Non Pareil, Vol. 3 (Free!)

For the past few years I've been culling the very cream from various mix CDs that I make for myself from a variety of periods, genres and styles, and compiling the resulting songs together on a disc of their own. The end result in each case is an extremely eclectic record of absolutely top-notch songs. So far I've compiled three of these discs, each one roughly one year in the making.

Anyway, the reason I'm writing all this here is because I'm rather proud of these and I want to offer the latest one to you. It has everything from the obscure to the ubiquitous, from opera to indie rock, turntablism to trip-hop. Just send me your address and I'll mail the disc out to you at my earliest convenience (or if I'm in your city or will be soon, I'll just, you know, give it to you). The only catch is that you have to promise to give me your thoughts on the songs or, much preferably, each song.

How We've Learned!

The vaunted conflagrations
of belligerent constellations
were, for a time,
overhead.

And the heavenly muse
would dutifully deliver the news
to men, by the fire,
looking up.

And oh, it's true they had such larks,
squinting through the sparks,
on their backs,
after some food.

But to see powers and principalities
and other such trivialities
settle grudges
in the sky --

Did they even have the capacity
to see their sheer audacity,
gazing, lazily,
on the burning fields of gods?

We've long since found our due decorum,
confirmed by the proper quorum:
to look down is best when, above,
is only distance.

Ritual as Universal

One is seven, one is five,
So mommy stayed behind in the car.
Sneakered feet are tired now
On the dirt and needles, earth.

Not dashing in front anymore,
but staying close behind
and always on the lookout
for what might come ahead.

Switchbacks take us higher
to a breathless minor crest
Where it all arrests us --

River spilling through the valley
Silver ribbon in blankets green
Laudamus te

Wheeling hawk in sunlight shafts
Under clouds that billow and roll
Benedicamus te

Damp pine mist and dandelion
Redolent of a forgotten home
Adoramus te

Little queen and her upstart squire
A glimpse of their inheritance
Glorificamus te

Silence full of ancient days
Glorificamus te
Silence full of sanctus days
Glorificamus te
Sanctus full of sanctus days
Gratias agimus tibi
Sanctus sanctus sanctus

Someday
Quiet in a humming hospital sleep
Or loud in a spinning highway heap

We sing
Sanctus Sanctus Sanctus

Springtime at the University of Chicago