...your weekly ask me anything thread is now open...
The Secret of the Sea by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW is one of my all time favorite literary masterpieces
Remember my motto - there are no dumb questions —well actually I’d argue the only dumb question is the one that’s not asked… so ask away and I’ll do my best to provide you a factual answer and provide supporting documents.
Or simply enjoy this almost two minutes of unadulterated bliss.
xo -Filey
The Secret of the Sea…
“As I gaze upon the sea!
All the old romantic legends,
All my dreams, come back to me.
Sails of silk and ropes of sandal,
Such as gleam in ancient lore;
And the singing of the sailors,
And the answer from the shore!
Most of all, the Spanish ballad
Haunts me oft, and tarries long,
Of the noble Count Arnaldos
And the sailor's mystic song.
Like the long waves on a sea-beach,
Where the sand as silver shines,
With a soft, monotonous cadence,
Flow its unrhymed lyric lines;--
Telling how the Count Arnaldos,
With his hawk upon his hand,
Saw a fair and stately galley,
Steering onward to the land;--
How he heard the ancient helmsman
Chant a song so wild and clear,
That the sailing sea-bird slowly
Poised upon the mast to hear,
Till his soul was full of longing,
And he cried, with impulse strong,--
"Helmsman! for the love of heaven,
Teach me, too, that wondrous song!"
"Wouldst thou,"--so the helmsman answered,
"Learn the secret of the sea?
Only those who brave its dangers
Comprehend its mystery!"
In each sail that skims the horizon,
In each landward-blowing breeze,
I behold that stately galley,
Hear those mournful melodies;
Till my soul is full of longing
For the secret of the sea,
And the heart of the great ocean“ -by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Soon - my extended Spring Break shall commence and I’ll return to the one place on earth that brings me “inner peace”
Dear Spicey, for years I have been in awe of your joy mixed with diligent brilliance and now I thank you for that beautiful poem to awaken to. Here is a magnificent 2006 Procol Harem concert performance of "A Salty Dog" to go with it. I hope you love it as much as I do. Thank you! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gi7Z3-T_qQ
All hands on deck, we've run a float,
I heard the Captain cry.
Explore the ship, replace the cook,
Let no one leave alive.
Across the straits, around the horn,
How far can sailors fly?
A twisted path, our tortured course,
And no one left alive.
We sailed for parts unknown to man,
Where ships come home to die.
No lofty peak, nor fortress bold,
Could match our captain's eye.
Upon the seventh seasick day,
We made our port of call.
A sand so white, and sea so blue,
No mortal place at all.
We fired the guns, and burned the mast,
And rowed from ship to shore.
The captain cried, we sailors wept,
Our tears were tears of joy!
Now many moons and many Junes,
Have passed since we made land.
A Salty Dog, the seaman's log,
Your witness, my own hand.
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Keith Reid / Gary Brooker
Funny you should ask Filey...this is in reference to Texas State Representative for District 73 @KyleBiedermann wants to #Texit. Looks like a scam to raise money. He introduced the Texas Independence Referendum Act January 26, 2021--the page of this date with Glenn Beck's photo on it has been taken down now. He went to the 1/6/21 Insurrection and his photo was taken. But, I don't recall seeing him inside. I can't find the photo of him at this moment but at the time he had a gray/white goatee. These are two very short articles with photos of him.
Re emails:
https://www.ksat.com/news/defenders/2021/03/04/texas-lawmaker-refuses-to-release-emails-from-dates-surrounding-rally-in-dc-on-day-of-deadly-insurrection/?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar
Article re attendance:
https://www.reformaustin.org/texas-legislature/video-shows-texit-champion-kyle-biedermann-on-steps-of-capitol-during-the-insurrection/
I hope you have a fabulous holiday. Enjoy!