The Unruly duo probe the joys of speaking your mind, or calling for change, or protesting an unfair move, or standing up for yourself, and so many other urgent responses to our polarized times. We found it intriguing to let it rip on this one and see where poetry, prose, music and patter would take us on this basic human urge. Frustrated? Speak up! Curious about the why? Speak up! Wishing for someone, something, else? Speak up! Want to make a point? Speak up! We even invoke ee cummings, who brings forth the plants and animals and the earth speaking up. Enjoy pondering all the possibilities…including silence.
Song 1: “Speak Up,” (composed and performed by John V. Modaff, with guitars by Dan Modaff and Dave Merrill)
Poem 1: “Sound Barrier” by Scott Wiggerman from the “Fire” chapter of Presence (San Antonio TX: Pecan Grove Press, 2011), a book arranged around the elements.
Fiction excerpt: from the novel Death of a Department Chair by Lynn C. Miller. University of Wisconsin Press, 2006. https://uwpress.wisc.edu/Books/D/Death-of-a-Department-Chair
Feed the cat break: “Cats, Cats, Cats” (Andrew Preston and AP Harbor)
Poem 2: from ee cummings, poem #22 from XAIPE, 1950. This innovative modern poet (1894-1962) revitalized language from the familiar. He was also a painter, essayist, author, and playwright.
Song 2: “Tell Me,” composed and performed by John V. Modaff.
Episode artwork by Lynda Miller
Theme & Incidental Music by John V. Modaff, BMI
Recorded in Albuquerque NM and Morehead KY. Produced at The Creek Studio
NEXT UP on Episode 50: “Levity and Gravity”