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Radha Nichole Smith's avatar

“Lily, Rosemary & The Jack of Hearts” or maybe “Shelter From The Cold.” Or “Telegraph Road.”

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Dylan and Knopfler

wow

I love these dudes

love their powerful images

just read each word again

thank you Radha

for sharing your riches

with us

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

Tough to pick a single song that resonates with me, there have been so many over the years and at different times and in different situations. Amazing Grace, in almost any rendition, including the bagpipe version; How Great Thou Art; Ripple, from the Grateful Dead; Sounds of Silence; Blowin' in the Wind; As Tears go By; there are a lot more, but these hit every time I hear them.

Your comments on depth and poetry are remarkably timely for me, as I've embarked on a project of reading or re-reading some classics that I didn't really 'get' when I read or ignored them the first time they were presented to me. I'd never been a big fan of poetry, until I realized that everything is poetic, one must simply adjust the perspective one is viewing from. The world looks very different when one takes the time to appreciate its nuances and how, while everything in the world is individual, everything is also the result of one Creation and related by that event.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

o my

I will be re- reading and pondering

your thoughts here, Dave.

..."I realized that everything is poetic"...

what a beautiful insight

Emerson speaks

of the holy source

in his sublime essay The Poet

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

As I frequently reread yours, and learn from them every time. Thanks Deborah.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

and I'm with you in your song treasures, Dave

amazing grace is what I have received

and blowin' in the wind is what I work to answer

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

And I frequently find myself in a Ball of Confusion, with "politicians throwing stones, singing Ashes, ashes, we all fall down". Mixed artists, but two great tunes.

Everyday People is another one I listen to for a little balance and restoration.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

just listened to Everyday People

which made me smile

it took me to my long time inner ballad

that I used to sing as I drove to work:

Love of the Common People

sung by its composer John Hurley

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

I just picked that up on youtube music, had no idea it had been covered as extensively as it has. There are common people in every genre; who knew?

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Fred Basset's avatar

Oops

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

I don't know

how to spell highkoo either, Fred

But if my pithy parsimonious letters

aren't some mighty high koo,

what is?

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

Perhaps we're all going a little koo koo? (coo, coo?) I was a copy editor on my high school newspaper, old habits die hard.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

love it, Dave!

coo coo indeed right here

the political news these days

is driving me nuts

so I greatly appreciate a laugh

thank you for your sense of humor

I can hear dear Fred laughing, too

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

A wise man once said "Laughter is the best medicine." This too shall pass, although probably not as quickly as we'd like it too.

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Olusegun Osifuye's avatar

"An independent mind and eagerness to grow" is required to develop depth.

I couldn't explain how one had depth so this was truly insightful.

...

I'm a terrible singer 😃 but I appreciate the power of songs.

Hmmn... I've never really thought of song lyrics as poetry up until now.

Thank you Deborah for another beautiful piece.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

I'm so glad you found my ideas meaningful, Olusegun

Having such deep readers as I am blessed to have

makes it quite the challenge

to put forward ideas you don't already know :)

or at least, put them forward in a new way

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Dr. Patricia Morton's avatar

Deborah, thank you for your insightful comments on the meaning of depth of our mind and soul.

The only thing I would question is your reference to “the beauty of living in a free society “. With so much de facto censorship and hatred of dissenting opinions especially of our students and young people, with supposedly offensive books being banned from our schools and libraries, and with so much disinformation spread by social media, how can this be called a free society? ?

Regarding your question, I especially love the song “Morning has Broken “ by Cat Stevens, because its beautiful lyrics give me hope that perhaps we can create a better world for all people and creatures on this troubled planet of ours.

The first verse itself is so hopeful:

“Morning has broken

Like the first morning

Blackbird has spoken

Like the first bird,

Praise for the Singing,

Praise for the Morning,

Praise for them springing fresh from the world”

And the concluding verse brings tears of joy to my eyes as it fills my soul with hope:

“Mine is the sunlight

Mine is the morning

Born of the one light

Eden saw played,

Praise with elation

Praise every morning,

God’s re-creation

On the new day “

I am not a religious person, but to me this is a deeply spiritual song that creates meaning out of the mess we humans have made of our beautiful world. And the melody too is so gentle and peaceful that it sustains my hope that someday, somehow, we will see peace and love and all the beauty that surrounds us on this little planet that we call “Earth “.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Patricia,

Thank you for your beautiful post.

I share your special love

for Morning Has Broken

by Cat Stevens.

I have treasured it in my heart

for over fifty years.

The concluding verse

is so tender and uplifting!

It sustains my soul when I sing it.

Yes it gives us hope

that we can bring morning light

to each and all persons in our world.

Our freedom is always imperfect.

Always in need of rebirth.

That is why the Gettysburg Address

is so profound.

We are called both to honor

those who gave their lives for freedom

and to build it to a higher level

than it has ever been before.

Yes we must face and deal with

the serious problems you raise

so our rebirth can be achieved.

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flagrante delicto's avatar

So, that's my take. I realize that I can project, like anyone else. I just suspect that's it.

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flagrante delicto's avatar

Sometimes, depth is not appreciated until someone writes a song about it.

https://youtu.be/ciLNMesqPh0?si=4JLMn_atJNbFMRQc

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

yes

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flagrante delicto's avatar

Have you given thought to why we may be on similar "wavelengths?" Frankly, I don't understand it. Well, I have guesses, but I don't publish ideas of which I'm completely unsure.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

I shall ponder this conundrum

For starters...we both enjoy pondering conundrums

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flagrante delicto's avatar

Good start...

