Notebook Writer

"Into the nowhere zone" a lyrical poetry song

2012-02-10T19:23:00.000-05:00

Into the nowhere zone

by Mike Marcellino

On the shore

brazen

the raven,

or is it a crow?

A blackbird's

tell tale colors,

purples and blues;

gives away a Starling's

stutter step

pecking

at crumbs.

He walks the old splintered planks

floor of the beachcomber,

dating back to seventy-five.

In the air

above the sea

propelled

by a crashing wave

perhaps three feet; 

nothing like

being in the air 

above the sea.

Absent time

absent thoughts

no worry, but the surf -

nirvana after all

in the liquid glass

rainbows over your left shoulder.

Hurricane curls, like dancing girls -

first Irene, then Katia 

swells capped off by a wild northeaster

clocking winds over 50 miles per hour

creating havoc on the beach.

Riding faces five or six feet high

wipe outs turn you into a pretzel,

no fear, you can only die.

Atop a cliff of white foam

aqua below, daring

you to take off

flirt with the unknown

deep down;

in that instant

you go

falling into the nowhere zone

Copyright by Mike Marcellino, 2012

Above photo The Wedge at Newport Beach, one of the world's most treacherous body surfing spots.  Photo by Oceanlight.com The Wedge Newport Beach Natural History Photography Blog 

The ups and downs of making music

2012-01-04T19:12:00.000-05:00

St. Augustine Beach rainbow

Chasing a musical rainbow

I doubt there's anything a person can do that has more ups and downs than making music, that is, creating, recording and performing music. In our case, it's lyrical poetry music, avant-garde stuff that very few people are doing. Our listeners often say our music is "unique." Our music is a fusion of poetry, or lyrical songs and stories, set to music, both played by musicians and composed using computer software. Depending on the subject or story of the lyrics, the accompanying music may have elements of folk, jazz, punk, hip hop, blues, country or even surf, as in "Bondi beach". I suppose you could say "Flatbush" is even psychedelic.

In November, we recorded and released our 8th song, "Taipei subway."

On New Year's Day we popped up to #42 among the Hot Folk Artists in the world on ReverbNation's charts. ReverbNation, a leading website for musical artists, has more than 1.5 million artists. Monday we peaked at #26. We reached our all-time high of #17 in April. The next two days we were nearly off the chart, only to reach #95 today. We're #30 on the Top Folk Artists' New York City chart, after peaking at #22 in August after releasing our 7th song, "West of the Pecos".

I often wonder why I continue to make music, though I do enjoy it. We haven't tried to sell any tracks yet, other than a self-produced sample CD, "Notebook Writer" for show we did in New York City in the fall of 2010. We expect to start selling digital tracks and album this month.

But, then, we receive comments like this one from Agata Zak, an actor from New York City -

"Keep up the beautiful work. You are an inspiration to many."

Or, one from Mas Las, a journalist from Algeria -

"'West of the Pecos' is a masterpiece, the voice, poetry, rhythm and the music."

And, going back to December 2009 when we first began making lyrical poetry music, from Paul Donohoe, a writer in Australia -

"This (The Walls of Fire) lovely and haunting piece of poetry should be a world wide sensation."

Then I wonder, gee, are they kidding, is this for real? While people are listening from all over the United States and the world the numbers aren't large - in the thousands, but not yet tens of thousands.

For the record here are our recorded songs so far:

Amelia Earhart, soft silver wings 9-23-2009

been down ta Las Cruces 10-22-2009

Flatbush 11-3-2009

The Walls of Fire 11-11-2009

Bondi beach 11-20-2009

Alphabet cofeehouse 3-13-2010

West of the Pecos 6-7-2011

Taipei subway 11-6-2011

Tomas Texino composed the music on all songs except Flatbush, composed by Randall Leddy who also played bass. David Dowling played bass on Amelia. All songs were recorded in St. Augustine, Florida, except for Flatbush, recorded in Brooklyn, NY.

In any event, thanks to our listeners for joining us on a wild, poetic music ride.

Listen and share our music with your friends (free to stream online). Like our Facebook Musician/Band. page. Help us introduce our music to more people our band to grow.

Mike Marcellino's Facebook Musician/Band page

Here's the link to our ReverbNation music page. It's free to register and listen and there's a lot of great music on the site. You can be a fan of our band if you like, and even join the street team, which will be getting some stuff to do this year!

Mike Marcellino on ReverbNation

Take care, and we love to hear from you, so drop us a note!

Mike and the band

Memoirs in music: lyrical poetry of Mike Marcellino

2011-12-16T20:04:00.000-05:00

Amelia Earhart

Memoirs in music

The lyrical poetry of Mike Marcellino: "Amelia" (September 2009)

To mark our recording eight lyrical poetry songs during the past two years, I am reviewing the recordings for those who may have missed the initial releases of the songs or my want to revisit them, read the lyrics or learn the backstory of the songs.

It's finally dawned on me that what I'm doing with the help of some very talented musician friends is to put my memoirs to music. I've scratched my head over trying to put our music in a genre, but I can only say they are lyrical poetry songs.

In September 2009 I finally fled the lake effect snows fed by arctic winds across Lake Erie east of Cleveland, Ohio to rediscover my first love - the ocean and surfing in St. Augustine Beach, Florida. Except for music trips to New York City, I'm rediscovering a lifelong passion of being a surfer.

I got the inspiration to write "Amelia" after visiting the International Air and Space Museum in Cleveland. The photo of Amelia (shown above) was in a biography at the museum. She looked like and had the courage of an angel. As I rode my bike along the shores of Lake Erie and through the Cultural Gardens, I kept stopping to add another verse. We recorded the song in the home studio of musician and singer songwriter David Dowling in St. Augustine. Tomas Texino composed the music for "Amelia"and all my songs, except for "Flatbush," recorded a month later in New York City with Randall Leddy composing the music.

"Amelia," the first of eight lyrical poetry song recordings was released for streaming only on September 23, 2009. We have not yet released our recorded songs commercially in digital or CD form. "Amelia" ranks 6th in popularity among our eight recordings as tracked on our music site on ReverbNation.

You may listen to "Amelia Earhart, soft silver wings" on the music player at the top of this blog.

There's lots of information about our band and music on the site, just click on the link below. We've love to hear from you and what you think of our avant-garde lyrical poetry music.

Mike Marcellino on ReverbNation

You may also wish to visit our music page on Facebook and please do "like" our page as it helps awareness of our band and music grow.

Mike Marcellino on Facebook

Amelia Earhart, soft silver wings

By Mike Marcellino

Amelia Earhart,

Love your picture

in flight.

love your goggles,

love your lips.

Love how you circled the world,

single handed.

Amelia

amelia

Like that leather

air cap.

You’re a goddess, a woman

soft white,

ahead of your time,

such afterglow

night

in shinning armor.

Meet me on a northern coast,

not far from the equator,

above the island

where they made King Kong.

You’re Atlantis, risen

in my South China Sea.

Amelia

amelia

Oh, your last flight

Oh, your last flight,

what a night

Looking at your picture

in my book,

soft silver

wings.

Your lips, painted colors

light, pretty pink.

Those eyes,

imagine,

sigh.

Your nails, natural,

fingertips.

taking you with me.

Amelia

amelia

amelia,

soft silver

wings.

Your words,

Courage

Courage is the price that Life extracts for granting peace.

The soul that knows it not, knows no release.

From little things.

Knows not the livid loneliness of fear.

Not mountain heights where bitter joy can hear

The sound of wings.

How can life grant us boon of living, compensate

For dull grey ugliness and pregnant hate

Unless we dare

The soul’s dominion? Each time we make a choice, we pay

With courage to behold the restless day,

And count it fair. - Amelia Earhart, 1927

You made the crossing

not alone.

Meet you over the Atlantic.

Amelia

amelia

amelia,

Soft silver,

soft silver wings.

Flashbacks of Hurdy Gurdy Man

2011-12-07T18:29:00.001-05:00

Donovan sings "Hurdy Gurdy Man" live in Paris in 1970

Lost verse of Donovan's "Hurdy Gurdy Man" written by George Harrison -

When the truth gets buried deep
Beneath the thousand years of sleep
Time demands a turn-around
And once again the truth is found
Awakening the Hurdy Gurdy Man
Who comes singing songs of love.

Donovan and Scottish pipes

Not sure how I happened to listen to the music of Donovan, a Scottish singer songwriter and friend of The Beatles, but in 1964 he recorded "Catch the Wind." I listened to it a lot as that was about what I was trying to do. At the end of 1965, I enlisted in the U. S. Army rather than be drafted as the Vietnam War was going on. I ended up in Vietnam anyway and in early 1968 I listened to Hurdy Gurdy Man in my "hootch" as the war went out outside. While they say Donovan mimicked Bob Dylan, I never thought so, but both drew there influences from Woody Guthrie and Ramblin Jack Elliot.

In 2012, Donovan will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; a rather overdue induction. Both "Hurdy Gurdy Man" and "Catch the Wind" rose high on the charts in the U. S. and the British Isles.

It just so happens I am working on a new lyrical poetry song recording of a poem I wrote in the middle of the night back in 1989 as I searched for my Scottish roots, awake from flashbacks from the war

Scottishpipes

byMike Marcellino

Scottish pipes

wail away.

Scottish pipes

wail away

in a room withyellow walls.

Outside

stacks ofpainted chimneys.

Inside

a tv antenna

pointedsoutheast.

Gray silverwhite clouds

rolling in

from the north

over water

dotted with softblue holes,

patchwork.

A painter’seyes,

tar rectangles,angles

blasting light

from coppermetal

on the secondlevel.

Blasting light

on pale

yellow paintedwalls.

Scottish pipes

wail away.

Scottish pipes

wail away

in a room withyellow walls.

Third floor

rooftopmelodies.

Scottish pipes

wail away.

Scottish pipes

wail away

in a room withyellow walls.

Listen to theradio.

Listen to theradio -

Loretta Lynn.

Sleet storms.

CopyrightMike Marcellino, 2011 (originally written October 7, 1989)

A sense of all, a poem (revised)

2011-12-01T15:33:00.003-05:00

Vietnam Memorial, Washington D. C., 2010 Photo by Mike Marcellino A sense of all by Mike Marcellino Fragments, parts bits and pieces ...

A sense of all

2011-11-22T21:39:00.008-05:00

Vietnam Memorial, Washington D. C., 2010 Photo by Mike Marcellino

A sense of all
by Mike Marcellino

Fragments, parts
bits and pieces
of you and me
shells on the beach,
pines cones at Yellowstone.

Fragments, parts
bits and pieces
memories of songs we loved
revolutions survived.

Fragments, parts
bits and pieces
now worn down,
most look like India, Africa
So where is Gandhi
and King? 
We still need them.

Fragments, parts
bits and pieces
pastels, holes, linear cracks  
in our unfinished business -
making life just,
not for a few.

Fragments, parts
bits and pieces
of forts
ancient hideouts.
Where are you now 
that we need you?

Fragments, parts
bits and pieces
of souls lost; 
so, what does it take
to put us
back together?

Fragments, parts
bits and pieces;
we'll be okay, complete
as long as we 
don't lose a sense of all.

Copyright Mike Marcellino 2011

Will war ever bring peace?

2011-11-11T15:04:00.001-05:00

"Search & destroy" photo by Mike Marcellino, TET Offensive, Vietnam War, 1968, on a mission with the 23rd South Vietnamese Rangers and U. S. Army 23rd Artillery forward observers.

Will war ever bring peace?
by Mike Marcellino

"In war, there are no unwounded soldiers." -José Narosky, Argentine writer, mostly of amorphisms

I don't know of the war experience of Narosky, or how he came to write this, but the quote is true.

Today is Veterans Day, November 11, 2011. There hasn't been a calendar day like this since November 11, 1911, before the outbreak of World War I.

Our Veterans Day began as the moment fighting ceased in World War I, 11am, November 11, 1918. This moment in our history has become known as Veterans Day in America.

This makes today's Veterans Day the calendar moment of 11-11-11-11, the eleventh hour of the eleventh day in the eleventh month in the year two thousand and eleven. You can take this to the craps tables in Las Vegas, but it hasn't brought peace. We are still fighting in Afghanistan and maintain troops in Iraq and all over the world.

"Courage is fear holding on a minute longer." -George S. Patton, general, U. S. Army, WWII

U. S. Army Soldiers of the 101st Airborne patrol a mountainous village in the rugged Spira mountains in Khost province, along the Afghan-Pakistan Borde. (Photo David Furst / AFP / Getty Images)

I found this photo on an interesting website started in 1984 to help soldiers from World War II, both Americans and Germans locate the places where they fought. It's called the US Veterans Contact point and Information Center and was founded in Malmedy, Belgium. Here's the link to the website for a further look at an interesting project. (Malmedy is well know as the site of the massacre of 71 unarmed U. S. troops by German troops during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II.)

Oddly, there hasn't been a date like this for a century, since November 11, 1911. Since then Americans, patriots, if you will, have fought, died and been wounded in two world wars and wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as excursions into Grenada and Panama, not to mention countless other military interventions. Here is the link to the Wikipedia timeline of United States military operations since 1776:

Timeline of U. S. military operations

While the sacrifice of American soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen, should be honored in deed every day of the year, the list of U. S. military operations is enough to choke a horse.

We, as a nation, must ask ourselves, to what end? What are we fighting, dying and being maimed for? Where is the peace?

Some day we should swap our M-16s for shovels and see if that brings peace.

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." -John Fitzgerald Kennedy

"My Girls" photo by Mike Marcellino, 1968, Vietnam War

Finally, we invite your to listen to our lyrical poetry song recording, "The Walls of Fire," an ode to the sacrifice by American troops from the Civil War to Afghanistan. There's a music player right up top. If you'd like to "like" us on our Facebook music page here's the link.

Mike Marcellino's artist page on Facebook

Our music website is on ReverbNation where our band is #30 Top Folk Artist on the New York City chart.

Learn about, listen to our music on ReverbNation

New single released: "Taipei subway"

2011-11-06T19:03:00.000-05:00

Photos Remix Taipei baseball team's new New Era cap (Hatclub.com) (top), cheering Taiwanese baseball fans (st1na.wordpress.com) and Taiwan Metro (axiomdisplay.com)

Bulletin: "Taipei subway," a new single released

"Taipei subway"

Lyrics and vocal: Mike Marcellino
Music composition: Tomas Texino

Taipei subway marks the 8th single record released in the past year by Mike Marcellino and his band. This latest in a series of avant-garde recordings fusing poetry, "It's our first full band sound. I just wanted to be up there beating the drums this one," Mike said, about the new record. "It's also pretty far out, stranger than fiction kind of stuff." The music composition includes acoustic bass, drumkit, acoustic slide guitar, crunch electric guitar, piano and synthwhirl.

You may listen to our new song either on our ReverbNation music site using this link, or the music player at the top of my blog. We also encourage you to "like" us on our Facebook Musician/Band Page, as well as become a fan here. There's a music player on our Facebook page too.

ReverbNation music website

Facebook Musician/Band Page

A story of "Taipei subway" - baseball, music and human rights

I wrote "Taipei subway," in 2007 and recorded it with Split Pea/ce, my first band, in Cleveland the next year. Abe Olvido, a multi-media artist, who liked to create music, was the other half of Split Pea/ce and we performed at clubs and events in Cleveland until 2009.

The song is an offbeat look at Taipei, Taiwan spawned by my wanderings in the city taking a break from a human rights mission I undertook in 1987. I, along with a representative of former U. S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, a liberal activist, and an official of a world Christian church group, accompanied a liberal opposition politician on his return to Taiwan. Dr Hong Chi-chang was in exile in the United States for his opposition to the oppression and martial law in Taiwan, the longest in world history. Our mission proved to be successful as the Dr. Hong wasn't killed or jailed but was put on trial. Tens of thousands of Taiwanese greeted the opposition leader at the airport, after some tense moments when authorities boarded our plane. As we were landing I would see hundreds of troops, riot police and armored vehicles on the runway. Since that time, human rights and democracy have progressed and the tension between Taiwan and China have diminished. I was asked to go on the mission by the Taiwanese leaders in the U. S. who were fighting for human rights and democracy in their home country.

