And the american poet from Duluth gets the prize.
The big kids in the neighbourhood listened to Dylan. I learned the songs. I wasn't obsessed.
I had a nice sound system, so to add to my record collection, I thought I'd better get one of Dylan's:
Planet Waves.
A specific line of poetry in one song from that album really got to me. I identified with that line. It was not a very positive assertion by this world class poet, but I guess it was a truthing.
Hazel
Dirty blonde hair
I wouldn't be ashamed to be seen with you anywhere
Poetry is meant to connect. And this one did connect for me. Wholly!! But what a bass-ackwards compliment. I was always so grateful when someone paid a bit of attention to me. Pitiful, I know. The irony is, I learned and covered Hazel and perform it frequently. I want folks to hear the slander in those lines. Few do though.
Then a few years passed, and I had some money, so I thought, I'll get another Dylan record. Slow Train Coming. Gawd.. he was trying to convert me! He was born again. Just like so many people I've met over the years, Dylan fell into the born again pool and used his infamy to spread his perfect truth. And I'm sure he was wealthy enough to pay his musicians well. I doubted they were followers. I still wonder if he fell off that wagon. At least he keeps it private, either way.But I did fall in love with a version of one of his songs; arranged by John Lennon. Performed by John and Harry Nilsson, it is Subterrannean Homesick Blues Pussy Cats. Best ever version of of a Dylan song.
One good thing about the timing of this award is that folks are reminiscing about Dylan/Zimmerman today, and he is still among us. At least it is not a funereal nor a memorial tribute.So felicitations to all you Dylan fans. Good on Cate for her portrayal in I'm Not There.
And finally, glad to see a poet hit the podium. I can identify with a life-time of words fighting to escape and thoughts forming and evaporating.
