, in recent light of my assignment for poetry, I chose to investigate my poet, Robert Pinsky, some more. I've read a handful of poems, and I am elated at how this guy ticks. He has a very logical sense of the world, and I feel a deep connection with his words. I had a little falling out with poetry and literature, but reading Pinsky has rejuvenated my interest in poetry. The poem below dictates exactly what I mean by world view. its a wonderful 30second read for anyone.

Stupid Meditation on Peace 

Insomniac monkey-mind ponders the Dove,

Symbol not only of Peace but sexual

Love, the couple nestled and brooding.

After coupling, the human animal needs

The woman safe for nine months and more.

But the man after his turbulent minute or two

Is expendable. Usefully rash, reckless

For defense, in his void of redundancy

Willing to death and destruction.

Monkey-mind envies the male Dove

Who equally with the female secretes

Pigeon milk for the young from his throat.

For peace, send all human males between

Fourteen and twenty-five to school

On the Moon, or better yet Mars.

But women too are capable of Unpeace,

Yes, and we older men too, venom-throats.

Here’s a great comic who says on our journey

We choose one of two tributaries: the River

Of Peace, or the River of Productivity.

The current of Art he says runs not between

Banks with birdsong in the fragrant shadows—

No, an artist must follow the stinks and rapids

Of the branch that drives the millstones and dynamos.

Is peace merely a vacuum, the negative

Of creation, or the absence of war?

The teaching says Peace is a positive energy.

Still something in me resists that sweet milk,

My mind resembles my restless, inferior cousin

Who fires his shit in handfuls from his cage.

Dear Gunn..

So, I briefly touched on Mark Twain's short story, "1601" and gathered a little bit of the crazy Twain has about him. I read a discussion between Secretary of state in 1880, John hay, and Alexander Gunn.

June 24, 1880
My dear Gunn:

Here it is. It was written by Mark Twain in a serious effort to bring
back our literature and philosophy to the sober and chaste Elizabethan
standard. But the taste of the present day is too corrupt for anything
so classic. He has not yet been able even to find a publisher. The
Globe has not yet recovered from Downey's inroad, and they won't touch
it.

I send it to you as one of the few lingering relics of that race of
appreciative critics, who know a good thing when they see it. 

The two are obviously fans, as am I. It intrigues me to see such high individuals mocking the rest of society for as so well put, not knowing "a good thing when they see it." I would like to continue endeavours into the story. Unfortunately, I made a pact with myself to finish On the Road before anything else. Can't you see how wonderful of a job I'm doing? Literary aspects aside, I'm tired, and still have so much to do.

Bon Iv-who?

Fair enough. Most people don't know who he is, and most people mistake that he, (Justin Vernon) for a band. Really, he's just one crazy talented guy from Wisconsin. It’s pronounced ‘BONE ee-VER,’ like the French term for winter. Personally, I love the guy, and have been listening to him far before his recently acclaimed fame. Now, this is supposed to be literary blogging, and that's what brings me to the subject of my post. Bon Iver's lyrical, poetic genius.

 Skinny Love :

Come on skinny love just last the year
Pour a little salt we were never here
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer

I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines

Come on skinny love what happened here
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split

I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines

Who will love you?
Who will fight?
Who will fall far behind?

 

Anyone who knows me could put up a significant argument that I can relate this song to my car. That's for another post however. Vernon's simple essence that captures such a common feeling is literally daydream worthy. Seriously, go listen to the song. The words and music will leave you struggling to concentrate on the daily humdrum of your weekly life. I can take to heart the message of holding onto things you should've let go, and not taking blame for things and pushing them to others. We all make mistakes, but in the end things fall in place and work themselves out. The beauty of the song is everyone has a different view and way of getting through. 

Buona Notte

"There must be a lot of Italians in Sausalito."

On the Road has been quite the experience for me. I got back into reading it after my hectic schedule passed me by. Jack has seen and done all of the partying and shenanigans he possibly can in Denver, and I have followed him to San Francisco. I am beginning to question the entire motive of his trip, because there does not seem to be a specific meaning. This does not take away from my interest, however. The lack of indentation and punctuation has grown on me, and the crudeness has not gone away. Iam very excited to finish the book, to see how the journey plays out. My thoughts are stil lof his purpose, but more importantly the fate of Ginsberg and Neal. Oh well, we'll see I suppose..

When life gives you lemons..

Let's be completely honest. I haven't touched that book in the past two weeks. I have been so mind-numbingly preoccupied with everything else that can possibly occur. I understand these posts are supposed to be routine and reflective on reading and all that good stuff, but I think I'm going to better my time right now and reflect on life for a second. I can't possibly imagine how its going to feel this time next year, with absolutely everything as I know it changing. I'm a little intimidated, to say the least. The numerous things going on in my life right now will not matter, and that personally aggravates me. Ranting? Definitely. Either way, I hope to continue back to my simple reading soon.

"So that's the famous Jack. What's he doing sleeping on the floor?"

As much as I would like to read "On the Road" more often, I have lately found myself with little time. Fortunately, I find the book interesting enough to squeeze time in to read it. I have followed Jack all the way to Denver, where he continues to partake in numerous shenanigans with Neal and Allen. I am still fascinated that I have not gone crazy with the lack of punctuation or editing either. I am extremely anxious to find out what really becomes of Neal. Also, what other crazy situations does the "gang"get in? Neal has already cheated on his wife, with another girl who does not know. He promises to marry Carolyn, and the complicated situation becomes worse. Well, enough of short plot summaries until next time. I am anticipating the turnout of Neal's predicament and I hope to find out soon.

College apps like to consume my life, by the way.