I had first encountered the very active Taiwanese community in Cleveland while I worked as an aide to former Congressman Louis Stokes in 1984 specializing in human rights issues. For four years we worked to end marshal martial law and advance human rights and democracy in Taiwan. Martial law was ended in 1987 but was replaced with a repressive National Security Law by the regime still influenced by Chiang Kai-shek, the nationalist Chinese leader. Chiang had fled Communist China after World War II to Taiwan, an island off the coast, set up the Republic of China and killed 30,000 Taiwanese intellectuals, educators and artists. Reform began in 1988 and in 2000 an opposition party candidate won the nation's first free election.

As I'm working on a new recording of "Taipei subway," I dusted it off (edited) to share with you.

Taipei subway
By Mike Marcellino

Another day, night
another mission.
Underground.
White bright light -
Two guys, guitars
singing.
Where?
Taipei subway.

Two guys, guitars
singing.
Where?
Taipei subway.
There.
Nowhere.
Nobody there.
Taipei subway
twins
Taipei subway
twins.

Another day, night
underground.
White bright light -
Pictures
in dark
4 color corners
4 color
4 color.
Taipei subway
twins.

Another day, night
underground.
White bright lights.
White bright lights -
They weren’t
supposed to be
there.
Somewhere.
Anywhere;
Early commuters,
appearing
in a tunnel
of white tile walls.
On another mission.
Sent by God,
the old Taiwanese man said.
Taipei subway.
Taipei subway
twins.

Down below
runways filled with troops,
tanks, fire trucks
rows and rows of riot police
rigid
behind their plastic shields.
Tense moments, without warning;
authorities in plain clothes
board our jet from Tokyo.
Chaos in customs
tens of thousands,
cheering throngs
greeting him,
me, shooting pictures
in a scene
from Lord Jim.

Another day, night
underground.
White bright lights -
Taipei subway,
subway.
Two guys, guitars
singing.
Where?
There.
Nowhere.
Taipei subway
to a night game
of the
The Taipei Subway Twins
4 color,
4 color,
4 color.

Copyright Mike Marcellino, 2007/2011

"Lieu" - a story of love in war

2011-09-28T20:47:00.000-04:00

Lieu

by Mike Marcellino

South Vietnam, 1967.

Silly beginning, careless ending

lizards clung to the dim lit wall.

Thomas and i met her at Sherwood Forest,

the nightclub,

smiling at us over beer,

fries

and a now and then

Saigon Tea.

In a

sputtering

Honda 90

humanly propelled

by a papa-san

pimp,

I rode through

hit and miss,

foot, leg, peddle-powered

traffic -

Saigon streets

darkness after curfew

riding in the close warm

black night.

Teaming, steaming

from the Tahiti,

20 century

brick-fronted

same on the inside

hotel.

While Thomas

worried,

tripping

i shivered

(not really).

Inside outside

perfect night for baseball.

Lieu

dug store bought;

i read her scrolling

on a crumpled

piece of

paper

light brown

one six four and one-half

some street.

Self-conscious me

in Bermuda shorts,

naked legs

walking down winding back alleys

to find Lieu

and ma-muc.

Ma-muc

-burnt red stained beetle nut chew

in her mouth

bulging,

crushed

by an earthen

ceramic set.

Bermuda shorts hairy legs me and

ma muc

who smiles,

giggles -

Lieu’s ma ma san mother.

Her daughter came

home

happy

made me eat

gobbling hers.

Lieu,

and ma-muc

grabbing my leg hair,

giggling.

First joy of waiting,

simple thing

so tense

exciting -

Showering from

body tall vases

in the corner

morning after

love, her

surfer t-shirt mini on.

Lieu laughed,

cried,

gave

really.

Maybe she loves

someone

else

tonight.

Her oily

brown face,

round, dark eyes

long, straight black hair.

Not a fair maiden,

but no whore.

The Walls of Fire - the song, lyrics and story

2011-09-25T14:18:00.000-04:00

The Walls of Fire: story behind the song

Here's one of my favorite photographs I took while serving as a U. S. Army correspondent and photojournalist in the Vietnam War. I like it because it's so pastoral, a far cry from the horror of war.

Recently I wrote a poem about the sacrifices of American troops from the Civil War to Vietnam and the gulf wars and we recorded the song, "The Walls of Fire."

Mike Marcellino took this photo with a Pentax 35 mm camera on search and destroy mission with the 33rd South Vietnamese Rangers and United States Army forward observers of the U.S. Army 23rd Artillery Group in the Iron Triangle during the Vietnam War in 1968.

The mission occurred during The TET Offensive, a surprise attack by North Vietnamese regular and VC troops throughout South Vietnam. The enemy attack began on January 31, breaking the Vietnamese New Year's holiday cease fire. TET was the heaviest fighting of the war. With heavy U. S. casualties and scenes of the VC taking over the American Embassy in Saigon (for a few hours), TET was the turning point in growing opposition to the war by the American people. TET was was a complete military victory for U. S. troops, nearly eliminating all of the Viet Cong forces. North Vietnamese troops took over the fight. After the signing of a peace treaty in Paris the United States withdrew its forces in 1973. The North Vietnam defeated the South Vietnam in 1975 and Vietnam was reunified.

For his reporting on the mission, the Rangers presented Mike with a captured Viet Cong flag during a formal ceremony. More than 40 years later, he still has the flag. (Copyright by Mike Marcellino)

To listen here's the link (or there's a music player on the top of his blog)

The Walls of Fire on ReverbNation

The walls of fire
By Mike Marcellino

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
rock cliffs and open fields -
Hornet’s Nest at Shiloh
Devil’s Den, Gettysburg.

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
sea to shining sea -
lost in the Argonne Forest
face down on beaches at Normandy
frozen by the waters of Chosin Reservoir.

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
paddies, highlands -
Nui Ba Dinh, the Black Virgin Mountain
the Ashau Valley
along the perimeter of Khe Sanh.

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood, carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
empty deserts
filled with giant rising suns -
Fallujah rooftops
unknown streets of Sadr City
barren mountains, caves of Tora Bora.

The walls of fire
grow higher, still higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching.

The walls of fire copyright by Mike Marcellino 2009

Awesome remake

2011-08-31T11:50:00.000-04:00

Dear Readers,

Well, time flies. I've been publishing this blog, "The Point of the Whole Thing," since May 2009. Stories. Poetry. Music. Photography. We now have several thousands regular readers. I appreciate that a lot.

So, to reward you and future readers, I've redesigned the Blogger blog with a new fresh, clean look, a lot of white space. I like white space. New features include a Readers' Poll that will change every week or two. The first poll asks you to pick your favorite of our poetry song recordings.

Also new on the redesigned blog is a direct link to our Facebook Musician/band Page, affectionately named, "Mike Marcellino." All you have to do is click on "like" on the widget at the top of the blog, or do it when you get to the page.

By liking our band you get to listen to our music for free. Soon we're offer downloads of tracks and an album of songs for a small fee. The page has a music player (free to listen just "like" the page) and a link to this blog. Joining the page also helps our band progress (we're now #19 on the folk music chart in New York City). If we're going to make it in the music world we need a lot of listeners.

The site remake is continuing so expect more new stuff.

Thanks again,

Mike

"West of the Pecos"

2011-06-09T15:05:00.005-04:00

Lyrics of a new poetry song

West of the Pecos
by Mike Marcellino

A Texas crossing
takes all of three days,
nights of stars
the brightness of being
on a road to desolation
the dry dirt land
West of the Pecos.

Dropping down
from Texarkana
past Abilene,
Sweetwater
and Big Spring
through 500 miles
of no man's land
named for
an Apache chief -
the Chihuahua desert
of mesquite
bobcats, rattle snakes
and scorpions
cowboys call vinegaroons
on a road to desolation
the dry dirt land
along the Rio Grande
West of the Pecos.

Biting winds
uncover
the ghosts
of Lillie Langtry,
mistress of
the Price of Wales
and her fondest admirer
Judge Roy Bean
along the Rio Grande
a place heaven deserted
on a road to desolation
the dry dirt land
West of the Pecos.

The ghost of Gary Cooper
rode up in a Cutlas Supreme
a critter unknown to Roy Bean.
Standing before the bar,
the Langtry Saloon,
named after the judge's sweetheart,
a British actress known as Jersey Lily.

No six shooter in my hand
the hanging judge
sentenced me to roam forever
in this God forsaken
West Texas land
a place heaven deserted
on a road to desolation
the dry dirt land
West of the Pecos.

Copyright 2011 Mike Marcellino

To listen to "West of the Pecos" you may use the music player on the top of this page or go to Mike's music site on Reverbnation (free & no registration required but you may become a fan and there's a lot of new music on the site)

Mike Marcellino on Reverbnation

Here's some interesting photos of Roy Bean, Lillie Langtry, and Langtry, Texas today.

They say that each day 100,000 people visit the old home of Judge Roy Bean. About 13 people live in Langtry.

Walter Brennan plays Judge Roy Bean and Gary Cooper is a cowboy trying to talk the judge out of hanging him in the 1940 film, The Westerner. Brennan won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Neat black and white classic!

Lillie Langtry, sweetheart of Judge Roy Bean, though they never met. Her friends Oscar Wild suggested she become an actress. Born on the Jersey Islands off the coast of England, she was an amazing character and quite beautiful. She also raced horses. For more about her here's Lillie's website

Lillie Langtry

Judge Roy Bean
(prints of this photo by Legends of America Photo Prints)
Legends of America Photo Prints

Langtry, Texas (Photo by The Sayre RV Odyssey b log)

America's wars: From "Cold Mountain" to "Ohio"

2011-05-30T15:03:00.005-04:00

"You Will Be My Ain True Love" is a song written and performed by Sting and Alison Krauss from the 2003 film Cold Mountain The song was nominated for an Academy Award, a Grammy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song.

America's wars: Struggle for our national conscience
By Mike Marcellino

The last in a Memorial Day series on war in music, words and images

Doc and The Lady perform "Ashokan Farewell" at Cowboy Poetry in Elko, Nevada in 2009. This haunting and beautiful song, written by Jay Unger in 1982, was the opening music in Ken Burn's remarkable PBS television mini-series "The Civil War."

(An interesting note: the annual Cowboy Poetry Festival was in the news this spring because politicians argued over the nation's $14 trillion debt while the festival is funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Some Republican leaders want to eliminate federal funding of many of the government's program that help fun the arts, including music and Public Television. It's a sign we as a nation are in serious trouble when our leaders want to take away our music and other art and humanities programs.)

Cold Mountain, an historical fiction novel, written by Charles Fraiser, won the National Book Award in 1997. It was later adapted for the screen by director Anthony Minghella in the 2003 film "Cold Mountain," starring Jude Law, Nichole Kidman, and Rene Zellwager. The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Actor for Jude Law, and won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for Renée Zellweger. I highly recommend both the book and the film.

The Civil War, 1861-65, counting both Union and Confederate deaths, was the bloodiest war as far as American deaths in our nation's history. There were a total of 625,000 deaths, more than the 405,399 American troops who died in battle or otherwise in World War II. The Civil War saved the union and set the wheels turning to abolish slavery, though our nation still struggles to achieve equality. World War II saved the world from oppression and dictatorship and halted the Nazi slaughter and extermination of 20 million people, including six million Jews. World War II claimed the lives of 73 million people. There were many opportunities for nations, including the United States, to stop Hitler and the Nazis but nothing was done.

When I checked with the U. S. Department of Defense data on U. S. military deaths in the nation's wars, they identified the Vietnam War as "the Vietnam Conflict." As a Vietnam veteran I wish DOC would finally change its terminology and admit Vietnam was a war. A total of more 58,000 American troops died in that war, in battle and otherwise.

Here is "The Walls of Fire," Mike Marcellino's poetry music ode to the sacrifice of American soldiers form the Civil War to Afghanistan -

"The Walls of Fire" on Reverbnation

The United States could have talked to Ho Chi Minh, leader of the Vietnamese nationalist movement, after World War II but we didn't. Minh had used much of the American Declaration of Independence in framing the Vietnamese Declaration of Independence. To learn more about the Vietnam War, including its origins and the history of the Vietnamese people who had defeated the Chinese as well in the 15th Century, read, Fire in the Lake by Frances Fitzgerald in 1972). Instead we bankrolled the French war in Indochina against Minh's Việt Minh defeated the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. American government officials, including President Eisenhower would late admit that the Vietnam War was about protecting U. S. interests in the raw materials in Southeast Asia. Eisenhower said if Vietnam fell other counties would fall to communism like dominoes. Later, President Eisenhower, who as an Army general led the U. S. forces to victory in World War II, warned the American people of the danger of the growing power of the industrial-military complex in the United States.

"My Girls" Vietnam War, 1968

To date the war in Afghanistan has claimed the lives of 1,219 American troops in battle and otherwise. In the various Gulf wars since 9-11 in 2001, we've lost a total of 4,847 troops. We still have 50,000 American troops in Iraq and 100,000 in Afghanistan.

Here is the latest U. S. soldier to die in battle in the war in Afghanistan as identified in a news release from the U. S. Department of Defense. I couldn't help noticing that Army Specialist Adam Hamilton, 22, was from Kent, Ohio, scene of
May 4,, 1970 shootings of students on the Kent State University campus by Ohio National Guard troops. The National Guard soldiers were called in to the campus by then Governor James Rhodes in response to student demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Four students were killed, nine wounded, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis.

U.S. Department of Defense
Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs)
News Release

On the Web:
http://www.defense.gov/Releases/Release.aspx?ReleaseID=14526
Media contact: +1 (703) 697-5131/697-5132

Public contact:
http://www.defense.gov/landing/comment.aspx
or +1 (703) 428-0711 +1

IMMEDIATE RELEASE

No. 451-11
May 29, 2011

DOD Identifies Army Casualty

            The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.
            Spc. Adam S. Hamilton, 22, of Kent, Ohio, died May 28 in Haji Ruf, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when enemy forces attacked his unit with an improvised explosive device. He was assigned to the 4th Squadron, 4th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, Fort Riley, Kan.
            For more information, the media may contact the Fort Riley public affairs office at 785-240-1893, 785-239-3033, or after hours at 785-210-8867.

As Memorial Day 2011 nears and end, I leave you with this powerful song, "Ohio," written by Canadian folk rock singer Neil Young. It was probably the best known anti-war song and deals with the shootings at Kent State. Here's Crosby, Still, Nash and Young and "Ohio." It reached #14 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The Point of the Whole Thing: Brothers in arms

2011-05-29T03:01:00.004-04:00

Music video of "Brothers in Arms"

by Dire Straits, a United Kingdom rock band

Memorial Day in music, poetry & images

by Mike Marcellino

Part 2 of a series on Memorial Day in words, music and pictures

"Brothers in Arms"

You might wonder why I selected a song by a British rock band as my favorite song relating to the Vietnam War. Music was exploding in 1967 and 1968 while I served in the U. S. Army in Vietnam. "Brothers in Army" isn't even about the Vietnam War, not even an American war, not even a big war.

"Brothers in Arms" was written in 1985 by Dire Straits' leader singer and guitarist Mark Knopfler about the Falkland War between the UK and Argentina. The war in 1982 was over possession of the Falkland Islands off the coast of Argentina..

The casualties were relatively small, the British lost 255 soldiers while Argentina lost 649. More than 58,000 American soldiers were killed in the Vietnam War along with millions of South Vietnamese, Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops and Vietnamese civilians. But to loved ones of those lost in war, numbers mean nothing.

I, along with many of my comrades who survived the Vietnam War, adopted "Brothers in Arms." For me it best expressions my lasting remembrance of my fellow soldiers, especially those who did not come home. An album of the same name was the number one album in the UK in 1985.

