El Paraiso

(Actually writing this in Florence, since I haven’t had time to write until now)

Spent a week in El Paraiso (located in Aroche, Spain), where the people are nomads or yesmads or absolutemads. I love it, I love the mads. For once I didn’t sing the blues off cliffs alone. We sang the blues into the hills of Southern Spain with guitar, banjo, accordion, harmonica, and even a “no”. (Get ready for Amelie and Ana’s hit song, “Sleepy Sun”.)

Random facts:

Met a butterfly who lived in a pumpkin and longed for Istanbul. Met people who’ve got pieces of sun in their lips—spreads light when they smile.

I was baked in sweat, lime, and clay, soon to be sacrificed for the foundation of unbreakable walls.

Every glass of Cruzcampo I drank was the best glass of Cruzcampo I’d ever had, after working for hours in 40 degree Celsius weather.

Also, the Belgians adored that I was a color-changing Virgo who learned how to eat properly before their very eyes. But actually. They took note of both my eating habits and my Virgo habits (unrelated) on a daily basis. “You’re such a Virgo!”

…And when the mads look you in the eye with their crazy mad eyes and call you beautiful, you know there’s no use hiding it.

Accompanying music:

MC Solar (sp)

Or, ask me to play you my soon to be hit songs, “Riverboat Man” and “Bluesman with the broken Fender”.

(The "no". Mark made it himself. Part sitar part beast.)

ugly moon mm

It's 6:50am in Granada. I am in love with this city. I cannot sleep because I am in physical pain. So, here is something.

UGLY MOON MAMA

UGLY MOON MAMA
WITH GHOSTS IN HER IRISES
AND TEAR GLANDS FILLED
WITH THE WEIGHT OF
A FATHERLESS RACE
HOLDS HER RAGGED KNEES BENEATH THE MOON
AS SHE HUMS SONGS THAT IN THE DAY
BLUEBIRDS SEEK TO DROWN.
GOT SHADOWS BURIED IN HER JAWBONES
MAKES HER SMILES MOVE LIKE MELANCHOLY
GOT TEALEAVES IN HER HAIR
THAT SHE COULD NEVER READ
AND FEATHERS IN HER EARS THAT TAKE HER NOWHERE.

THE NIGHT HOLDS HER LIKE A LOVER
AS BEST AS THE NIGHT KNOWS HOW--
COLD AND FAR AWAY.
SOMETIMES--WHEN THAT IS NOT ENOUGH--
SHE BLOWS KISSES OFF OF CLIFFS
IN HOPES THAT THE WORLD
WILL CHANGE ITS MIND
AND RECLAIM HER AS
A THING OF BEAUTY.

UGLY MOON MAMA
AND HER HANDS TATTOOED
WITH THE ECHOES OF TIME,
TRACES THE STARS
AND SEEKS TO FIND
THE THING THAT MAKES DOGS HOWL,
TORMENTED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT.