The Explanation
(for those who require one)
And, of course, that is what all of this is -- all of this: the one song, ever changing, ever reincarnated, that speaks somehow from and to and for that which is ineffable within us and without us, that is both prayer and deliverance, folly and wisdom, that inspires us to dance or smile or simply to go on, senselessly, incomprehensibly, beatifically, in the face of mortality and the truth that our lives are more ill-writ, ill-rhymed and fleeting than any song, except perhaps those songs -- that song, endlesly reincarnated -- born of that truth, be it the moon and June of that truth, or the wordless blue moan, or the rotgut or the elegant poetry of it. That nameless black-hulled ship of Ulysses, that long black train, that Terraplane, that mystery train, that Rocket '88', that Buick 6 -- same journey, same miracle, same end and endlessness."
-- Nick Tosches, Where Dead Voices Gather
6 comments:
James L. Swanson's "Manhunt: The 12-Day Chase for Lincoln's Killer" details the sad events of April 14, 1865 (and the days that followed) quite comprehensively. I highly recommend it. Manhunt could form the basis of (for?) a terrific movie—but Hollywood would ruin it somehow. Traumatic, heartbreaking times…
"Abe! Don't go"
-- What I wish I could have said.
This was in a history class handout as a kid, and at the time, in grade school, I had a hard time getting an explanation I could wrap my head around from anybody of just what the heck an octoroon was.
Top of the bill, national tragedy. But first -- a minstrel show!
Erik, are you paraphrasing Wayne & Shuster by any chance?
$8-$10.00 for a Private Box!? =:oO
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