In 2007 Knopfler rerecorded "Brothers in Arms" with all the proceeds going to British veterans of the Falkland Island War suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Bravo Mark! Some American musicians ought to follow your example and record music to benefit all those U. S. veterans suffering from PTSD, as well as physical wound.

I invite you to listen to this beautiful and haunting song and the moving artwork on the video.

While I have written poems, or songs, about my experiences in the Vietnam War, I am sharing with you a piece I wrote a few nights ago, "We interrupt this broadcast.." Reading it you may not think it has to do with Vietnam or Memorial Day, but it does. But it puts those traumatic events in context, context of the tragedy and inhumanity of war and killing, the choice between war and peace, and the current state of our planet, and direction we are headed in the United States and around the world. The context is not good and it doesn't look promising.

We have more wars, environmental degradation, violence in our community, lack of opportunity for the poor and middle class for education, jobs and health care, increasing poverty, especially among children and injustice. More and more Americans, whether conservative or liberal, have given up on politics and our leaders. This is understandable considering the vast majority of our elected officials, especially at the national level, are just interested in being reelected and their own selfish interests and beliefs.

"We interrupt this broadcast"

We interrupt this broadcast

by Mike Marcellino

TV, PTSD

It's killing us -

You and Me.

What happened to our world?

Are our leader’s watchin

too much TV?

Using it

against you and me?

TV, PTSD

It's killing us -

You and Me

More and more

earthquakes

between six and eight.

magnitude.

Arctic's melting,away

dead pools in the oceans.

Magnetic north

be in Russia soon.

Mass extinction

by humans, they say.

TV, PTSD

It's killing us -

You and Me

Sounds like a cheer

but they're no leaders

today.

No Martin,

John, Bobby

no Gandhi

or Che.

I heard

crossing the campus -

they shot Kennedy.

For days we sat glued to TV.

We could still remember

Howdy Doody

and Mama.

TV, PTSD

It's killing us, -

You and Me

Was sixty-nine

our last rally?

A million or more

marched

against war

that cold, sunny day in DC.

Next May in Ohio

students shot dead

sticking flowers in rifles,

going to class at Kent State.

By the end of Vietnam

we lost 58,000

and now I wonder

where they are

and everyone is

on Memorial Day.

TV, PTSD

It's killing us -

You and Me.

Shoot the fray

capture words

get the story

on the border

in wooded jungles,

carry your wounds

to candlelight vigils.

TV, PTSD

It's killing us -

You and Me.

Magnetic fields

before 9-11.

Conspiracy theories

towers to heaven.

The revolution''s begun

in the streets of Jordan,

in the clouds,

without leaders.

TV, PTSD

It's killing us -

You and Me.

Where is Zapata?

We're putting the Civil War

in the wrong century.

Get up!

Apocalypse Now's on TV.

We interrupt this broadcast

to bring you the news.

The Revolution has begun.

If you don't believe it

check out YouTube

and Facebook

and turn off the TV.

"Fortunate Son"

A music video of another of my favorite Vietnam War songs, "Fortunate Son," written by American rock singer John Fogerty and recorded by Creedence Clearwater Revival in 1969.

It is #99 of Rollings Stone's 500 Greatest Songs. I share the lyrics because they are so true in that the burden of fighting the Vietnam War, and all wars for that matter, was on the poor and working class. (This was especially true in the Vietnam War in that students in college could be deferred from serving as long as they were in school.)

"Fortunate Son" by Creedence Clearwater Revival with some interesting Vietnam War images, produced by Hard Rain Productions

Finally, here is my poetry song, "The Walls of Fire" an ode to American soldiers' sacrifice from the Civil War to Afghanistan.

"The Walls of Fire" by Mike Marcellino

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda"

2011-05-25T12:19:00.006-04:00

Search and Destroy, Vietnam War, TET Offensive, 1968

Memorial Day: Let's make it universal

Memorial Day in America is five days away. All of us should observe its meaning in some way, lasting all year round. Maybe there should also be a universal Memorial Day that every nation observes.

Sometimes, some of the best stories happen by accident. Today, as I thought of a song I wrote and recorded, "The Walls of Fire," an ode to American soldiers' sacrifice from the Civil War to Afghanistan, I went on You Tube to take a break. Listening to one of my favorite bands, The Clash, do "I Fought the Law and the Law Won," music that helps me shake loose, up popped on the screen "No Man's Land (Berlin, Germany).

"The Walls of Fire" on Reverbnation

Well, "No Man's Land" is a song about the carnage in World War I, written and sung by Eric Bogle, a Scottish folk singer songwriter who immigrated to Australia. I was surprised that Bogle was joined in singing the song by a German singer. I have not yet discovered his name.

You see and hear the senseless killing, dying, slaughter, suffering in the music and music videos I will share with you from today through Memorial Day in America, Monday, May 30th. I will also try and discover with your help the other "Memorial Days" in countries around the world.

And, yes, I will suggest that the people of the world create a universal day to honors those who sacrificed their lives, but also to see in our hearts and minds that this destruction of humanity should be ended. Only the people of the world can do it. Why? Because it is the people of the world, not the leaders, who die in these wars. I know that first hand as a Vietnam veteran. I never forget the 58,000 American troops killed in Vietnam along with millions of Vietnamese.

As a student of history, a military veteran and someone who will never give up the idea that peace is possible, I wrote, recorded and perform on occasion, "The Walls of Fire."

I will share "No Man's Land" in a later segment of this series, but first here is another song written by Eric Bogle, "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda (1972)," even better know and often covered, by the likes of Joan Baez, among others. The song is about the slaughter of Australian troops trying to storm the battlements of the Turkish army in World War I in Gallipoli, also the title of an award winning Australian film, directed by Peter Weir in 1981, starring Mel Gibson, Mark Lee and Bill Kerr. I highly recommend it. It won best film award by the Australian Film Institute, was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Foreign film and should have won an Oscar.

At Gallipoli, in this single campaign, battle deaths on both sides totaled a staggering 130,784.

Some people viewed the song as relating to the Vietnam War, which ended after 10 years of fighting in 1975 (U. S. combat forces pulled out in 1973.)

"Waltzing Matilda" is an old bush ballad known as Australia's unofficial national anthem. It was written in 1895 by poet and nationalist Banjo Patterson.

Here is Eric's version of "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda." The video is moving and seems to have been done by a Canadian as there are Canadian troops shown near the end. And, if you like, you may listen to "The Walls of Fire" in the music player on top of this page and visit our avant-garde poetry music band on ReverbNation. Our band yesterday reached #46 among the Hot Folk Artists in the world, to a great extent due to the song of American soldiers in wars for the past 150 years, as we mark the anniversary of bloodies of all our wars, the Civil War, brother fighting against brother. Of course, if we are going to have peace we must end the inhumanity that breeds war.

"And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda" by Eric Bogle

Eric, 66, performed this spring at the Australian Folk Festival.

As I believe that music makes the world go round, music of war and peace, sacrifice and memorial days will be motivation for words.

As I dearly love the music of Joan Baez and respect her activism for peace and justice, here is her version of "And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda." I had the pleasure to meet her in 1995 at the Cuyahoga Valley Folk Festival south of Cleveland, I've included a photo I took of a young girl in the Vietnam War, which I gave to Baez on that occasion. I welcomed her to Cleveland on behalf of the city as I was then an aide to the mayor.

"And the Band Waltzing Matilda" song by Joan Baez

"Oriental River" Vietnam War, 1968

Dear Facebook: Help!

2011-04-11T00:58:00.000-04:00

Unplugged, please

Dear Facebook,

I need some help here. Well, some advice. Right away.

I have only 12 hours to go. I'm back in the waves at night noon today. So, please do not forsake me.

Yesterday, the water was so beautiful -aqua and glassy. So what if the waves were only a foot or so and the water was still a bit chilly, maybe 66 degrees. I plunged it. Started body surfing. It was wonderful.

Except now my left ear is plugged. Tried jumping on my left foot and clapping over my ear. Tried Holding my nose and blowing hard.

It's still plugged and I want to go surfing tomorrow not to the doctors. No offense but I hate going to doctors. (I already have eye surgery starring me in the face next month. Ha! Not seeing worth a damn I can handle, not surfing, sucks.)

Also it will probably take me who knows how long to get an appointment at the VA clinic (Not like it's a shrapnel or bullet wound.)

I haven't done an Internet search yet (but will).

Thought I'd give my Facebook friends a try. I can't be the first person to get an ear plugged swirling around in a wave.

In any case I am going surfing tomorrow. At least I won't see or hear the sharks.

Hey, even if I get no response I have written something. So much for writers block. Sun block?

If somebody gives me a remedy that works I will send you a signed, limited edition CD, "Notebook Writer."

Hey, if nothing else, listen to my music. Here's the link.
ReverbNation
Try "Bondi beach" - a song about surfing the third most shark infested waters in the world while running away from the Vietnam War.

I'll never learn.

Oh, well,

Surf's up!

Mike Marcellino

Big waves, Bondi Beach, Australia

There's a music player on top of this page, or for a real adventure go to my music site on ReverbNation -

"His (Mike Marcellino) words incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city (New York):"

2011-02-08T19:30:00.001-05:00

The Review Review:
Words embody New York dreams

Here's what The Review Review wrote about "Flatbush" and "Alphabet coffeehouse," poetry songs about New York City, written and recorded by Mike Marcellino.

First in poetry is the work of Mike Marcellino: “Alphabet coffeehouse," “Flatbush”, and “Alexander's Strings." The pieces depict different parts of New York City from its jarring traffic to its more calming fountains. His words incite a sense of dreams embodied by the city: “Flew into New York/ on wings of Peter Pan./Flew into New York/ on wings of Babylon./ Jupiter in the right now/ not as bright,/ on this clear an' quiet night” (Marcellino, “Flatbush”).

Here's the link to read the entire review of the BAP Quarterly's New York City issue. The Review Review website reviews online magazines.

The Review Review

Bosphorus Art Project Quarterly is an online art journal aimed at bringing international artists and writers together. BAP-Q has a theme for each issue and based on the theme, discusses a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, visual arts, literature, theatre, cinema, aesthetics, and social and cultural studies.PAB Quarterly editor in chief is Jennifer Bal.

Here is the link to BAP Quarterly's New York City issue -

BAP Quarterly

To listen to listen to "Flatbush" and "Alphabet Coffeehouse," Mike's New York City songs from BAP Quarterly and other of Mike's poetry songs here's a link to his music site -

Mike Marcellino on ReverbNation

(There is also a music player with Mike's songs at the stop of his blog, "The Point of the Whole Thing.")

NYT Best Selling author Nevada Barr and poet/author Lucille Lang Day on the Notebook Writer show

2011-01-01T14:25:00.000-05:00

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino on Blog Talk Radio

Listen to the live show 8-9pm EST, Wednesday, January 5th on the Internet or call 646-595-4478, or listen to the Podcast anytime after the live show. Here's the link -

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

Mike's guests are Nevada Barr, author of the Anna Pigeon series of thrillers about a National Parks ranger and poet and author Lucille Lang Day of Oakland, CA.

Nevada Barr's 16th mystery in the Anna Pigeon series, "Burn (Minotaur Books 2010)," reached #12 on the New York Times Best Seller list. The setting for her latest thriller, a departure from her wilderness settings, is the urban jungle in New Orleans where Anna while Anna is stationed at the Jazz Heritage National Park in New Orleans. Ms. Barr worked as a National Parks ranger herself. Her first Anna Pigeon novel, "Track of the Cat" in 1993 won both both the Anthony and Agatha awards for best first novel. Ms. Barr worked as an actor for eight years and she is also a painter. She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband, four magical cats, and two adorable dogs. She also recently published her first psychological thriller outside of the Anna Pigeon series, "13 1/2."

Lucille Lang Day is the author of five poetry collections and three poetry chapbooks. Her most recent collection is "The Curvature of Blue," which was published by Cervena Barva in 2009. Her first poetry collection, "Self-Portrait with Hand Microscope," was selected by Robert Pinsky for the Joseph Henry Jackson Award. She is also the author of a children’s book, Chain Letter, and a memoir that will be published by Heyday in 2012. Her poetry, essays, and short stories have appeared in many magazines and anthologies, including Eclipse, The Hudson Review, Measure, Nimrod, River Styx, Passages North, Tar River Poetry, The Threepenny Review, California Poetry: From the Gold Rush to the Present, and New Poets of the American West. She received her M.A. in English and M.F.A. in creative writing at San Francisco State University. She is founder and director of a small press, Scarlet Tanager Books. The mother of two grown daughters and grandmother of four, she lives in Oakland, California with her husband, writer Richard Levine

Invite your friends to listen to our poetry music

2010-12-18T22:12:00.000-05:00

Flatbush
a new lyrical poetry song

To listen click on the link to our music site -

Mike Marcellino's ReverbNation music site

Randall Leddy from Flatbush wrote the music and plays bass on the song joining Mike Marcellino, songwriter and vocalist. The song was actually recorded in Flatbush.

Tomas Texino, wrote and composed the music for our other five songs.

Please share the link to our ReverbNation site with your friends on Facebook and other social networks. Help us grow our audience. We have regular followers on ReverbNation from 17 states. Our fans also come from Indonesia, New Zealand, Italy, India, UK, The Czech Republic, Germany, Mexico, and Australia.

Be a listener and fan on ReverbNation or Mike Marcellino's music page on Facebook (band profile). To be a fan it's easy to register as a fan on ReverbNation and it's free. There are also hundreds of thousands of talented musicians on the site.

We've now up to #44 among the Top Folk Artists on ReverbNation's New York City Charts. Help us get to the Top 10!

There's also a music player at the top of this blog.

Here's an example of what people are saying about our songs -

"Incredible work! Love it! So creative and artistic...so thoughtful and deep and engaging...with perfect music for each piece... Just went through all the tracks and shared"
- Joe Gande, singer songwriter, New York City

Thanks,

Mike, Randall and Tomas

Joan Baez and the Oriental River girl

2010-12-16T00:05:00.000-05:00

Oriental River, South Vietnam 1968 photo by Mike Marcellino, copyright 2010

Joan Baez and the Girl in the Oriental River

by Mike Marcellino

Twenty-seven years after I left the Vietnam War, after serving for a year 1967-68 as a U. S. Army combat correspondent and photojounalist, On August 20, 1995 I found myself seated in a campfire chair talking with Joan Baez, just as I would the girl next door. I had listened to Joan's albums, attended concerts, one at the former Front Row Theatre with a moving circular stage. I reviewed that concert for Sun Newspapers.

Darkness had set and it was quite outside Joan's tent in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park south of Cleveland where she had
performed for a Heritage Series Concert. I thought back to listening over and over to "banks of the Ohio" my favorite Baez song.

As I worked as an aide to then Mayor Michael White,I came armed with a proclamation, honoring Joan not only for her voice but her courageous opposition to the Vietnam War and support for human rights, all at great risk to her career.

Rather than an M-14 rifle, I carried to the concert a harmless treasure of seven hand printed black and white photographs I had taken of children caught in war. One of the photographs shows a young Vietnamese girl, smiling as she climbed out of the Oriental River balancing on a 155 mm shell casing and holding onto barbed wire. It was June 1968, the year the TET offensive by the VC and North Vietnamese regular throughout the country never seemed to end. I was following battery of 155 mm howitzers manned by the soldiers of the 2nd Battalion, 11th Artillery of the 23rd Artillery Group, my home base.

Again, I was in the middle of nowhere, alone and as almost always, without a weapon (or a toothbrush). But I had my notebooks, pens and cameras to record it all in stories and photos for Stars and Strips, the Army Reporter and other publications.

It was a bizarre scene in a bizarre war, one where the battle cry was often "The End" by The Doors. It was hot and it appeared the nearby Vietnamese village had come down to the Oriental River for a swim, right in the middle of a war. I was tempted but didn't join them in the murky river. Nearby was a camp of the 5th Special Forces called Tra Cu, 23 miles west of Saigon. I think they called this the Second Battle of Saigon. We won both battles, as we did all the battles but lost the war as it was a civil war and the South Vietnamese leaders weren't very popular and the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong weren't about to ever give up.

