dorothy parker
the first book of jazz
written by langston hughes
illustrated by cliff roberts
music by david martin
published in 1954, it was the first children’s book to review american music.
but I say whatever
one loves, is
one loves, is
“
| — | Sappho, Poems and Fragments, trans. Stanley Lombardo (via proustitute) |
For Valerie
All girls should have a poem
written for them even if
we have to turn this God-damn world
upside down to do it.
New Mexico
March 16, 1969
“
| — | Richard Brautigan (via shinjimeown) |
I will be the gladdest thing
Under the sun!
I will touch a hundred flowers
And not pick one.
I will look at cliffs and clouds
With quiet eyes,
Watch the wind bow down the grass,
And the grass rise.
And when lights begin to show
Up from the town,
I will mark which must be mine,
And then start down!
“
| — | “Afternoon on a Hill,” Edna St. Vincent Millay |
Let me recite what history teaches. History teaches.
“
| — | Gertrude Stein, from “If I Told Him, A Complete Portrait of Picasso” (via proustitute) |
may my heart always be open to little
birds who are the secrets of living
whatever they sing is better than to know
and if men should not hear them men are old
may my mind stroll about hungry
and fearless and thirsty and supple
and even if it’s sunday may i be wrong
for whenever men are right they are not young
and may myself do nothing usefully
and love yourself so more than truly
there’s never been quite such a fool who could fail
pulling all the sky over him with one smile
“
| — | e.e. cummings |
