FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR NOTHING LEFT TO LOSE

I just stumbled on this clip of the brilliant Kris Kristofferson singing a live and unadorned version of one of my all time favourite songs, ‘Me and Bobby McGee.’ Such a casual but deeply felt performance, the words so very beautiful. We adore Kris Kristofferson here at The Vampire’s Wife. Love, Susie x

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgvDa_nsMT4

Me and Bobby McGee

Busted flat in Baton Rouge, waitin' for a train
When I'm feelin' near as faded as my jeans
Bobby thumbed a diesel down just before it rained
And took us all the way into New Orleans

I took my harpoon out of my dirty red bandana
And was blowing sad while Bobby sang the blues
With them windshield wipers slapping time
And Bobby's clapping hands we finally
Sang up every song that driver knew

Freedom's just another word for nothin’ left to lose
Nothin', it ain't worth nothin', but it’s free
And feeling good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues
You know feeling good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and Bobby McGee

From the coalmines of Kentucky to the California sun
Bobby shared the secrets of my soul

Standing right beside me, Lord, through everything I done
Every night she kept me from the cold

One day up near Salinas, Lord, I let her slip away
Looking for the home and I hope she finds it
Well, I'd trade all my tomorrows for one single yesterday
Holding Bobby's body next to mine

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose
Nothin', ain’t worth nothin’ but it’s free

Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues
Feelin' good was good enough for me
Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee, yeah

YET WILL THIS PASS, AND PASS SHALL I?

‘A Popular Personage at Home’ was one of two poems Thomas Hardy (1840-1928) wrote about his beloved dog of 13 years, Wessex, who died in 1926, two years before Hardy himself. However, what makes ‘A Popular Personage at Home’ especially notable is that Hardy wrote the poem from the perspective of the dog, allowing ‘Wessex’ to speak for himself. It also hints at the erosion of nature itself! A beautiful poem about a dog.

I GIVE MY WISDOM AND EXPERIENCE TO ANIMALS

‘I gave my beauty and my youth to men. I am going to give my wisdom and experience to animals.’ I love this quote from the great Brigitte Bardot and I so admire how she dedicated her ‘second life’ to looking after animals. She also said, ‘Animals have the purity humans have definitely lost!’ A great, great woman.

A FROG LEAPS IN

I’ve been reading a beautiful little book of haiku poems I found at a second hand book dealer in Lewes. Such a gorgeous thing by Matsuō Basho, the poet-master of the Haiku. You can see the pond! You can hear the frog!