Working In The Coal Mine

 

A Divine Image

 Cruelty has a human heart,

And Jealousy a human face;
Terror the human form divine,
And Secresy the human dress.

The human dress is forged iron,
The human form a fiery forge,
The human face a furnace sealed,
The human heart its hungry gorge.

William Blake

Don't Lose That Number

 

Heroes Often Fail

 

Sonnet To My Mother

 

Most near, most dear, most loved, and most far,

Under the huge window where I often found her
Sitting as huge as Asia, seismic with laughter,
Gin and chicken helpless in her Irish hand,
Irresistible as Rabelais but most tender for
The lame dogs and hurt birds that surround her,—
She is a procession no one can follow after
But be like a little dog following a brass band.
She will not glance up at the bomber or condescend
To drop her gin and scuttle to a cellar,
But lean on the mahogany table like a mountain
Whom only faith can move, and so I send
O all her faith and all my love to tell her
That she will move from mourning into morning.

George Barker

Denouement

 A variety of things are in the process of coming to their final curtain. Our Moz wrapped up a wildly successful residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas on Sunday. His final show there was another stellar performance by Morrissey. He does get better with age. The drama, the emotion and the stage presence rise above any musical artist out there today. The patrons, who were lucky enough to attend these shows, were sent home glowingly happy. Superb setlists, great musicianship and of course the mellifluous voice of Our Moz,. He is one of a kind.  Personally, I was very pleased to hear the song "Tomorrow", one of my absolute favorite songs. At least through You tube, I was able to get a glimpse of what it was like to be there. Nothing like the real thing of course. Our Moz continues on to Riot Fest in Chicago for a Thursday Night appearance. After that who knows? Tomorrow is a promise to no one.

                                                            First Of The Gang To Die

                                                          Seasick, Yet Still Docked

Summer is rapidly coming to its final terminus. It always starts with such high hopes and dreams but sadly ends with destitute melancholy. The final verdict is always the morbid winter and death to the life that spring and summer bring. The song remains the same.

While on one hand, I am delighted Morrissey's Las Vegas residency was fabulous. On the other hand, I am increasingly distressed at what I know is on its way. I take solace in the fact that no one cares. Lesson 1 learned in this life: people only give a shit about their own flea bitten lives.

                 Just done running 4 miles this afternoon. Is the last mile really the hardest mile?

                                                        I can't help the way I feel.

I awoke last night to the sound of thunder.

How far off I sat and wondered.

He Didn't!

 HE DID!!!!

On the second night of his Las Vegas residency Our Moz played one of my absolute favorite songs!

"TOMORROW" 

I have been waiting and hoping for the last several years for Mozza to slip this wonderful song into a set list of his. I kind of gave up hope. Morrissey has such an expansive catalog of incredible music. So many great songs to choose from. I think "Tomorrow" is one of his best compositions ever. It stands with his best from The Smiths and Solo. It sounded tremendous live on Sunday and was very well received by the audience. I'm guessing that Alain Whyte being back in the band had something to do with it. He was a cowriter with Morrissey of the song. I think Our Moz may have given us a little hint in his New Years eve video. He said "To hell with 2020" "To hell with it" several times and his last words were "Here's to Tomorrow".

                                                         Here's to Tomorrow

Our Moz's next show in Vegas is this Thursday, September 2. Who knows what gems Mozza will pull out for his legions of devoted fans. "To Me You Are A Work Of Art"? He couldn't, he wouldn't!

Well Hello

The world is coming apart at the seams. Afghanistan, Hurricane Ida about to devastate Louisiana, Covid on a deadly rampage and Haiti in shambles. Those 2 words last night (Well Hello) made things a little calmer and the world not such horrid place for a short time. That's because Our Moz has returned to the stage, starting his residency at Caesars Palace  in Las Vegas. I have been anticipating the show for some time now. Of course Mozza did not disappoint. He looked good and his voice sounded fine. 

I was very curious how the band would sound. It was a different vibe and not in a bad way at all. It was nice to see Alain Whyte back on stage with Our Moz. He is a consummate professional and a standout musician in his own right. I did miss Boz a bit. It always seems normal seeing Boz to the left of Moz.(or right depending on your perspective).  Alain was great. Solomon Walker is back on bass and was solid. The backbone of the band has been Matt Walker. Brendan Buckley is the new drummer. He did a good job replacing Matt. I'm no musician, but to me the band was excellent backing Our Moz.

Everyone always comments on the setlist. It was good, it was bad, it was great, it sucked. My comment is Mozza is going to play what he wants to. It's his concert. I am just happy to hear the songs and appreciate what he decides to play. He added some gems to this show for the audience. "Never Had No One Ever", "The Lazy Sunbathers" and "This Night Has Opened My Eyes", It was a great start to Mozza's Las Vegas residency. The patrons were happy to get to see Morrissey live again. And we all know, Jacky's only happy when she's up on the stage. I'm excited to see and hear what happens tonight in Vegas. Bravo, Mozza!

