Happy 80th birthday to my brilliant and frequently hilarious uncle, David Daniel!
I still have my uncle's birthday card to my mom, in which he writes so affectionately:
How could I have a sister who is so OLD? How could you DO this to me?
Cracks me up every time.
To honor my uncle, and whether he likes it or not, I am going to create some music using a poem my mom wrote for her little brother. I adore this poem. It has so much of my mom in it. Some background on the poem:
Ulysses is a family name, the middle name of my great grandfather (David Ulysses Monroe) and my mom loved that myth of Ulysses/Odysseus. So I am not surprised that she used this theme in her poem. I especially love the last line.
I want this poem to live on, so I am going to put it to music. Stay tuned.
Update: Here's a first attempt. I want to add harp glisses. Also, my music teacher pointed out to me that it doesn't have standard songwriting structure (I start with the chorus, not once but twice) and he's got a good point. I'm only halfway through adding in the verses:
"Blond headed traveler, whither do you wander,
Upwards and downwards and in a horror chamber.
David—Ulysses, you might set sail
On a roller coaster rail.
You may see Cyclops and Circe, and hear Sirens call
But there may be a Penelope
Waiting in your Hall.
I thought I would show you my picture books,
Of how the world really looks:
But are there any guide maps for
Both deepest seas and eagle’s soar?
You’ll find your course when you find your star,
And in loving another you’ll know who you are."
Judy (Daniel) Wadyko, my mom
(Aren't the last two lines wonderful and deep?)
Aunt Audrey and Uncle David Daniel at their apple orchard home in Penrose, Colorado
Sorry for the crinkled photo but could not resist. David at the Orme Ranch school in Arizona where my grandparents Neva and Norvel Daniel taught.
David Daniel, Sept 2024
A portrait of my uncle by a very interesting artist, Dottie Swain Lewis, who taught at the Orme Ranch school and who was also a pilot.
Comments