TALK OF YOUR COLD! through the parkas fold it stabbed like a driven nail. If our eyes wed close, then the lashes froze till sometimes we couldnt see; It wasnt much fun, but the only one to whimper was Sam McGee. Its the cursèd cold, and its got right hold till Im chilled clean through to the bone. Yet taint being dead—its my awful dread of the icy grave that pains; So I want you to swear that, foul or fair, youll cremate my last remains. During my years in Frederick, MD, it was not uncommon for friends, poets, musicians, orators, raconteurs and imbibers of spirits to frequent our home. (A LOT more of the latter than the former.) People would just show up and the next thing you knew, there was a party at the Quinns. Its a good thing our neighbors always knew they were welcome, too. Not much has changed since moving to Woodstock, VT 22 years ago - with 300-400 thru-hikers camping out in the summer - each with their own tall tales. [As Wendy Reese calls it Daniels Land of the Misfit Beings] The past Poet Laureate of the Yukon, Robert W. Service was a frequent favorite. (PJ PJ Johnson is the current Poet Laureate of the Yukon) Without admitting there was ever competition, (Oh no! Wed NEVER admit it) Douglas Claytor and I would often take turns reciting either The Cremation of Sam McGee or The Shooting of Dan McGrew. Doug has such a beautiful voice and prolific memory, I was always relieved when he recited The Highwayman, first, so I could subtly steal, Sam McGee. In these days of the current Arctic Blast keeping so many inside, some of you might like this version by the great actor, Ed Begley. Of course, I give credit to both parents, J. Douglas Quinn and my recently deceased, Mom, Lorraine Quinn-Gaston for instilling a love of poetry, literature and great writing in all nine of their children. (This was NOT one of the poems we recited to Mom on the night of her passing! Its not that the thought was not there, it was the fact that no one wanted to follow my brother, Brians perfect and extraordinary rendition of Steven Vincent Benets, The Mountain Whipporwill (Admit competition? Oh nooooooo Not us.) https://youtube/watch?v=ZSKNM0oTNmw
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 17:58:53 +0000
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