I walked up to the door of the Special Forces hooch (a primitive house made of concrete block, wire screening and a tin roof). A A gruff looking sergeant told me to go away; it seems Special Forces isn't interested in publicity.

Joan Baez gave me a warmer welcome. We sat and talked about this and that, nothing very profound - I loved her music and I had been a soldier in a war she opposed fervently.

The black haired folk singer looked at the photographs. I told her she could pick one to keep (which I signed, of course).

I knew the one she would pick, the young Vietnamese girl climbing out of the Oriental River. I hope Joan still has it. (I have a museum quality, hand printed framed version still, along with the other six, that includes U. S. Army artillerymen, the 33rd South Vietnamese Rangers on a search and destroy mission, an elite unit, and other children coping in war.

I always wonder what happened to the girl from the Oriental River.

i knew joan baez

by mike marcellino

i knew joan baez

joan baez.

i knew she would

pick

this

one,

her little sister.

joan baez

i knew she would

pick

this one.

she had a choice -

barbwire

bobbing 155 mm shell casing

on the Oriental River,

no number

rung sat zone

south, southeast of Saigon

the delta hell on earth,

special forces

say.

i knew joan baez

joan baez,

i knew she would pick this one,

like her little sister -

joan baez,

i knew joan baez.

i knew she would pick this one.
copyright Mike Marcellino 2010

Here one of my favorite songs of Joan Baez that fits the story pretty well - "A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall" (written by Bob Dylan).

Copyright 2010 Mike Marcellino

1995 publicity photo of Joan Baez courtesy of her website

Joan Baez

Notebook Writer with guests singer songwriter Sweet Soubrette and poet Tara Betts

2010-12-03T17:32:00.000-05:00

Podcast of Dec 1st Notebook Writer show with guests singer songwriter Sweet Soubrette and poet Tara Betts, both from New York City.

Here's the link to listen to the Podcast -

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

Urban hipster cult writer Tao Lin and widely popular electro pop duo Hank and Cupcakes on Notebook Writer show

2010-10-29T22:42:00.001-04:00

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

8-9pm EDT, Wed, Nov. 3rd

Call 646-595-4478 Blog Talk Radio show (New York City) or listen on the internet. Listen to the Podcast anytime after the live show.

Here's the link to listen live or to the Podcast

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino on Blog Talk Radio

Mike's guests are Tao Lin, one of America's hottest young writers, and Hank and Cupcakes, one of New York City's hottest bands. Tao will read from his latest book, "Richard Yates" and Hank and Cupcakes will share their electro-pop songs.

Tao Lin's Blog

Tao Lin, New York City

"Richard Yates" delivers his most compelling work yet." - Boston Phoenix

Tao Lin (b. 1983, Alexandria VA) grew up in Orlando FL and lives in Brooklyn NY. He is the author of 6 books of fiction/poetry & has a B.A. in Journalism from NYU. Tao's s...econd novel RICHARD YATES was published September 07 2010 by Melville House. His previous books are the poetry-collection YOU ARE A LITTLE BIT HAPPIER THAN I AM (2006), which is regularly a bestseller (#2, #2, #1); the story-collection BED (2007); the novel EEEEE EEE EEEE (2007); the poetry-collection COGNITIVE-BEHAVIORAL THERAPY (2008), which has been assigned in college-level psychology courses; the novella SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL (2009), which was available at Urban Outfitters. Tao's books have been translated and published (or are forthcoming) in Japan, Germany, France, Norway, Spain, Serbia, South Korea, China, Taiwan. Two of his books, SHOPLIFTING FROM AMERICAN APPAREL & EEEEE EEE EEEE, were optioned for film in early 2010. His writing has been published in/on Gawker, Noon, Vice, Esquire, Poetry Foundation, The Stranger, Mississippi Review, and bear parade, who in 2006 published e-books of his poetry, stories, and collaboration with Ellen Kennedy entitled hikikomori.

Hank and Cupcakes

Hank and Cupcakes, Brooklyn

"They have consistently been making waves in the Brooklyn/NYC area and their live shows are off the hook." - wrote Music Vagabond and picking Hank and Cupcakes on the the 10 bands to watch in 2010

Other music critics wrote:
“mesmorizing”
“Cupcakes is a rock star, capable of moving crowd. Hank is perhaps the best bassist I've ever seen”
“Mind shattering, avant-garde”

Since arriving in Brooklyn from Israel a little more than a year ago, Hank and Cupcakes have captivated New York with an explosive show noted for its simmering sexuality, irresistible dance pulse, and hard to pigeonhole sound. “If I had to define it, I’d call the music experimental minimalist pop,” Hank says. “We’re trying to make pop music without having a pop sound.”

Poets Diane Wakoski, Lola Haskins, Terri Witek on Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

2010-10-17T23:13:00.000-04:00

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

Listen on the Internet or call 646-595-4478 to listen or comment. (To comment online must be registered on Blog Talk Radio and have a mic.) Or you may listen to the Podcast any time.

8-9:30pm Eastern time, Wed., Oct 20th

To listen to the Podcast click on the link below -

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

Notebook Writer previews the Other Words Conference, sponsored by the Florida Literary Arts Coalition and hosted by Flagler College, St. Augustine, Florida Nov. 4-7. The theme of this year's conference is "Writing About Something."

Attracting writers from across Florida and from several states, the conference features a number of panel discussions on the theme, along with panels about publishing, submitting work, agents, editors, small presses, teaching creative writing, collaboration and others. Ten small presses will participate.

Mike talks with co-organizers Jim Wilson, creative writing professor at Flagler College, and Rick Campbell, director of Anhinga Press, a founder of the conference, and the Anhinga Prize for Poetry. Rick teaches English at Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL.

Mike's guests are three conference presenters – Florida poets Terri Witek and Lola Haskins and Michigan poet Diane Wakoski.

Terri Witek is author of The Shipwreck Dress (Orchises Press, 2008, Florida Book Award Medalist), Carnal World (Story Line Press, 2006), Fools and Crows (Orchises Press, 2003), Courting Couples (Winner of the 2000 Center for Book Arts Contest) and Robert Lowell and LIFE STUDIES: Revising the Self (University of Missouri Press, 1993). A new book, Exit Island, will appear in 2012. She teaches English at Stetson University, where she holds the Sullivan Chair in Creative Writing.

Lola Haskins ninth collection of poems, Still, the Mountain, has just been published by Paper Kite Press. Her tenth, The Grace to Leave, is coming from Anhinga in 2011. In-print collections include Desire Lines, New and Selected Poems (BOA Editions, 2004), Extranjera (Story Line, 1998) and The Rim Benders (Anhinga, 2001) and Hunger (University of Iowa Press, 1993-- winner of the Iowa Poetry Prize). She teaches in Pacific Lutheran University's low residency MFA program

Diane Wakoski, described as an "important and moving poet" by Paul Zweig in the New York Times Book Review, was born in southern California, lived and began her poetry career in New York City from 1960–1973. Since 1975, she has been Poet in Residence at Michigan State University, where she continues to teach as university distinguished professor.

Her poetry has been published in more than twenty collections and many slim volumes. Emerald Ice won the William Carlos Williams prize from the Poetry Society of America in 1989. The Butcher’s Apron is her most recent book, and, currently, she is working on a three-volume project, poetry as autobiography, of which the first volume, Blue Noir: 1956–68, is complete. She is actively looking for a publisher for a collection of her new poems, The Diamond Dog.

Poetry and music of Mike Marcellino featured in BAP Quarterly New York City issue

2010-10-15T21:35:00.000-04:00

Mike Marcellino's lyrical poetry and music
featured in BAP Quarterly's New York City issue

I'm pleased to introduce BAP Quarterly's New York City issue, featuring my poetry and music. Thanks to Jennifer Bal is the editor in chief. I hope you enjoy this issue. Theme of the next issue is Memory.

Bosphorus Art Project Quarterly is an online art journal aimed at bringing international artists and writers together. BAP-Q has a theme for each issue and based on the theme, discusses a wide range of topics including, but not limited to, visual arts, literature, theatre, cinema, aesthetics, and social and cultural studies.

BAP Quarterly

If you'd like to listen to more of Mike's work, visit his music site on ReverbNation

ReverbNation

Roosevelt Island Fall for Arts Festival Performing Artists

2010-09-26T16:37:00.001-04:00

Fall for the Arts Festival Performing Arts

The music and poetry lineup for the Roosevelt Island Fall for Arts Festival, 11am-5pm Saturday, Oct. 2nd is awesome and it's free. Headlining is wildly popular electric pop due Hank and Cupcakes (12:30 pm). With Hank on the bass and Cupcakes on the drums, the duo landed in Brooklyn from Israel two years ago and having been lighting up a storm with their mesmerizing sound. (I'm performing at the festival.)

Poets Rock RIVAA 3 (11am-4pm) features some very cool New York poetry and music - Jane Ormerod, David Lawton, Ocean Vuong, Brant Lyon, Elizabeth Harrington, Erica Miriam Fabri and Mike Marcellino, singer songwriters Chris Fuller, Stacy Rock and Sweet Soubrette and Indie rock band Bellow with Rob Gomez at Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main St.

Sharon Stern – 11:15
Naomi Imbrogno – 11:45
Erica Miriam Fabri - Noon
David Lawton – 12:15
Ann Settel – 12:30
Jane Ormerod – 12:45
Fran Bolinder/Catherine Hogan – 1
Carol Tanjutco -1:15
Elizabeth Harrington – 1:30
Brant Lyon – 1:45
Ocean Vuong – 2
Mike Marcellino – 2:15
Bellow and Rob Gomez (Indie pop band) – 2:30
Stacy Rock and Sweet Soubrette (singer songwriters) – 3pm
Chris Fuller (singer songwriter) – 3:45

Roosevelt Island is an beautiful and historic island in the East River, across from Manhattan. The festival is outdoors and indoors with Imagination Station interactive arts, magic and storytelling for kids all day and food. There's even a performance of “Oedipus Rex” by Faux-Real Theatre Company (2pm) outdoors at Roosevelt Landings Amphitheater, 540 Main Street.

The festival is sponsored by Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation. For further information contact Erica Wilder at 212-832-4540 ext 349 or visit the RIOC website

Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

Festival performing artists

Photo by Alan Lugo

Hank and Cupcakes

When Hank & Cupcakes take the stage, their infectious energy dominates the room, generating a fierce groove that immediately has the crowd up and moving. First time fans may find themselves scrutinizing the stage, looking in vain for the guitar player that seems to be filling out the band's sound, but it's just Hank & Cupcakes.

Since arriving in Brooklyn from Israel a little more than a year ago, Hank and Cupcakes have captivated New York with an explosive show noted for its simmering sexuality, irresistible dance pulse, and hard to pigeonhole sound. “If I had to define it, I’d call the music experimental minimalist pop,” Hank says. “We’re trying to make pop music without having a pop sound.” Taking the best from all worlds, Hank & Cupcakes have managed to create a new hybrid of music. Tours de force cross between The Ting Tings and Yeah Yeah Yeah's, rock without guitars, pop without synthesizers.

Hank and Cupcakes were determined to capture that live vibe when they recorded their new self- titled EP. They enlisted Grammy award winning producer Mark B. Christensen of Engine Room Audio. “We tracked the bass and drums live,” Mark explains, “then added vocals and layers of bass to get a fuller sound.”

Hank and Cupcakes, kicks off with “Ain’t No Love” a stripped down new wave disco track with an effervescent bass line and simple, driving drum pattern. Hank’s percolating bass and melody lines weave in and out of the mix as Cupcakes lays down a bedrock backbeat that's solid enough to build a skyscraper on while wailing out the tough lyric with a soulfulness suited to an R&B diva.

Cupcakes grew up commuting between Australia and Israel. “I studied classical piano for about six years. When one of my teachers taught me how to accompany myself, I started making up songs.” Cupcakes still composes on piano, but had a musical shift at age 18. “A friend took me to a gathering of African drummers on the beach in Tel Aviv. I was hypnotized and started learning percussion.” Cupcakes took drum classes, but formal training was too restricting. “I got the basics and then took it from there.” Hank was born in Jerusalem. “I grew up doing art. When I heard the Beatles, I listened to them for two years exclusively and picked up the bass. I like the low frequencies" Hank laughs "and never wanted to front a band. I guess it’s just my personality.”

Hank and Cupcakes

Stacy Rock

As a singer/songwriter, Stacy has toured the country several times playing hundreds of shows in support of her debut album, One Way Home. She has been compared to a baffling variety of artists including Tom Waits, Feist, Jeff Buckley, Regina Spektor, Aimee Mann, Stevie Nicks and even Queen. Gabriel Levitt of Brooklyn’s Jezebel Music wrote that her live performances are “unequivocally enchanting”. She is a two time award winner of the AscapPlus Award for accomplishments as a songwriter and was the resident piano player at NYC's Monkey Bar for 2 years. Also an actress, Stacy received a BFA in Acting from Boston University and moved on to study at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. A few of her acting credits include shows at Barington Stage Company, North Shore Music Theater, The Voice of America Theater with Bill Pulman and Boston Playwrights Theater. She has starred in several films including the indie hit, "Murder Party", released by Magnolia Pictures

Stacy Rock

Sweet Soubrette

Sweet Soubrette features the vocals and ukulele playing of NYC’s Ellia Bisker, whose original dark love songs are wickedly captivating, with clever wordplay and a sound like Regina Spektor meets the Magnetic Fields. Catchy melodies and a sultry vibe make Sweet Soubrette dangerously seductive. She is backed by a band of classically trained musicians (including a drummer who is a professional circus musician). Together they create melodic, witty songs that are by turns seductive, funny, and tragic.

Jane Ormerod

Jane Ormerod is the author of the full-length poetry collection, Recreational Vehicles on Fire (Three Rooms Press, 2009), the chapbook 11 Films (Modern Metrics, 2008), and the spoken word CD Nashville Invades Manhattan. Born on the south coast of England, she now lives in New York City.

A regular on the New York poetry and spoken word circuit, readings have included The Knitting Factory, The Bowery Poetry Club, (Le) Poisson Rouge, The Cornelia Street Cafe, Galapagos Art Space, and The Stone. She also performs extensively across the United States and beyond - San Francisco to Portland, Boston, Philadelphia, Syracuse, Salt Lake City, Canada, Ireland, Britain, and The Netherlands to name just a few places.

“One of the most imaginative, persistent poetry visionaries… (Jane’s) signature style is beyond belief—moving lightspeed with an astoundingly unique beat and the ability to communicate with complete command of language,” - Daniel Yaryan, producer of the San Francisco poetry series "Sparring With Beatnik Ghosts."

Jane Ormerod

Erica Miriam Fabri

Erica Miriam Fabri is the author of Dialect of a Skirt, a collection of poetry published by Hanging Loose Press (November 2009).

She is a writer and performer and a graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received her MFA in Poetry from The New School.

Her work has been published in numerous literary journals and magazines including: New York Quarterly, Texas Review, The Spoon River Poetry Review, Hanging Loose Magazine, Good Foot Magazine, Paper Street and more.

She has performed and facilitated workshops and seminars at: Cooper Union School of the Arts, New York University, Columbia University, Penn State University, The Brooklyn Public Library, Poet’s House, The Fortune Society, The Robin Hood Foundation, and the PEN Prison Writing Program. She has worked on projects as a writer, editor and performance director for The New York Knicks, HBO and Nickelodeon Television.

She is also a spoken word mentor and curriculum writer for Urban Word NYC, a non-for-profit organization dedicated to bringing spoken word, poetry and hip-hop arts to inner-city teens.