                                                  The Night Has Opened My Eyes

 

                                                              The Lazy Sunbathers

Who remembers this? 6 years ago today.

Anticipation

 

We can never know about the days to come

But we think about them anyway.

Elizabeth

In memoriam:

 Elizabeth Dwyer

November  13, 1937

August 13, 2020

The darkest hour.

It's always just before the dawn.

For Your Convenience

 Summer is flying by as usual for me. Pretty soon it will be dreaded autumn and the beginning of  the despised cold weather that makes my life miserable. Today was a scorching, hot 87 degrees. Just the way I like it. At five  o' clock I drove down to the bike trail to go for a 5 mile run. Of course I choose the hottest part of the day to torture my body. Fortunately, I was able to complete my run with flying colors. I didn't have a heart attack or stroke so I considered it a rousing success.

After I was done, I changed shirts. My running shirt was completely soaked. I changed into my Smiths Queen Is Dead T shirt.

                                                                     I am a living sign

I drove to the local convenience store to get something to drink and some snacks for later. I walked into the store and I was utterly and completely shocked when I heard "How Soon Is Now?" on their sound system. I never thought in a million years I would hear a Smiths song there. So I walked around the store proudly wearing my shirt and wouldn't you know not a damn person even noticed. I wanted to scream "THIS IS THE SMITHS, THE GREATEST BAND OF ALL TIME". "THIS IS MORRISSEY, OUR GENERATION'S OSCAR WILDE". Of course I did no such thing because I am too much of a wimpy wimp. So I paid for my items and left. I love irony and this was one of those occasions that is just a small slice of a meaningless life.

In another small bit of irony I was listening to REM, "Turn You Inside-Out" on the way over to the convenience store.

                                                                      How Soon Is Now?

On a more somber note, we are coming up on the one year anniversary of Moz's Mother, Elizabeth passing on August 13, 2020. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to Morrissey on this sad occasion. We wish him well and hope that he continues to soldier on in this difficult time.

Here In My Car

 

                                                                I feel safest of all

                                                               I can lock all my doors

                                                        It's the only way to live in cars.

PS.

Dateline August 16, 2021.

I was extremely agitated and worried last night and had a fitful night of sleep. Not because of the collapse of Afghanistan, Covid 19 or my Mothers health. I couldn't remember the correct last name of the offensive guard in John Goodman's speech at the end of "Revenge Of The Nerds". I thought it was Rich Valron. When I woke up I looked up the actual script of the movie and much to my dismay it was Rich Valroy. I watched and listened to the clip from the movie over and over, I have to grudgingly admit it is probably Rich Valroy.

WienIX, Berggasse 19

Feu de joie d'adolescents

 

Exciting news in the world of Morrissey. Our Moz has a new album ready to be released. It is called "Bonfire Of Teenagers".. The announcement was made on Morrissey Central. These are always "Corybantic Times" when a new Mozza album is coming out. There was no release date issued and it was noted that Morrissey remains unsigned. Let the anticipation begin. The new tracks are as follows:

1. I Am Veronica

2. Rebels Without Applause

3. Kerouac's Crack

4. Ha Ha Harlem

5. I Live In Oblivion

6. Bonfire Of Teenagers

7. My Funeral

8. Diana Dors

9. I Ex-Love You

10. Sure Enough, The Telephone Rings

11. Saint In A Stained-Glass Window

The titles are all quite intriguing. I look forward to be able to listen to new music from Our Moz.

Bon Anniversaire

Buon compleanno a Morrissey.

Mere words cannot convey how I feel about Our Moz. So I will offer my best wishes and my hopes for a year full of health, happiness and success.

Sneak Attack

 I must admit I've never watched The Simpsons until last night.

I never really had any interest, until the mention of an episode that had a character based on Morrissey.

It was supposed to be a labor of love with what I thought would be some mild parody.

Instead it turned into a sneak attack on Our Moz.

Worn out cliches and stereotypes are the sign of the uninformed and unintelligent.

The lies and falsehoods are a true wicked game of writers with an agenda.

Stay strong Mozza.

                                                                       Sneak Attack

As far as watching The Simpsons: I'll never make that mistake again.

The White Ships and the Red

With drooping sail and pennant
That never a wind may reach,
They float in sunless waters
Beside a sunless beach.
Their mighty masts and funnels
Are white as driven snow,
And with a pallid radiance
Their ghostly bulwarks glow.

Here is a Spanish galleon
That once with gold was gay,
Here is a Roman trireme
Whose hues outshone the day.
But Tyrian dyes have faded,
And prows that once were bright
With rainbow stains wear only
Death's livid, dreadful white.

White as the ice that clove her
That unforgotten day,
Among her pallid sisters
The grim Titanic lay.
And through the leagues above her
She looked aghast, and said:
"What is this living ship that comes
Where every ship is dead?"

