Not a poem in sight… This remix of my latin American shakuhachi and koto mix by Jeris was nominated as an Editorial pick in the recent ccmixter.org Secret Sky mixter challenge.
Javolenus: guitar
Jeris, NiGiD: bass, arrangement
dapower: drums
robwalkerpoet: shakuhachi, kotos, finger cymbals
(Click ‘Love shak samba’ below to hear it.)
photo by Marcus C Mason
I began Against the grain in the last year of dad’s life after I gave him a shave when he was in the nursing home. The poem needed a lot of rewrites and time and distance to mature. The piece has been published in the Masque edition of Australia’s cordite poetry review (see HERE.) I’m also honoured that it’s inspired the title of a contemporary visual art piece “My grain goes all over the place” by Tony Lamont (here.) Tony says “I came across this by accident and it cut me to the chafe. I recently had to shave my much loved father-in-law in the same way, and my emotion was high at the time. A wonderful poem, thankyou.” Thanks Tony. It’s always gratifying to know that you’ve captured an emotion which has been shared by others – it’s even more humbling when you inspire someone else to create something new.