She has been awarded a writer’s residency at the Omega Institute and has been a featured and/or visiting poet and performer for numerous art festivals and numerous outreach programs including drug rehabilitation centers, prisons and hospitals. Her first book, Dialect of a Skirt, was included on the list for: The Best Books of 2009 at About.com and made the Small Press Distribution’s Best-Seller list for June 2010.

She currently teaches Performance Poetry at Pace University, Creative Writing at The School of Visual Arts and a variety of Poetry courses at Baruch College and Hunter College of The City University of New York (CUNY).

She reads and performs solo, as well as with the hybrid music and poetry duo “The Robin and the Lady Poet” with muscian, Robin Andre. (click here for The Robin and the Lady Poet Website)

She adores everything that is bright, colorful and sparkling and her true love is her home, New York City.

Photo by Oz Charles

David Lawton

David Lawton was a finalist for the 2010 Arts & Letters Prize for Poetry. He has a poem in the current Uphook Press anthology hell strung and crooked. And he has been very busy appearing as the epic hero in Rick Mullin's Huncke from Seven Towers Publications. See him feature at the Perch Cafe in Brooklyn on October 12th and the Beat Hour at Bowery Poetry Club on October 17th.

Ocean Vuong

Born in 1988 in Saigon, Vietnam, Ocean Vuong currently resides in New York City as an undergraduate English Major at Brooklyn College, CUNY. His poems have received an Academy of American Poets Prize, the Beatrice Dubin Rose Award, the Connecticut Poetry Society's Al Savard Award, as well as two Pushcart Prize nominations. His work appear in Word Riot, the Kartika Review, Lantern Review, SOFTBLOW, Asia Literary Review, and PANK among others. He enjoys practicing Zen Meditation and is an avid supporter of animal rights.

Elizabeth Harrington

Elizabeth Harrington’s poems have appeared in The Hudson Review, Field, and Connecticut Review and other journals, and in an anthology about divorce. She was a winner of the Allen Ginsberg Poetry Award. Her chapbook “Earth’s Milk” was first runner-up in the Main Street Rag Chapbook Poetry contest, and another chapbook, “The Quick and the Dead” won first prize and publication in this year’s Grayson Books Poetry Chapbook Competition. She has been featured or read at a number of venues in and around New York, including Cornelia Street Café, The Bowery, KGB Bar, The Knitting Factory, The Hudson Valley Writers Center, The Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College, and others. She lives in Tarrytown, New York, with one black cat.

Brant Lyon

Brant Lyon is a writer of poetry, prose and music. “A rose without thorns is not worth sniffing,” he believes, so says, “don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong,” though he has often done just that while driving a cab in NYC, eating a guinea pig below Machu Picchu, playing piano at Carnegie Hall, listening to hail beat the tin roof of a tea house in the Himalayas, and teaching himself Arabic to open a cyber café with his favorite Bedouin in the shadow of the Great Pyramids of Giza. He produces the ‘poemusic’ reading series, Hydrogen Jukebox in NYC, and co-edits Uphook Press, and also edits for BigcCityLit and Spiny Babbler (Nepal).

Mike Marcellino

Mike Marcellino, a Vietnam war correspondent and award winning journalist, continues to write stories and poems about people, places and things. Mike has added a twist, with musicians the stories become a unique blend of music and spoken word. He’s performed in New York City, Cleveland, Tulsa and Baltimore. His new recordings include New York City stories, Alphabet Coffeehouse and Flatbush, Amelia Earhart, soft silver wings, and The Walls of Fire. He surfs and writes about that too (Bondi Beach). His writing appears in Coventry Street Fair Anthology and Stain Glass Confessional II and online at Outsider Writers, Red Fez, Literary Fever and Universe of Poetry. Mike hosts Notebook Writer Blog Talk Radio show on writers and the arts. He is author of the popular Blog, The Point of the Whole Thing.

Mike Marcellino

Bellow and Rob Gomez

Bellow began with Rob. He had written many songs that he was performing at solo gigs and open mic nights. He grew up in Queens, a fan of classic, moving songwriters like Eric Clapton, Freddy Johnston and others. In late summer 2005, he decided he really wanted a band, so he recorded himself, put up a website and put an ad in Craigslist. Rob works as an art director and designs the artwork for Bellow.

Next came Chris, who grew up in the UK and moved to NYC to begin work with a non-profit organization, working with individuals with developmental disabilities. He played in Lukas, a UK-based band, for 4 years. Chris also played briefly with User-friendly, a New York punk band, but it did not suit his musical preferences. After searching Craigslist, he found exactly what he was looking for. When he first played with Bellow, he instinctively knew it was where he should be, and Rob & Adil welcomed him with open arms and french kisses.

Last came Andrew, from NYU who met Bellow on Craigslist and joined in July 2007. Originally from Portland, Oregon, Andrew wanted to expand on the new musical influences he discovered in NYC and found the perfect opportunity with Bellow. When he’s not rockin’ out with Bellow, he continues to do some freelance work throughout the city.
We hope our songs resonate in you.

Chris Fuller

Chris Fuller's music covers a wide section of the Americana map, touching upon folk, blues, jazz, rock, country and Hawaiian. His songs blend emotional melodies with literate storytelling, touching the mind, heart, and gut. Chris performs live regularly in the New York City area in a variety of venues ranging from nightclubs to libraries. He has been selected as an Artist in Residence by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council and in 2007 he released the album Sangamon. He lives in New York City with his wife and daughter and writes a new song every week.

Chris Fuller

Sunset at St. Augustine Beach

2010-09-16T21:39:00.000-04:00

Sunset at St. Augustine Beach Florida

Podcast of Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino Sept. 1st show

2010-09-02T19:58:00.000-04:00

Listen to the Podcast of Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino on Blog Talk Radio with guest writers Brooke Axtell, singer songwriter & poet from Austin, TX; Liz Robbins, poet from St. Augustine, FL and Louis Bourgeois, writer, poet and founder and editor of VOX Press in Oxford, MI Share our show with your friends.

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino on Blog Talk Radio

Notebookwriter with Mike Marcellino Podcast Aug 4th show

2010-08-05T20:17:00.000-04:00

Notebook Writer Show Podcast:
Tess Gerritsen, Paula Caplan, Eileen Sisk and Chris Fuller

Podcast of Notebookwriter with Mike Marcellino Aug 4th show with guest writers Tess Gerritsen ("Ice Cold," latest in Rizzoli & Isles medical thrillers, basis for new hit TNT TV series), Paula Caplan, psychologist, playwright, actor ("War and Therapy"), author Eileen Sisk ("Buck Owens: The Biography") and New York City singer songwriter Chris Fuller

Notebookwriter with Mike Marcellino Podcast

Rizzoli and Isles series, New York Times best selling author Tess Gerritsen joins Mike Marcellino on Notebookwriter Blog Talk Radio show

2010-07-29T20:27:00.003-04:00

Bulletin: Podcast of Notebookwriter show August 4, 2010 with best selling author Tess Gerritsen, whose latest Rizzoli and Isles medical thriller is The Silent Girl. Gerritsen's books have sold 20 million copies in 30 countries. The second season of the Rizzoli and Iles hit television series on TNT starts November 28th. Though the first episode gained audience of 9 million, a cable TV record, the series has received mixed reviews.

Here's a Podcast of the show:

Listen to internet radio with Red River Radio on Blog Talk Radio

Guest writers joining Mike Marcellino on his "Notebookwriter" show on Blog Talk Radio 8-10pm EDT, Wednesday, August 4th -

Tess Gerritsen, New York Times best selling author whose Rizzoli and Iles series is the basis for the hit TNT television series that premiered in July. Her latest book, Ice Cold" was just published. Her medical and suspense thriller have sold 20 million copies worldwide.

Eileen Sisk, former award winning Washington Post designer and editor, and author of her second book, "Buck Owens: The Biography"

Paula Caplan, psychologist, author, playwright and actress, whose latest play, "War and Therapy" about the impact of the Iraq war on a woman veteran has premiered in Washington DC and Edmonton, Alberta.

Chris Fuller, New York City singer songwriter.

Podcast of the Notebook Writer show on Blog Talk Radio

2010-07-08T18:37:00.000-04:00

Notebook Writer Show:
with guests Kelsey Waldon, Elizabeth Brown, Annie Finch, Rebecca Cantrell

Podcast of July 7th Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino on Blog Talk Radio with guests - Kelsey Waldon, singer songwriter from Barlow KY who goes by "Anchor in the Valley;" Elizabeth Brown, writer, musician and writing teacher; Annie Finch, poet, poetry critic from Portland, ME and Rebecca Cantrell, author of the Hannah Vogel novels from Hawaii.

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino on Blog Talk Radio

2010-07-03T21:27:00.001-04:00

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino Blog Talk Radio show 8-10pm EDT (7-9pm CDT) Wednesday, July 7th. Call 646-595-4478 (NYC area code) or listen on the Internet. If you'd like to comment on the air please call or register on Blog Talk Radio.

Mike's guests - Singer songwriter Kelsey Waldon, writer and professor of writing Elizabeth Brown, poet Annie Finch and author Rebecca Cantrell.

To listen to the Notebookwriter show click on the link below:

Notebookwriter with Mike Marcellino

Kelsey Waldon, Barlow, KY

an emerging 22-year-old singer songwriter known as "Anchor in the Valley."

Her debut CD, recorded in Nashville, is receiving rave reviews -

"Waldon’s delicate voice mixes well with the old time instrumentalization. This is not quite the Delta, and not fully the Low Plains, the music skirts all around the south while remaining fresh at each turn."
-DayBowBow-Dallas, TX

"Crystal, clear voice and unique country sound"
-Jack Montgomery - Java City - Western Kentucky University

"something as intensely artistic and moving as this record demands the attention of the world. Miss Waldon is a gifted lyricist with a voice not heard since the famed Bristol TN sessions of old."
-Andrew Sovine (Kink Ador, Electric Guitar)

Barlow is located at the very Western tip of Kentucky and is very close to both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Waldon has been writing songs and playing guitar since she was 13. Anchor in the Valley's first album (out now) was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Phil Harris at Battle Ridge Studios in Nashville, TN and features 10 original songs written by Waldon herself. There is nothing that makes her more happy than writing a good tune.

Elizabeth Brown, Chicago

a writer, professor of writing, and musician who is the Founder and Director of both the Chicago Writers' Workshop and the soon-to-launch Los Angeles Writers' Workshop, both of which bring writing classes, workshops, and mentoring programs to adults throughout Chicago, Los Angeles, and the world. The CWW and LAWW workshops also include special programs that mentor underprivileged teens and adults in creative writing, screenwriting, and filmmaking studies.

Annie Finch, Portland, Maine

author or editor of fifteen books of poetry, translation, and criticism, including the trilogy of poetry collections Eve (1997), Calendars (2003), and Spells, and the long poems The Encyclopedia of Scotland (2002) and Among the Goddesses: An Epic Libretto in Seven Dreams (2009). Calendars was shortlisted for the Foreword Poetry Book of the Year Award, and Eve reissued in the Carnegie Mellon Classic Contemporaries series in 2010. Other honors include the 2009 Robert Fitzgerald Award and fellowships from the Black Earth Institute and the Wesleyan Writers Conference.

Finch's music, art, and theater collaborations include the opera Marina (American Opera Projects, 2003). Her work has been translated into numerous languages, and she has performed her poetry across the U.S. and Europe. Her books about poetry include A Formal Feeling Comes (2003), The Ghost of Meter (1994), An Exaltation of Forms (2003), The Body of Poetry (2004), and A Poet's Ear (2010). Finch holds degrees from Yale University, The University of Houston, and Stanford University. She currently lives in Maine where she directs Stonecoast, the low-residency MFA program at the University of Southern Maine.

Rebecca Cantrell, Hawaii

A few years ago Rebecca Cantrell quit her job, sold her house, and moved to Hawaii to write a novel because, at seven, she decided that she would be a writer. Now she writes the Hannah Vogel mystery series set in Berlin in the 1930s, including “A Trace of Smoke and the forthcoming “A Night of Long Knives.” “A Trace of Smoke” was considered by major cable networks as a television series.

A faded pink triangle pasted on the wall of Dachau Concentration Camp and time in Berlin, Germany in the 1980s inspired “A Trace of Smoke.” Fluent in German, she received her high school diploma from the John F. Kennedy Schule in Berlin and studied at the Freie Universität in Berlin and the Georg August Universität in Göttingen before graduating from Carnegie Mellon University.

When she visited Berlin in the summer of 2006, she was astounded to discover that many locations in her novel have been rebuilt and reopened in the last few years, including the gay bar El Dorado and the Mosse House publishing house.

Spring in the city

2010-04-25T18:07:00.000-04:00

Photos of spring in Prospect Park, Brooklyn NY by Mike Marcellino

Poets Rock Gallery RIVAA, 8pm, Friday, April 9th, New York City

2010-04-08T15:22:00.000-04:00

Mike Marcellino releases his first album, "Notebook Writer," at Poets Rock Gallery RIVAA, 8pm, Friday, April 9th at Gallery RIVAA, 527 Main Street, Roosevelt Island, New York City. Performing with Mike at the poetry and music show are Gil Fagiani, New York City poet and co-host of the open reading of the Italian American Writers Association, the longest standing poetry series at Cornelia Street Cafe, marking its 20th year in 2011. New York singer songwriters performing are Stacy Rock, accompanied by musician Randall Leddy, and Chris Fuller.

While the show is free, donations are welcome to Gallery RIVAA. Refreshments follow the show. Take the F Train to Roosevelt Island.

Alphabet Coffeehouse, a new song

2010-03-13T21:57:00.000-05:00

"It's wonderful! Thank you for telling me about it! It reminds me very much of the East Village and that day."

– Rebecca Turner, New Jersey singer songwriter, after listening to Alphabet Coffeehouse.

Alphabet Coffeehouse

Lyrics and vocal 
by Mike Marcellino

Music by Tomas Texino 

Alphabet Coffeehouse,

“Where can it be?”

Wandering streets, 

A to Z

the East  Side, 

New York City

aimlessly,

late afternoon, after a show.

Red, white and blue

chipped, cracked lettered

no name circle concrete park,

bed of violet flowers 

in the middle, 

back lit 

crimson eyed Susan’s

no name circle concrete park.

Alphabet Coffeehouse,

“Where can it be?”

sundown of existence,

A to Z

the East  Side,

New York City,

10th and C.

Only a clue,

whisper,

unknown friend, fellow traveler

searchin’ for the 

Alphabet Coffeehouse 

9th and C,

‘round the corner from Banjo Jim’s.

“It’s nothing,” the young man replied,

aimlessly.

“Everything is nothing here,” he said again,

“nothing” about 

Alphabet Coffeehouse

“Where can it be?”

A to Z, 

red, white and blue

no name circle concrete park,

flag pole, 

no colors up.

“Everything is nothing here,”

echoed across

the East  Side, 

New York City’s

middle a projects

brick, white window sills

houses of thirteen stories.

Jump rope, 

rapping voices,

rollerblades, 

bikes 

black and brown 

German Sheppard 

walkin'

over a freeway 

crooked overpass -

bottom of 10th, 

East River Park. 

Softball diamonds,

a dog like Sally with her master,

cars speeding, either way.

Banjo Jim’s open.

“Listen,” 

the LA country girl sings,

Rebecca Turner,

no cover.

Alphabet Coffeehouse, copyright by Mike Marcellino 2009

Photos of Banjo Jim's in East Village, New York City from www.banjojims.com and Rebecca Turner, singer songwriter, from her bio on www.rebeccaturner.net

The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

2010-03-02T22:39:00.004-05:00

i think that was Dylan
by Mike Marcellino

You could say I grew up with Bob Dylan, and the likes of Joan Baez, Carolyn Hester, Hamilton Camp, Buddy Holly and the Beach Boys. Though I've owned more than a dozen of his albums, the ones that most influenced me in music, my own writing and political and social views were his first three - Bob Dylan (1962), The Freewheelin Bob Dylan (1964) and The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964) and John Wesley Harding (1967).