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

and

we both know the other in this delightful duo

IS a conundrum

of the highest and lowest order (both)

and therein lies the link

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flagrante delicto's avatar

I taught gifted kids, and taught teachers how to teach gifted kids... From intellectual grounding and personal experience. Gifted "kids" recognize each other.

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flagrante delicto's avatar

Something like that.

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David Roberts's avatar

The Last Resort by the Eagles contains an entire history lesson. And the lyric, "There is no more new frontier; we have got to make it here," has personal resonance for me as I grow older.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

That is one powerful song, David.

Thank you for sharing it with us.

"There is no more new frontier"

brings for me the sorrow of losing JFK.

His idealistic vision of America

lives inside me

and yes it is up to us

to make it here

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flagrante delicto's avatar

Have you ever wondered why people with depth suffer?

Usually it's because they doubt, they re-evaluate, they are hyper-curious and search for a different way of expression.

The "joy" of being popular isn't high on their list of things to be.

Shallow people are loathe to be their friend.

They are anathema to a culture that prizes the unchallenging.

They are often understood only after they're dead because they had eyes to see and ears to hear what most people did not, or chose to ignore.

Just by existing, they give "the finger" to the norm... neither of which understand the other.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

amen

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flagrante delicto's avatar

If you don't want to have depth and always remain on the surface of life, remember the following:

-Always do what others expect you to do

-Be constantly worried about what others think of you.

-Be "normal"

-Don't question the social mores of your family, friends, or surrounding culture.

-Don't risk falling in love, standing up for what's best, or hang around with an odd person. You may face rejection.

-Always do things the way it's supposed to be done, or the way it's always been done.

-NEVER be weird. OMG!

-Always worry about being popular

-NEVER question what life is about and why you're here. Don't doubt what you've always been told about who you are.

-Don't be quiet. Silence will cause you to think, doubt, reminisce, wonder, face yourself. Silence is the worst (best teacher) experience, ever.

-Don't create anything unique. The judgement of others (comes with the territory) is to be avoided at all costs.

-Avoid anything foreign, new, difficult, or challenging. It may change your mind.

-Hold onto old ideas. New ideas are always too scary.

-Don't challenge yourself. Don't doubt yourself. Don't get in a position that may cause you growth or suffering, or both.

-Don't do anything that has a chance of failing.

-By all means, accept the popular... Don't be curious... it's the worst thing you can do.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

glorious

glorious

glorious

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flagrante delicto's avatar

glorious x 3? Wow! I think that equals an, Amen.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

you betcha it does

and a genuflection too

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flagrante delicto's avatar

I added a prequel to this. See above/below.

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Sam Alaimo's avatar

That is a beautiful childhood - no television and deep books!

Thank you for sharing, Dr. Hall, and for your poetry of understanding as well.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Sam

I am deeply moved

your words give me joy

they bring out the best in me

the only way I can thank you

is to write and share some more

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George Neidorf's avatar

Yasmin Levy,

the voice of chills and tears,

singing the Ladino

of Sephardic Jews,

run out of Spain

during Columbus's years.

One evening

the woman I was living with

told me that I was brushing my teeth all wrong.

As I think back on the incident,

I'm glad that I had only 16 teeth,

otherwise I could have done

some serious damage.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

I just listened to her

watched her sing the Ladino

with the orchestra

I was dancing dancing

in my soul

indeed the voice of chills and tears

there is no compare

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George Neidorf's avatar

Glad you enjoyed her. The first time I heard her I was driving and listening to, forgive me, NPR, and had to pull over to the side of the road and listen.

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Joanna Fox's avatar

You are my treasure Dr. Hall! Now with your sharing of your life, I understand why. You’ve had such an interesting and enriching upbringing. I had quite the opposite. I never was a fan of poetry per se, because I had a hard time understanding it. I never associated music with poetry, and I thank you for showing me that music is a form of poetry. It took living in an assisted/independant facility to meet an incredible lady, who had a severe case of Parkinson’s disease, and wrote the most beautiful and easily understood poetry about nature. She had published two books and was in the middle of getting a third published when she passed away. Beyond the Gate, and In the Garden by Jeanie Nelson Lewis, are a joy to read for anyone who loves nature and has had a beloved dog. In the twilight of my life, the song I love the most and can relate to is, My Way, sung by Frank Sinatra. I’ve done what I’ve wanted to do with little regrets, and have nothing left on my bucket list!

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Joanne,

I am so happy to share my life with you.

You show so much interest in people!

Here you are

right in the thick

of this lively band of fascinating souls!

No wonder you hit it off

with the poet you met.

No wonder you found joy in reading her books.

New sources of depth await you

in your explorations from here.

You are doing every day Your Way

and it sure looks like dawn to me

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Fred Basset's avatar

I would submit that great songs or poems or books are great because they tell a relatable story. We are a species of story lovers. Good stories will cross linguistic or cultural lines. Homer, Shakespeare, Hemmingway and hundreds of others hold up over time because they wrote relatable stories. Our species loves stories about us. A good writer can put a story into a 1000 page tome or a 17 syllable hyku. Writing that is true will hold up. Fiction can be true if it tells a story that makes the reader feel true emotions.

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Dave Conant - MO's avatar

Haiku.

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

:)

indeed

please see reply above :)

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Dr. Deborah Hall's avatar

Fred,

Thank you laying out this vital insight

so clearly and so well--

that we are a species of story lovers.

As a theorist, I have never fully appreciated

the central importance of stories.

I had to be taught

that including a personal story in my letters

would not only make me more relatable

but would allow me to better convey

and illustrate my theoretical ideas.

Your thoughts here encourage me

to further develop my capacities to tell relatable stories

that genuinely move the emotions of my readers.

I can see that is what you are doing

in your substack Uncle Fred's stories and thoughts.

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