Have you ever played chess? said Alex. No, said Blurtso, I don’t even know the pieces. That’s alright, said Alex, I can teach you… this is the king, and the queen, and the bishop, and the horse, and the castle. Oh, said Blurtso, and the little ones are the donkeys?
I know where I’m going
Johnny I hardly knew ye
Here are some songs I’ve written.
Cliffs of the heart
You can’t say yes
The best we can do
The snow is melting
Slipping into stone
Out of line
Kindness
Undo what’s done
Devil’s Sister
Liar sun
Because I love you
The hope it is
Letting go
Crossroads night
Take me there
All I want is a breeze
The beginning of you
Hell on the inside
The kingdom meant for me
Eight ounces of water
Go around
Catch, glide and shove
Too late for you
This girl do
Sleeping where the rich people play
Of all the gold
Echo
Afraid this time
Tenderness
A safe place to go
Seize the moment
Haven’t had yet
My Michelle
Cruel shapes
You made him a promise
Seventh day
My baby’s arms
More than the blues
Drink beer on stage
I’m in you
Save me
Giraffe
What have you been doing lately? said Alex. I’ve been standing in the snow, said Blurtso. Standing in the snow? said Alex. Yes, said Blurtso, standing in the snow.
Do you think my ears are too big? said Blurtso. Too big for what? said Alex. You know, said Blurtso, too big, too big for the ideal shape of a donkey. I’m not sure, said Alex, what’s the ideal shape of a donkey? You know, said Blurtso, the shape you always see in the magazines, on the billboards, and in the beer commercials. Beer commercials? said Alex. Are those donkeys ideal donkeys? They must be, said Blurtso, or the advertisers wouldn’t use them. How do you know the advertisers aren’t using grotesque donkeys to get our attention? Grotesque donkeys? said Blurtso. I never thought of that… but if those shapes aren’t ideal, then what is? I don’t know, said Alex, maybe your shape is ideal. My shape? said Blurtso. Sure, said Alex, why not? Well, said Blurtso, it is a fine shape, and it has served me well… I guess it must be very sad… to be a grotesque, small-eared donkey, paraded around so the world can see.
My store is open! said Blurtso.
I don’t know, said Pablo, you may need more flags.
Would you look at that… I’m already on the 18th green.
I heard you went golfing, said Alex. Yes, said Blurtso. What did you shoot? I shot a two. A two? said Alex. Yes, said Blurtso. That’s remarkable, said Alex. Is it? said Blurtso.
What did you think of today’s lecture, said Alex, about the seeds of revolution being inherent in the Capitalistic system? I’m not sure, said Blurtso, I must have missed that part. I was looking at a whippoorwill outside the window.
Heraclitus, said the professor, was a Greek who wrote, “You can’t step into the same river twice…” Why would anyone step into a river? said Blurtso, that’s what bridges are for. You can’t step into the same river, continued the professor, because the river is always changing, and when you step in a second time, it’s a different river, and you are changing too, and are not the same as when you first stepped in. In fact, repetition is a myth, it’s impossible… I’m sorry, said Blurtso, I’m afraid I wasn’t listening, could you repeat that?
“Welcome,” said the professor, “to Music Appreciation.”
Is he serious? said Blurtso.