It's hard to recall when I first listened to the folk songs of Robert Allen Zimmerman, raised in Hibbing, Minnesota, near the Mesabi Iron Range west of Lake Superior. He was the grandson of Ukrainian and Lithuanian Jews, who escaped antisemitism in the early 1900s.

I've found very few albums in which I liked every song - Freewheelin' was such an album. I liked Corina, Corina most and would listen to it over and over. The times from 1963 to 1967 in Dylan's half century music career were turbulent. I listened to Dylan around the time of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, though time stood still as we sat glued to the television in a fraternity house on the campus of Wake Forest College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I listen in my hooch at a base camp at the tip of the Viet Cong Iron Triangle stronghold northwest of Saigon in the Vietnam War.

Over the Dylan years, I've seen him in concert twice, the first probably the most memorable. It was November 12, 1965 at Music Hall in Cleveland, Ohio. Six weeks later, the day after New Year's I would leave on a train filled with Army recruits on the way to basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky.

Our seats were red velvet, right in the middle, not far from the front, perfect seats. I was with a very pretty blond, Cindy. I was in love with her and her sister, Gretchen. Wonderful girls, Swedish. Dylan played alone, with his guitar and harmonica, the first half of the concert. It couldn't have been better. He came on electric in the second half. You could hear a pin drop. Everyone was in shock. He had earlier been booed off the stage after three songs when he went electric at the Newport Folk Festival. I though it was cool. Still do, even though I was raised on the acoustic poet.

The second time I saw Dylan was at the concert for the opening celebration for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on June 7, 1993. He had lost most of his voice and Dylan and the night were both electric - romping around Cleveland Municipal Stadium with my ex-wife (who looked like a female version of Dylan) and our three children with nearly 80,000 screaming rock fans. As I was on duty as an aide to the mayor, I had a seat in the sixth row for the ribbon cutting of the stunning building designed by I. M. Pei. The spot lit structure's reflection on the waters of Lake Erie at night is still a sight. Yoko Ono was there alone at the party after the ribbon cutting, John Lennon had been shot and killed December 8, 1980.

While Dylan was in Cleveland, I did try to meet with the icon, bringing some of my favorite photographs taken in the Vietnam War where I served as a combat correspondent and photojournalist. I got as far as inside the door of the recording studio he was at in an eastern suburb, but no further. I left Dylan this signed black and white photography of Army artillery forward observers with the 33rd Vietnamese Rangers on a search and destroy mission in the rice paddies.

Last year I got to thinkin' about the cover of the album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan wrote a song about some crazy days I had spent roamin' the streets of New York City and wrote a song about those times. Today on Gothamist.com I learned the story behind the cover art. Bob Dylan wanted to recreate a photo of James Dean (see the link to Gothamist story) for the cover of "Freewheelin'" released May 23 1963.

New York City Album Art: The Freewheelin Bob Dylan

Here's my version of the story in a poetry song I've performed. The song was covered by Chicago folk singer Justin Boerema as we shared the stage at Spike Hill in Brooklyn. Justin was back lit in silhouette, wearing a Fedora, playing guitar and harmonica, real Dylanesque. I hope to record the poetry song soon, perhaps on my trip to New York City in April. I will be performing the song though and together we return to The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.

Copyright by Mike Marcellino 2010

i think that was Dylan

by Mike Marcellino

i think that was Dylan,

walkin down Jones Street

girl in his arm

right in the middle of the slushy road,

right pretty too,

comin right at me,

so i ducked

down into the

alley

found sally

and wrote this piece.

"i didn't see you there,"

- went something like that

i think that was Dylan

walkin down Jones Street

trouble was the cold,

blinded me,

so i parked my car,

a cutlass i believe,

recklessly

at the first illegal spot i could find

went up to the bar

"Irish whiskey,"

i said that,

it must ta been in '65

i think that was Dylan

walkin down Jones Street,

go ask Sally.

i think that was Dylan copyright by Mike Marcellino 2009

Miss the flavor of the Sixties?

2010-02-24T14:50:00.000-05:00

Photo from the opening of the new Root Cafe last Christmas time.

Try a cup of Phoenix coffee at the reborn "Root Cafe"

by Mike Marcellino

If you hail from, ever in, or never been to Cleveland, don't miss stopping by The Root Cafe in Lakewood, Ohio (minutes west of Public Square downtown), for a trip back to why we miss the 60s and the best coffee, camaraderie, bakery, music, poetry and food like veggie pizza. (It already has two five star reviews on yelp.com.)

I've the pleasure of knowing the proprietors Julie and Bobby, who realized their dream with hard work and help from the community. The cafe moved a couple of doors down from their Lakewood Phoenix Coffee, but the beans are still roasted right in town by Carl Jones of Phoenix Coffee, rising from the ashes of his once famed Arabica Coffee, founded on Coventry Road, Cleveland's answer to Haight-Ashbury.

While Cleveland carries shackles of such recent pop titles such as America's "most miserable city" bestowed by Forbes Magazine, don't believe it. Cleveland won that title largely due to its lake effect blizzards and corrupt politicians, aspects it shares with many of America's big northern cities.

If you doubt that unsung Cleveland's a cultural gem, stop by The Roots Cafe. Tell Julie and Bobby (and their really smart, friendly kids, Hazel & Gabriel) that Mike says hello, and misses them and the rest of what makes Cleveland special. Or, maybe we can meet there, at The Root Cafe, 15108 1/2 Detroit Ave. for their all day celebration of the spring equinox Saturday March 20th. (I once read poetry at an open mic at the old Lakewood Phoenix.)

And to see that Cleveland does have some decent public officials, stop by the office of U. S. Congressman Dennis Kucinich, just down the road. He's the guy that ran for president to set up a Department of Peace.

Copyright by Mike Marcellino 2010

Palin's early presidential bid slips off course again

2010-02-19T18:06:00.000-05:00

Will the real Sarah, please stand up?

by Mike Marcellino

Ex-Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, vice presidential candidate in 2008, continues to go to the gold as she lays the groundwork for a presidential run in 2012. Trouble is her apparent calculated public speeches and comments keep getting her off course and on some pretty think ice.

Only weeks ago Palin inked notes on the palm of her hand to remember to uplift people in trying to ignite the Tea Party by her speech in which she predicted flatly that the only way President Obama could get re-elected was the use what she referred to as "the war card" by declaring war on Iran. That reminded me of the late Senator Barry Goldwater saying in a speech that he might use the atomic bomb against the communists. The difference is that then presidential candidate Goldwater's statement was a candid answer to a question, while Palin's created "the war card" phrase to nail her rival with a political shot. Her shot trivializes the consequences of war and the complexity of U. S. relations with Iran, that country's nuclear program and Middle East peace.

In her latest pre-campaign episode, Palin lashed out bitterly against the makers of the latest episode of "The Family Guy," about a girl with Down syndrome with a joke about her family. Palin's song, Trig, has Down syndrome. Plan called the show's makers "cruel, cold hearted people" and accused them of "mocking her family."

Palin's criticism drew a response yesterday from actor Andrea Ray Friedman who portrays a girl with Down syndrome. Ms. Friedman matter of factly explained that she has Down syndrome and also a sense of humor.

The Arts Beat "Culture at Large blog of Dave Itzkoff in The New York Times last night's has attracted 368 comments, one from a "conservative" Frank from Texas who wrote of getting annoyed by Palin.

Art Beat blog in The New York Times

What may be most revealing about the latest Palin episodes is they seem to reveal her real nature. Palin portrays herself as a political outsider, a female version of Joe six pack and all for regular people.

The uplifting palm notes, coining "the war card" and now blasting the liberal media, in this case an animated television comedy series raise serious questions about the true nature of Sarah Palin.

Palin's choice of words in public reveals a politician trying to win a campaign not yet begun by creating her own issues that don't match up with reality very well. The latest "Family Guy" episode belies the nation of equality and the wrong in discrimination.

I don't know about Palin, but I look at blacks and whites, people with Down syndrome, AIDS and soldiers and veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as people. Aren't we all just people after all? Isn't that equality?

When it comes to comedy, I like the kind that's funny and let's us laugh with each other, not at each other. Other than that it doesn't make any difference if your mother is the ex-governor of Alaska and a former vice presidential candidate. It's just a funny, quirky line in a television show, making fun of a politician, after all.

When you've stated publicly that you may run for president of the United States, being the subject of jokes comes with the territory. Lighten up Sarah.

Poetry and art

2010-02-15T21:26:00.000-05:00

Over the crow’s nest

By Mike Marcellino

When at times

you see your state

icy, lost

frozen.

Picture her at birth.

Imagine a man

with no country, alone

at sea forever.

Never to fly

Over the crow’s nest.

Print by Ashley Pastore

A political wild card plays the "war card"

2010-02-08T20:10:00.001-05:00

Sarah Palin dazzles the Tea Party

by Mike Marcellino

For these two years now, I've been holding out on expressing an opinion about Sarah Palin, her brand of Alaskan politics, and run for the presidency. (In fairness some folks in her home state may not want to be included in the Palin revolution.) Now, I'm trying hard to remember her main point in the vice presidential campaign, except that she didn't like McCain "handlers."

Here's the story by John McCormick of Bloomberg on Sara Palin's speech at the Tea Party rally.

Bloomberg story on Palin at the Tea Party

Today, it wouldn't have surprised me if Governor Palin had tattooed her palm with the words, "Washington DC," to make sure she didn't wind up in the wrong capital. What words she wrote on her palm before a speech at the Tea Party rally isn't the main point, though they are revealing. The point is it suggests she had to remind herself that her choice is whatever it takes to capture the support of the disenchanted and Independents. Before giving a speech I've jotted notes down on paper or a napkin just in case, but not to remind myself why I was speaking. I also don't believe in speeches designed to tell people what they want to hear and to make them feel good. Those speeches tend to ignore or warp the facts, don't get at the truth.

What put me over the top though, wasn't trying to remember whether she needed to be "uplifting" rather than, gee, "depressing" or even "real."

What put me over the top was using "the war card" in your run for the White House. Suggesting that President Obama could be reelected only if he used "the war card" by declaring war on Iran, is an incendiary, like throwing gasoline on a smoldering fire. That there's been little reaction, says the pundits don't take Sarah seriously. A mistake. Palin also presupposes that Obama is wrong about everything.

Ms. Palin shows herself to be a "wild card" using the "war card" language. It's irresponsible and certainly doesn't promote a peaceful solution to Iran's nuclear program and proliferation of nuclear weapons.

I suppose this must be part of brushing up on domestic and international affairs in endless briefings since her first appearance in the national spotlight. But, is the main thing she has learned looking through political glass that the way to win is to use "the war card"?

Look. I'm as overdosed on politics as usual on Capital Hill rather than statesmanship. But, would a Tea Party person explain why Sarah Palin is an outsider? I think most Tea Party people like Palin because she thinks so little of our President Obama.

Yes, Governor Palin, we could use a political revolution. But, going to war, isn't a card for anyone to play in political games.

Soldiers go to war, not politicians, and soldiers, their families and friends pay the price.

Whatever you do Sarah, put the "war card" rhetoric back in you desk. Sign up for a course on the Middle East/South Asia. A briefing may not work as Iran is 5,000 years old.

copyright by Mike Marcellino 2010

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino on radio

2010-01-31T18:29:00.000-05:00

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino airs our fifth show on Blog Talk Radio Wednesday, Feb. 3th, 8-10pm EST. We're pleased to welcome a new member of our cast - New York City poet, spoken-word curator & educator Adela Sinclair.

Stay tuned to Mike's Blog, The Point of the Whole Thing, for Notebook Writer show lineups and updates. Our January show was among the most popular in the books category on Blog Talk Radio. Notebook Writer is the first Wednesday of every month 8-10pm EST. Notebook Writer is produced by Red River Writers Live/Robin Falls (Red River Valley, Texas).

Our next show features guest writers & performing artists: Richard Cave, musician with the popular Haitian band, Camiri, whose members survived the earthquake in Haiti; Ray McNiece, Cleveland author, performance artist, educator and Izreal Kahlid Allah of Washington DC/Mobile Al, poet activist with Blacknez Recordingz and Lola Haskins, Florida author of seven books of poetry/prose, & and the forthcoming poetry collection "Still the Mountains" (2010)

Host Mike Marcellino, a national award-winning journalist & author of The Point of the Whole Thing Networked Blog, talks with an eclectic mix of writers about writing and life, takes calls from listeners and performs his own stuff. An Army war correspondent, he first wrote poetry and prose during mortar & rocket attacks in Vietnam. He likes to surf and the film "Viva Zapata" with Marlon Brando. His new folk band is Mike Marcellino with Ensor. Mike's performed his brand of poetry folk music at clubs & coffeehouses in New York City, Cleveland, Tulsa, Baltimore and St. Augustine, Fl.

Co-host Natalie Bliss, a poet, writer and artist from Auckland, New Zealand, likes Leonard Cohen, animals, rugby and teaches grade school kids art.

Just joining the Notebook Writer Show crew as assistant producer is Adela Sinclair, a New York City poet, educator, spoken-word curator, performer and blogger. Member of the Madison Poets, Gallery RIVAA, PSA and PEN America. She holds a Masters Degree in TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) and is a NYC Department of Education ESL teacher. Organizer of poetry readings at Gallery RIVAA, FALL FOR ARTS Festival, Salmagundi Art Club. She enjoys setting poetry readings against the backdrop of paintings, sculptures, and photographs.

The show airs from 7-9pm CST (8-10pm EST). Show call in number is 646-595-4478 or you may listen (or register to be on the air) on the show's Blog Talk Radio website. The show is also archived and Podcast.

Link for the upcoming show -

Notebook Writer with Mike Marcellino

To listen to four previous shows search On Demand shows October 2009 through January 2010

Robin Falls (producer) on Blog Talk Radio

Haitian poetry song

2010-01-28T20:48:00.000-05:00

Demele, it’s told
By Mike Marcellino

Reality is French Creole.
Demele, it’s told
Managing up on the ground,
down, once sold
Being bold
No longer doing what you’re told.

Reality is in French Creole
Demele, it’s told
Earthquake
Debate
Being late
Defying all odds
peas in a pod
in the face of suffering.

Reality is in French Creole
Demele, it’s told
Heartbreak
Getting up. Always
Waking in a fluster,
passing muster in a world ready to explode
Keeping hope
insight.

Reality is in French Creole
Demele, it’s told
Disentangle.
Carry on
(in Middle English)
Revolutionaries in quarrel,
wear outlaw labels.

Demele, it’s told, copyright 2010 by Mike Marcellino

A week after the Haiti earthquake the debate continues: Who should be in charge of the disaster response?

2010-01-19T20:51:00.000-05:00

Time is still running out in Haiti
by Mike Marcellino

Note: One January 14, two days after the earthquake struck Haiti, in a commentary, Mike Marcellino reasoned the the U. S. military was best suited to take charge of the disaster response. Today, the United Nations and what's left of the Haitian government remain in charge.

Seven days after an earthquake struck Haiti, the question of who is (or should be) in charge of the disaster response is still debated. U. S. Marines who landed five days ago asked the same question.

A retried U. S. Army general on PBS Newshour tonight said the U. S. military should take charge as it's self contained and able to address all the challenges from medial treatment to security. They are also ready and near Haiti.

A retired bureaucrat with USAID (United States Agency for International Development) thinks the United Nations can do the job once coordination is in place.

At this point, the only thing for certain is who is not in charge.

The military isn't, apparently to avoid looking like a U. S. takeover of Haiti.

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) isn't. The U. S. agency responsible for domestic disaster response and should have learned some lessons form Hurricane Katrina. FEMA is expert in immediate reponse, such as USAR (Urban Search and Rescue) and making progress out of chaos. FEMA refers all reporters' questions to USAID.

USAID, which falls under the U. S. State Department, is the U. S. agency in authority, but it doesn't provide immediate disaster response itself, only coordinates and provides material aid and expertise.

