November 27, 2007 Archives

Bob Dylan is, for my money, the poet of our generation, although Allen Ginsberg is a close second. And both figure in the new film “I’m Not There” about his life, his music, and most of all his protean self.

Universally acknowledged as the pre-eminent poet/lyricist and songwriter of his time, he was prematurely elevated by the media--which he despised--to the role of spokesman, yet the reclusive Dylan wouldn’t admit to having any particular message nor to being a poet. “I don’t like the word,” he said. However, his biting, often cryptic lyrics served as a running commentary in capturing the mood of my generation.

Forget Matt Redman, MercyMe, Hillsong--the band most important to worship music today is an Icelandic post-rock quartet with pagan leanings and a gay lead singer whose lyrics are often made-up syllables with no distinct meaning. Ladies and Gentlemen: Sigur Ros.

To grasp what I am about to say and not think I am totally bonkers, you need to first understand: I have not have a day off in, oh I don’t know, four months maybe? I mean, not a single day off. Not even on the weekends. Physically, emotionally, and especially, spiritually, I feel as though I’ve been wrung dry.

So the day after Thanksgiving, I got up and went to my favorite Manhattan coffee shop, Tarallucci E Vino, a little Italian place with great pastries in the best espresso in the city (I think) that, in simpler times, I frequented on a daily basis. I walked in the door, one of the women who works there greeted me like an old friend, told me to have a seat, she remembered my regular order. And she did.

My coffee arrived—an Americano, very strong, with steamed half and half—an almond croissant on the side. I pulled out the House & Home section of my New York Times from Thanksgiving day (I didn’t read the paper on the holiday), and happened to start reading Jancee Dunn’s inspired “With the Grace of Liberace Go I,” about her collection of 1950’s -60’s, and -70’s entertaining guides by the likes of Joan Crawford and Helen Gurley-Brown (from Cosmo).