The ghostly vessels trembled
From ruined stern to prow;
What was this thing of terror
That broke their vigil now?
Down through the startled ocean
A mighty vessel came,
Not white, as all dead ships must be,
But red, like living flame!

The pale green waves about her
Were swiftly, strangely dyed,
By the great scarlet stream that flowed
From out her wounded side.
And all her decks were scarlet
And all her shattered crew.
She sank among the white ghost ships
And stained them through and through.

The grim Titanic greeted her
"And who art thou?" she said;
"Why dost thou join our ghostly fleet
Arrayed in living red?
We are the ships of sorrow
Who spend the weary night,
Until the dawn of Judgment Day,
Obscure and still and white."

"Nay," said the scarlet visitor,
"Though I sink through the sea,
A ruined thing that was a ship,
I sink not as did ye.
For ye met with your destiny
By storm or rock or fight,
So through the lagging centuries
Ye wear your robes of white.

"But never crashing iceberg
Nor honest shot of foe,
Nor hidden reef has sent me
The way that I must go.
My wound that stains the waters,
My blood that is like flame,
Bear witness to a loathly deed,
A deed without a name.

"I went not forth to battle,
I carried friendly men,
The children played about my decks,
The women sang -- and then --
And then -- the sun blushed scarlet
And Heaven hid its face,
The world that God created
Became a shameful place!

"My wrong cries out for vengeance,
The blow that sent me here
Was aimed in Hell. My dying scream
Has reached Jehovah's ear.
Not all the seven oceans
Shall wash away that stain;
Upon a brow that wears a crown
I am the brand of Cain."

When God's great voice assembles
The fleet on Judgment Day,
The ghosts of ruined ships will rise
In sea and strait and bay.
Though they have lain for ages
Beneath the changeless flood,
They shall be white as silver,
But one -- shall be like blood.

Joyce Kilmer

                                                                       RMS Carpathia

The Carpathia rescued 705 passengers of the Titanic. In World War I, The Carpathia joined the Titanic in the ghastly deep as part of the ghostly fleet when she was torpedoed by a German U Boat.

Your eyes signal pain
Because of the strain
Of smiling
The harsh truth of the camera eye.

  

                                                       The Harsh Truth of the Camera Eye

Temps Perdu

 

I never may turn the loop of a road
  Where sudden, ahead, the sea is lying,
But my heart drags down with an ancient load-
  My heart, that a second before was flying.

I never behold the quivering rain-
  And sweeter the rain than a lover to me-
But my heart is wild in my breast with pain;
  My heart, that was tapping contentedly.

There's never a rose spreads new at my door
  Nor a strange bird crosses the moon at night
But I know I have known its beauty before,
  And a terrible sorrow along with the sight.

The look of a laurel tree birthed for May
  Or a sycamore bared for a new November
Is as old and as sad as my furtherest day-
  What is it, what is it, I almost remember?

Dorothy Parker

                                                                         The Loop

                                                                          I just want to say
                                                            I haven't been away
                                                            I'm still right here                                                                                                                         Where I always was

Jukebox Hero

                                                                         Visconti is me                                                                                                                                        Magnani you'll never be

                                                  The Strangest Boy is wearing a new shirt

                                                                 Calling comet Hale-Bopp

  

                                                                         Hello!                                                                                                                                              Is there anybody in there?                                                                                                                             Just nod if you can hear me                                                                                                                            Is there anyone at home?

Never Say Always

 

                                             NOW TODAY TOMORROW AND ALWAYS

A Very Short Song

Once, when I was young and true,

Someone left me sad-

Broke my brittle heart in two;

And that is very bad.

Love is for unlucky folk,

Love is but a curse.

Once there was a heart I broke;

And that, I think, is worse.

Dorothy Parker

A child in a curious phase
A man with sullen ways
Oh, I know very well how I got my name

You think you were my first love, but you're wrong
You were the only one

Holding firmly to the trunk, I took a step toward him, and then my knees bent and I jounced the limb. Finny, his balance gone, swung his head around to look at me for an instant with extreme interest, and then he tumbled sideways, broke through the little branches below and hit the bank with a sickening, unnatural thud.

                                                                                  White Trash Zero

                                                                                 Me - without clothes?

                                                                     Well, a nation turns its back and gags

Sight

 

 Before I got my eye put out,
I liked as well to see
As other creatures that have eyes,
And know no other way.

But were it told to me, to-day,
That I might have the sky
For mine, I tell you that my heart
Would split, for size of me.

The meadows mine, the mountains mine, —
All forests, stintless stars,
As much of noon as I could take
Between my finite eyes.

The motions of the dipping birds,
The lightning's jointed road,
For mine to look at when I liked, —
The news would strike me dead!

So safer, guess, with just my soul
Upon the window-pane
Where other creatures put their eyes,
Incautious of the sun.

Emily Dickinson

          Yes, I Am Blind

  My Mallory heart is sure to fail

       I'll never be anyone's Valentine now