Even though disaster experts say the first 72 hours is critical to saving lives and preventing greater secondary health issues, the United Nations and a Haitian government in collapse remain in charge.

Today, critics and the media continue raise question, such as, why planeloads of medical teams and supplies of Doctors without Boarders continue to diverted from landing in the Haiti airport controlled by the U. S. military.

One thing certain is Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and it was devastated by an earthquake, leaving 200,000 or more dead, 3.5 million homeless and Port-au-Prince in shambles with chaos and violence in the streets.

Mike Marcellino is a two-time national award winning journalist. He also served as a U. S. Army combat correspondent in the Vietnam War and worked as a Congressional staff member on international human rights issues affecting Soviet Jews and the people of Taiwan.

copyright by Mike Marcellino 2010

Time is running out for Haiti

2010-01-16T18:13:00.000-05:00

Crisis in Haiti: An analysis of the earthquake aftermath

by Mike Marcellino

Mike Marcellino is a two-time national award winning journalist and served as a US Army combat correspondent in the Vietnam War. He also worked as a Congressional staff member focusing on international human rights, community issues and veterans health care.

Is Haiti on the edge of collapse?

Does anyone know the true extent of the disaster and the threats it imposes?

Based on the latest news reports, it appears some capable organization must take control of Haiti to avoid catastrophe.

Conditions are chaotic. Time is running out to save people in the rubble, provide medical supplies and personnel to treat victims and prevent lawlessness to go out of control.

The U. S. military would seem to be the only organization capable of addressing the situation in time to avoid unnecessary death and a total collapse of the society in Haiti. Perhaps, the Haitian government could allow the U. S. military temporary authority for a period of time to allow stability and some improvement in conditions.

Yet, President Obama doesn't appear to be moving in that direction. Perhaps he will after Secretary of State Clinton reports on conditions on the ground in Haiti.

This story filed an hour ago by James Reinl, foreign correspondent for The National (United Arab Emirates) with AP and Agence France Press best captures the urgency of the situation in Haiti, and the chaos on the ground there.

Here are some excerpts -

“We have now used up all of the medical supplies from NGOs based in Haiti. We haven’t yet received anything from the internationals. I know they are at the airport, but there is no distribution yet." (director, Port au Prince General Hospital)

“This is chaos. I’ve been to all the disasters in the world: Myanmar, Pakistan, Iran, India. They were organised much better – there is no organisation here,” said Luc Beaucourt, part of a field medics’ team from the Belgian charity V-Med. “Everything is destroyed. The government. There is no military.”

“This is a historic disaster. We have never been confronted with such a disaster in the UN memory. It is like no other,” Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman of the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, told AFP in Geneva.

To read the entire story posted on the Internet by The National click the link below.

Battle for life amid stench of death

Copyright Mike Marcellino 2010

A song of the Haitian spirit in "Flatbush," story of a homeland tragedy

2010-01-15T22:50:00.000-05:00

Earthquake and America in Haiti
Saving lives and a nation
by Mike Marcellino

In the aftermath of the earthquake, President Obama is acting swiftly to bring critically needed aid to Haiti.

But, with this massive natural disaster, the president has inherited a dismal American record in the world's first black republic created by former slaves. The legacy includes occupation, rejection of political refugees and neglect in nation building in the world's first black republic, less than 700 miles from Miami.
Haiti lies in ruins with estimates of 250,000 or more dead.

Does the U. S. and United Nations grasp the enormity of the situation? After 72 hours without water, food and medical attention, the survivors will start dying, according to experts. In addition to reaching people trapped in rubble in Port-au-Prince, other cities, like coastal town of Jacmel, are isolated as roads have collapsed.

Military officials have already ruled out air drops of supplies citing concerns of causing chaos and violence, though 10,000 U. S. troops will be in Haiti or off the coast by Monday.

While all human disasters are equally tragic and disturbing, this one hit me personally as I recently spent time living Flatbush, Brooklyn, one of the largest Haitian American communities.
This working and middle class neighborhood is majority West Indian, especially Haitian. They live in a flat plain founded in the 16th century by the Dutch whose graves remain, though faceless, outside a church filled with Haitians, who still practice voodoo.

Dutch graves in a cemetery outside a church in Flatbush, one of the largest Haitian communities in the U. S.

photo by Mike Marcellino

Walking my friends' white dog around the block, going to the supermarket, buying some meat pies, getting to the train station or just wandering, I was struck by the kind, respectful and happy nature of my Haitian neighbors. I rarely saw another white person, yet never felt like a minority.

The spirit and nature of Haitians and others from countries like Grenada, Trinidad and Jamaica inspired a song I wrote and recorded simply called "Flatbush." Now I feel my friends are in trouble and need help.

(If you wish, you may listen to the recording "Flatbush" on the msic player on top of this blog)

Haitians will survive, you can feel it. They have "demele, " a Creole word that means "to manage life in the face of hardship."

Haitians overcame slavery and founded the world's first black republic in1804. They have survived dictators, being turned back by the U. S. Navy in their boats seeking political refuge, abject poverty (Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere) and hurricanes.

The outpouring by the American people and organizations is encouraging. You can even donate $10 automatically by texting the Red Cross on your cell phone. Folks in Miami are appealing on Facebook for volunteers to load supplies for Haiti. A benefit concert, "Hope for Haiti," is already planned.

The sight of American troops on the ground in Haiti and a aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson is America at its best. Will we act quickly enough, or will get bogged down by red tape and the lack of imagination?
This disaster may have a silver lining if it serves as wake up call for the U. S. to stay the course in Haiti.

The U. S. controlled Haiti for nearly two decades ending in 1934. Marine Corps commanders governed the provinces. More than 2,000 Haitians died in a revolt crushed by U. S. forces in 1918. Marines killed 10 Haitians protesting economic conditions in 1929.

Before the U. S. departure, a commission appointed by President Hoover, recognized material improvements during the occupation, but pointed out that Haitians were excluded from decision making in the process. The commission concluded:
"The social forces that created [instability] still remain--poverty, ignorance, and the lack of a tradition or desire for orderly free government."

A bad example of helping build a free and prosperous nation.

The New York Times Friday, published a debate among Haiti experts, "Is the U. S. Doing Enough for Haiti?" In the article, University of Chicago professor Greg Beckett makes a case for "a long term commitment for durable change."

Beckett, a Harper Fellow in social sciences studying the environmental, urban and political crisis in Port au Prince, further states -
"The U.S. has a long, strained relationship with Haiti, and more than any other country it has a political responsibility to lead efforts to rebuild the country. In the past, the U.S. has occupied and administered Haiti, given support and financial assistance to governments, trained the military, led stabilization missions and shaped economic policy.

"The occupation of 1915-1934 centralized military and political authority in Port-au-Prince, but left little in the form of infrastructural improvement. Economic policies have left Haiti dependent and persistently poor. Aid initiatives have bypassed the government and contributed to the weakening of state and social institutions."

Today, despite of the United Nations' peace keeping force of 8,000 troops and the presence of 10,000 humanitarian workers, Haitian mothers still commonly make "dirt cookies" for their children to eat. They can't afford food.

Yet, the Haitian spirit endures. Haitians still pound shape beautiful metal art from recycled steel drums. Now they wonder whether any buyers will be able to reach them in the devastation.

When the Marines open the roads again, let's hope the United States gets nation building in Haiti right this time.

The fate of rebuilding Haiti lies with America's first president of color.

But for now President Obama has a more pressing question to answer.

The Marines have landed in Haiti and they are asking, "Who's in charge." (source, Christian Science Monitor, Jan, 14, 2010)

copyright Mike Marcellino 2010

The Walls of Fire - lyrics, photography and a song by folk band Mike Marcellino with Ensor

2010-01-08T20:42:00.001-05:00

The walls of fire
By Mike Marcellino

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
rock cliffs and open fields -
Hornet’s Nest at Shiloh
Devil’s Den, Gettysburg.

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
sea to shining sea -
lost in the Argonne Forest
face down on beaches at Normandy
frozen by the waters of Chosin Reservoir.

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
paddies, highlands -
Nui Ba Dinh, the Black Virgin Mountain
the Ashau Valley
along the perimeter of Khe Sanh.

The walls of fire
grow higher, higher
pools of blood, carnage
bodies of brothers
touching
empty deserts
filled with giant rising suns -
Fallujah rooftops
unknown streets of Sadr City
barren mountains, caves of Tora Bora.

The walls of fire
grow higher, still higher
pools of blood
carnage
bodies of brothers
touching.

The walls of fire copyright by Mike Marcellino 2009

Photos by Mike Marcellino, South Vietnam, 1967-68 Copyright 2010

(top) "My Girls" (right) "Oriental River" and (below) "Search and Destory"

Mike served in the US Army as a combat correspondent and photojournalist.

His folk band Mike Marcellino with Ensor recorded "The Walls of Fire" as their fourth poetry song in November 2009. Mike, lyrics, vocals; Tomas Texino, composition/production.

You may listen to the recording of "The Walls of Fire" on the music player here or visit our band site at ReverbNation. You've invited to be a follower of Mike's blog, "The Point of the Whole Thing" and a fan of the band.

"Flatbush," a song of Brooklyn

2009-12-30T18:24:00.000-05:00

Stones of Dutch soldiers, Flatbush

Flatbush

by mike marcellino

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

A perfect trip, eleven minutes late.

Coastal Jersey the same,

belching chemicals and oil,

industrial desolation

in the boot deep down.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

On the heels of Jupiter,

not a bad act to follow

on the right a Santa Anna’s

banner,

lighter green an' red, white

tricolor,

blazoned to the fire escape

of a third floor, dirty red brick

tenement,

a place of West Indians,

Flatbush,

a perfect spot for Jimmy Cliff.

Mariachi band fills the air

Saturdays.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

Soft good mornings in English,

more likely Patois

from darkened skins

standin' outside temples

ol' ladies an' gentlemen

takin’ numbers outside

for dinner

in a church

a redemption,

after

a revolution

into

a resurrection.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

Walkin' on grave stones

a 17th Century soldiers'

worn blank

in this once

'Vlacke bos'

Dutch land plain.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Peter Pan.

Flew into New York

on the wings of Babylon.

Jupiter on the right now,

not as bright

on this clear

and quiet night.

You may listen to the new recording of "Flatbush" by folk band Mike Marcellino with Ensor on the following sites.

If you like be a fan

ReverbNation

"The Point of the Whole Thing" Networked Blog

MySpace Split Peace

Year in Review of the new folk band Mike Marcellino with Ensor: A soldier's story behind the song "been down to Las Cruces" recorded in September 2009

2009-12-26T13:28:00.000-05:00

A soldier's reflection
From the Cold War to Vietnam and Afghanistan

been down ta Las Cruces
by Mike Marcellino

Written in 2007 by Mike Marcellino, the poetry song was originally recorded and performed by Mike's first band, Split Peace in Cleveland and again recorded by his new band, Mike Marcellino with Ensor, accompanied by musician Tomas Texino, composer and producer.

In the piece, Mike recalls living in Las Cruces, New Mexico, a few months after returning from the Vietnam War where he served in the U.S. Army as a combat correspondent and photojournalist. He sent the winter a tiny trailer outside a small horse ranch in the desert hills near the Mexican border. His most enjoyable time were walking through the desert hills and escaping to Juarez, Mexico, now one of the most violent places on earth.

You're invited to listen on the music player on Mike's Networked Blog, or visit our band website and be a fan of our new folk band.

ReverbNation

Las Cruces is near the White Sands Missile Range and not far from McGregor Range, near El Paso, Texas. It was on this range in 1967 that Mike, using a Pentax with a 300 mm lens, photographed in color and black and white the test firing of Army Hawk missiles. The photos were picked up on the Associated Press wire and transmitted around the world.

For his first person story and photographs, published in "Army Times" and other newspapers, Mike accompanied a Hawk missile battery, part of the 32nd Army Air Defense Command stationed throughout in West Germany to defend against a possible attack by Soviet army during the Cold War. This was before "the fall of the Berlin Wall" and the Soviet Union, reunifying East and West Germany.

Today, in part, the Army uses McGregor Range to practice urban warfare in a desert setting. They call it "urban ops persuit." These soldiers and others like them are certainly tuning up for fighting in the Afghanistan War. Some will die or be wounded in service to their country.

US Army National Guardsmen from C Company, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, dash out of a building in pursuit (US Army photo)

Meanwhile, here are the lyrics of a song written by a soldier just back the the Vietnam War, the nation's longest war, taking the lives of more than 58,000 American troops.

been down ta Las Cruces
by Mike Marcellino

been down ta Las Cruces
one time,

down ta
sundown wine
color slide pictures
of mists rising from
the dusty brown
tumbleweed town.

been down ta Las Cruces
down ta the circle
of six can't stand up inside
trailers
beside the coral
sleeping in the afternoon.

been down ta Las Cruces
down ta walking
desert brush hills
with mountain lions
and pretty fast rabbits.

been down ta Las Cruces

waiting for spring

down ta
Sunland Park

quarter horses

getting lost in
Juarez,

lost in Juarez.

been down ta Las Cruces
down ta

inside

my worn,
torn
second field forces
jacket
sittin' in

the backyard
sun beatin' down
makin' me feel

warm again.

been down ta Las Cruces
one time.

The fog of Afghanistan

2009-12-25T21:54:00.000-05:00

Outcome of the war rests clearly with the will of the people
By Mike Marcellino

One of a series on America’s course in the Afghanistan War

Today I was asked what at first seemed to be a simple question about a recent column I had written about America’s course in Afghanistan and the escalation of the war. The column was called, “Afghanistan: Different viewpoints, same ol’ same ol.’ The column cited a BBC of an interview with a senior American diplomat and Marine captain in Iraq and a Stars and Stripes story about what U. S. troops are encountering fighting and community building on the ground in Zabul Province, a Taliban stronghold.

“You have to ask yourself, ‘what are the major powers doing in a backwater such as Afghanistan??’” a reader asked. He used two question marks and I would see why trying to answer his question.

What we are doing in Afghanistan? Like some people say on Facebook about their relationships –“It’s complicated.”

One answer could be that the United States leaders fear facing hostel governments in the Middle East and South Asia threatening our oil supply (Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan).

A number of major powers have interests at stake, including the U. S., Russia and China. In addition the struggle to control oil supplies, Russia and China have large Muslin minorities.

The answer may be the old Cold War “domino effect” is back in vogue in Washington. Politicians and military leaders had believed that if one country would fall to Communism then others would follow. This was the rationale for the Vietnam War, along with control of natural resources of Southeast Asia.

The United States feared the spread of Communism and yet, even though we lost the Vietnam War to the communists, other nations didn’t fall and the Soviet Union collapsed.

The decade long war in Southeast Asian cost 6 million lives, including 58,000 American troops. Some argue that just fighting against communism in the Vietnam War led to its collapse in the Soviet Union. Interestingly, Vietnam is now rather prosperous with many resorts on the South China Sea beaches and increasing tourism.

Since the beginning of the Middle East wars in the early 1990s, U. S. policy makers have put communism on the back burner and Islamic fundamentalist insurgents and terrorists on the forefront. Radical Islam is the “evil” we must confront with force, not communism, at least for the time being.

Afghanistan has been embroiled in political turmoil and war for 35 years with leftists, monarchists and Islamic fundamentalist and minorities battling for power. In the late 1970s the Soviet Union set up a communist government in Afghanistan. In a 9-year war, Afghan Islamic fighters, the mujahedeen, defeated the Soviet army. The country was devastated, as one million Afghans died and millions more fled the country as refugees.

Everyone agrees the present Afghan government is corrupt and lacks wide popular support. The country is rather lawless. Most of the people are poor and illiterate. The poppy crop supplies much of the heroin for the world’s illicit drug trade and funds the Taliban and other insurgents.

The answer may be that we’re convinced that in Afghanistan we’re in a holy war, with good fighting evil. Many fundamentalist Christians in the U. S. armed forces, including senior military leaders, believe they are engaged in a holy war.

Radical Islamic fundamentalist, principally al Qaeda and its supporters believe they are waging a holy war against the “infidels,” or non-Muslims.

One answer may be a resurrection of the Crusades of the 11th Century. Each side of course believes the other to be “infidels.”

Both “holy wars,” some historians and observers believe are rooted in the timeless desire for power and control, whether it be a cave, a country or the world.

Whatever the reason for the U. S. involvement in Afghanistan, we’ve decided that force and violence are the only solution. The U. S. won’t talk to the Taliban until they surrender and the Taliban won’t talk until the U. S. forces leave the country. There seems to be little attempt to break the deadlock.

Regardless of the answer to the question, ultimately the outcome of the war and the nature of Afghanistan will be determined by the Afghans.

The present U. S. strategy in Afghanistan seems to be predicated on the belief that we are engaged in a worldwide war against extremists, including the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

A few political leaders, even Vice President Joe Biden to an extent, along with senior diplomats, military and intelligence officers believe in a narrow focused strategy to defeat al Qaeda.

President Obama, Secretary Clinton and our military leaders have rejected that strategy, believing that Afghanistan is the den of al Qaeda.

As a result 30,000 more U. S. troops are going to Afghanistan bringing the total of 10,000. Next spring the U. S. plans to attack Taliban strongholds in rural and urban areas, beginning a new "ground up" strategy of rebuilding Afghanistan in the towns and villages.

We plan to step up the training of Afghan troops, start turning security over to them and in the middle of 2011 start withdrawing U. S. troop “if conditions on the ground permit.”

That’s the strategy the U. S. used in losing the Vietnam War. President Nixon called it “Vietnamization.”

South Vietnam had an army of two million, one of the largest in the world at the time of its defeat by North Vietnam, two years after U. S. troops withdrew.

The likelihood of the Afghan army being able to secure the country is questionable. Factionalism and lack of confidence in and corruption of the present government must be overcome. Afghanistan isn’t much of a nation for nation building.

“What are the major powers doing in the backwater of Afghanistan?”

“It’s complicated.

The outcome of the war is simpler. It lies with the will of the Afghan people.

Afghanistan and Vietnam: "same ol', same ol'"

2009-12-22T23:10:00.000-05:00

Troops war view differs from Washington

by Mike Marcellino

A series on America's course in Afghanistan

The more leaders tell you things are "different" the more they seem the "same."

In a nutshell, that's what I'm piecing together in another installment of my series - "America's Course in Afghanistan."

In Vietnam, where I served in the U.S. Army as a combat correspondent at the height of the war in 1968, they told us the body counts, how we were killing them 10-1 or more. The told us how most of the country was now "pacified." (Sometimes pacification took B-52 bombs, endless jet strikes, ship salvos, artillery fire and agent orange.) They told us we're winning "the hearts and minds."

The more reading, the more recalling , the more researching, the more America's involvement and increasing escalation in the civil wars in Afghanistan and Vietnam fit a saying learned on the streets of Cleveland - "same ol', same ol'.

In today's interview with the BBC, Matthew Hol, an ex-Marine captain in Iraq who resigned as the senior civilian in Zabul Province, says only political action, not the troop surge, will settle the 35-year civil war in Afghanistan. He also estimates 500,000 troops would be needed to subjugate the countryside.

(See the BBC story)

BBC interview with Matthew Hoh

More than 500,000 U.S. troops were in South Vietnam at the height of the war in 1968. That effort allowed U.S. and South Vietnamese forces to control the major cities, but not the rural areas in a country of 65,000 square miles and 16 million people. Afghanistan has nearly twice the land area (119,000 square miles) and population (30 million) and a terrain even more difficult, if that's possible.

President Obama and U.S. military leaders say the Afghanistan war isn't another Vietnam.

(In the Vietnam War, U.S. troops pulled out in 1973 after a decade long war. Three years later, the corrupt and controversial government and army of South Vietnam collapsed weeks after the North Vietnamese army invaded.)

A report November 12 "Stars and Stripes" from Zabul Province, a Taliban stronghold and route from Pakistan, American soldiers tell a view of the war much different from our leaders in Washington. It reminds me of that similar difference between the capital view and the reality on the ground in the war 40 years ago in South Vietnam.

Drew Brown's interviews with soldiers from the U.S. Army's 5th Stryker Brigade from Ft. Lewis, WA, are telling in this excerpt -

“During the three-day mission in the Chinehs, a number of soldiers said that even though the area had been identified as a suspected Taliban stronghold, the villagers were the friendliest of any they had encountered in Zabul. But when officers asked about the Taliban, they were usually met with blank stares or polite, noncommittal responses. Most villagers denied knowing anything about the Taliban. Some made slashing motions across their throats. ‘You stay here for one and a half hours in our village, and when you leave, the Taliban will come in our homes and beat us or worse,’ said one man. Replied 2nd Lt. James Johnson, 23, of State College, Pa.: ‘Well, there’s nothing I can do to help you, if you don’t help yourselves.’”

(See "Stars and Stripes" story)

"Stars and Stripes" story from Aabul, Afghanistan

Sounds awfully familiar to me as I covered the Vietnam War as a US Army combat correspondent and my stories and photographs were often published in "Stars and Stripes."

It also seems, even with the surge of 30,000 more U. S. troops to total of 100,000 won't be enough. As many as 500,000 (including Afghanistan government forces) may be needed to get the job done. The job being either defeating or at least beating the Taliban and other insurgent forces back enough to allow the Afghanistan army and police to keep the peace.

Though U. S. troops have been in Afghanistan for nine years, the effectiveness of Afghan security forces remains uncertain. What's odd about that is Afghanistan's insurgent forces, the Islamic mujahedeen, defeated the Soviet Union in a nine year war ending in 1989.

In 1996, the Taliban, a radical Islamic group, came into power in Afghanistan, but, by 2001, with help from the United States, the Northern Alliance, a group of minorities, overthrew the Taliban.

While all this is pretty factual summary, if you stop to think about it, it sounds bizarre. It reminds me of the Abbott and Costello comedic question, "Who's on first? Afghanistan also has the same chaotic ring of the Mexican revolution in the early 1920s,

The Afghanistan and Vietnam wars are also reminiscent of a scene in "Lawrence of Arabia." After the Arab army, led by British Maj. T. E. Lawrence, had defeated the Ottoman Empire, German ally in World War I, they couldn't get along well enough to keep the power on and water running in Damascus.

The winner in Afghanistan may be who is willing and able to fight and die and not give up. One thing seems certain; people don't like to be occupied by foreign armies. History tells us the people in far flung countries didn't like the oppressive rule of the emperors of Rome, and the Roman Empire collapsed.

In a recent commentary in "Dandelion Salad," an Internet blog highly critical of America's military involvement in the Afghanistan, Rick Rozoff indicates that documents show that Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal estimates a combined army of 500,000 U. S., Afghan and NATO forces will be needed to win the war.

A foreign soldier on the ground in a civil war quickly understands that the will of the people who live there decides the outcome.

In the Stars and Stripes story, an Afghan villager tells a US Army officer what it will take to end the war -

"We asked what can be done to improve your situation here," (1st Lt. Christopher) Franco said. "They said, ‘Our problems will be resolved when you guys leave and we can sit down and talk to the Taliban leaders.’ At least they were honest."

Mike Marcellino, a national award winning civilian journalist, served in the U. S. Army as a combat correspondent and photographer in the Vietnam War

only tombs of unknown solidiers, a poem

2009-12-20T02:36:00.000-05:00

A prose piece written by Gary Willmore, "Belfast 1972" and memories of 1968 and a night in a bunker on the Cambodian border in the Vietnam War led to writing this poem, naturally very late at night

Only tombs of unknown soldiers
by mike marcellino

Words spoken
thoughts bleed
broken men
survivors of patrol.

Words unspoken
thoughts bleed
cracked open
in the pitch
ambush of questions.

Words written
thoughts bleed
the conscience of war
only tombs of unknown soldiers.

only tombs of unknown soldiers copyright 2009 Mike Marcellino

Year in Review: Mike Marcellino debuts with "Amelia Earhart, soft silver wings;" rises to #49 among Top Folk Artists in New York City

2009-12-19T19:59:00.000-05:00

Love song to aviator Amelia Earhart, lost over the Pacific in 1937

Amelia Earhart, soft silver wings

Listeners comments:

Just listened to Amelia Earhart, Soft Silver Wings.....I love it. It's funny what you said about not having to do anything but listen. The music was so atmospheric; all I COULD do was listen....Beautiful - Julia Chapman, Bristol

Mike, if she were here your tribute would be painted on her left wing; her right wing would have inscribed the names of Nobel peace prize winners - Clarice, Grand Rapids, MI

Since releasing their first song in September 2009, Mike Marcellino with Ensor has risen to #49 of Top Folk Artists in New York City and in the top 6% on Global and National charts of ReverbNation.

Mike Marcellino, words, vocal

Tomas Texino - mandolin, composition and production

Recorded in St. Augustine Florida

Other songs of Mike Marcellino with Ensor -

Las Cruces

Flatbush

The walls of fire

Bondi beach

The lyrics -
Amelia Earhart, soft silver wings

by mike marcellino

Amelia Earhart,

Love your picture

in flight.

Love your goggles,

love your lips.
Love how you circled the world,

single handed.

amelia

amelia.

Like that leather

air cap.

You’re a goddess, a woman,

soft white,

ahead of your time,

such afterglow

night

in shinning armor.

Meet me on a northern coast,

not far from the equator,

above the island

where they made King Kong.

Your Atlantis, risen

in my South China Sea.

amelia

amelia.

Oh, your last flight.

Oh your last flight.

What a night.

Looking at your picture

in my book,

soft silver

wings.

Your lips, painted colors

light, pretty pink.

Those eyes,

imagine,

sigh.

Your nails, natural,

fingertips.

Taking you with me.

amelia

amelia.

Soft silver

soft silver

wings.

"Courage"
Courage is the price that Life extracts for granting peace.

The soul that knows it not, knows no release.

From little things.

Knows not the livid loneliness of fear.

Not mountain heights where bitter joy can hear

The sound of wings.

How can life grant us boon of living, compensate

For dull grey ugliness and pregnant hate

Unless we dare

The soul’s dominion? Each time we make a choice, we pay

With courage to behold the restless day,

And count it fair.
- Amelia Earhart, 1927

You made the crossing

not alone.

Meet you over the Atlantic.

amelia

amelia.

Soft silver,

soft silver,

wings.

To listen -Mike Marcellino with Ensor bandsite on ReverbNation

Nobel Peace Prizes: 2009 and 1929

2009-12-12T20:42:00.000-05:00

Hope for peace,

the pact outlawing war

by Mike Marcellino

In his speech accepting the Nobel Peace Prize yesterday in Oslo,

Norway

, President Barack Obama reminded us that, at times, war is morally justified, to defeat evil in the world.

Newspaper headlines reported that the President refused to renounce war. Journalist wrote of the "irony" of the President receiving a prize for his efforts to bring peace days after ordering 30,000 more troops to the war in

Afghanistan

Commentators said Obama had moved to the political center. Critical reviews of his speech range from recalling President Kennedy to pronouncing it as "incoherent." Some called it a d move to the political center in American politics. Republican leaders cheered him. Anti-war activists reeled in disbelief.

"Make no mistake: Evil does exist in the world. A nonviolent movement could not have halted Hitler's armies. Negotiations cannot convince al-Qaida's leaders to lay down their arms," he said.

To sort out something so perplexing, look to history.

What is renouncing war? What are the concepts of good and evil, peace and war all about in the context of American politics?

Trying to understand the nature of these questions and possible answers may stem from another Nobel Peace Prize awarded 80 years ago and to times of torment our nation's history, as far back as the Civil War.

On December 10, 1929, Frank Kellogg, all but forgotten, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize. He stands in the shadow of a president who inspired millions of American voters in an election less than a year ago with his promise of change.

Frank Billings Kellogg, former

U. S.

Secretary of State and senator, accepted the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to create a treaty, signed by 65 nations, renouncing war. They include the

United States and countries such as China, the Soviet Union

and

Afghanistan

. In part, the pact states a purpose of - "uniting the civilized nations of the world in a common renunciation of war as an instrument of their national policy" and condemning “recourse to war for the solution of international controversies. Nations agree to use pacific means to solve their differences.

Kellogg received the Peace Prize for being co-creator of the Briand-Kellogg Pact, also known as the Pact of Paris for his partner in peace was French Foreign Minister Aristide Briand.

Kellogg was born in 1856 in Potsdam, New York into a nation divided over state's rights and slavery on the eve of the Civil War.

Our terrible ordeal of brother fighting against brother, literally, cost the lives of 618,222 Americans - Union and Confederate. A single battle, Gettysburg, cost 40,350 lives in the Allegheny foothills of Pennsylvania, only a two-day march south to our nation's capital. One civilian was killed, a woman, Mary Virginia Wade. Nine women disguised as men, died in battle.

Frank grew up on a wheat farm in Elgin, Minnesota where he went to a country school until he was 14. He entered a law office, studied using borrowed books and became a lawyer.

A Republican, he earned a reputation as "trust buster." On a mission from President Theodore Roosevelt he successfully prosecuted for restrain of trade the General Paper Company and later Union Pacific Oil and the Standard Oil Company. He was appointed secretary of state by President Calvin Coolidge.

Kellogg received the peace prize a decade after "The Great War." To drum up support for American's entry into World War I, President Woodrow Wilson called it "the war to end all wars." It took the lives of 17 million people, nearly 7 million civilians.

The Great War, as if anything could be "great" about war, was triggered by the assassination of an archduke of

Austria

by a Serbian nationalist; the world was pretty much lined up. On our side it was the Allies - the British Empire,

Russia

, France and

Italy

and the other side, the Central Powers - the remains of the

Austria-Hungary

, German and Ottoman Empires.

Some historians say the Great War was bred by imperialist foreign policy. Perhaps it was caused by a militaristic mindset to settle disputes among people and nations.

Kellogg's Nobel Prize for crafting a peace pact to outlaw war came at a time of turbulence in

America. W

eeks earlier the stock market crashed on October 24th and 29th, "Black Tuesday" and "Black Thursday. Recently, economic analysts contend the collapse of our wealth and financial system and the Great Depression came, not from economic weakness, but fear and panic.

In another decade, America would be embroiled in World War II - a struggle to defeat "evil" in the form of mass murder, oppression and torture committed by Hitler and the Nazis, along with his fellow dictators and tyrants in the Axis.

As many as 72 million people, military and civilian, were killed in World War II, making it the most deadly war in world history. This includes the Nazi mass murder of 21 million people, including 6 million Jews. In addition, Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin, killed 21 million of his own people.

Makes a person wonder if the world is headed in the right direction.

Many social thinkers and politicians would dismiss Kellogg's efforts to convince nations to settle their differences peacefully as a fantasy and unrealistic.

Kellogg did admit that the pact doesn't provide provisions to punish violators.

Still, this little known secretary of state and Nobel Peace Prize recipient offers a mindset for peace.

In his Nobel Prize acceptance, he envisions how the treaty would be enforced by the will of the people -

"...in the end the abolition of war, the maintenance of world peace, the adjustment of international questions by pacific means will come through the force of public opinion, which controls nations and peoples - that public opinion which shapes our destinies and guides the progress of human affairs."

And, Kellogg described a mindset for peace -

"There will always be disputes between nations which, at times, will inflame the public and threaten conflicts, but the main thing is to educate the people of the world to be ever mindful that there are better means of settling such disputes than by war. It is by such means as the prize offered by your Committee that the attention of the world will be focused and that men and women will be inspired to greater efforts in the interest of peace. The churches, the peace societies, the schools and colleges should add their educational influence to this great movement."

Today, the 1928 Kellogg–Briand Pact remains a binding treaty under international law. In the

United States

, it remains in force as federal law.

It remains a different mindset.