Desiderata ...

Happy New Year for 2013 – may the desired things of life come happily to fruition for you during this coming year.

I’ve been ‘lounging’ in my sick bed feeling sorry for myself as the dreaded bugs decide to take themselves off into never-never land ... to while some of the hours away the radio got switched on (I didn’t want to do anything!).

Johnnie Walker, a knowledgeable DJ guru, of BBC’s Radio Two has some exceedingly interesting radio clips that are highly entertaining ... one was an hour long interview with Art Garfunkel, while a snippet I picked up was on ‘Desiderata’ ... I don’t think my ears would have pricked up but for the name.

Les Crane (1933 – 2008) was a radio and tv talk show host in the 1960s in the San Francisco district of California, a pioneer in interactive broadcasting (talk radio), who also scored a hit with his 1971 recording of this poem: Desiderata.

I found Les Crane’s background interesting ... apart from being a popular and controversial host on the radio powerhouse KGO; he was an advocate for the civil rights movement and was praised by the black press for his empathetic interviewing of black newsmakers, such as Muhammad Ali; and, together with John Barrett, was the first DJ to compile a top 40 list.

He became even more famous in 1971 for recording of Desiderata, for which he received a Grammy award for the best spoken word performance ... some of the phrases ...

·        You are a child of the universe ....

·        The universe is unfolding as it should ...

·        Be careful – strive to be happy ...

The poem is such a great manifest as a start to consider our approach to 2013 – there will be and are many difficulties for numerous peoples ... and we can remember to be there for everyone whose paths our lives cross, while reminding ourselves of populations’ plight beyond our boundaries ...

... while at the same time remembering that we are a microscopic dot in the universe as a whole ... the trees, plants, birds, beasts, creepy crawlies all deserve our care and support too: without them we wouldn’t be here.

Rossacroo-na-loo Wood, near Kilgarven,
Co Kerry, Ireland

The poem was only written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann (1872 – 1945) ... but has been assumed to have been around since 1692, because it had been included in a 1959 compilation of devotional materials by the rector of St Paul’s Church in Baltimore, Maryland, when the church’s foundation date was noted in the text.

When Adlai Stevenson died in 1965 this poem was found near his bedside ... Leonard Nimoy in his 1967 album “Spock Thoughts” recited the poem ...

... and to complete the billboard lists that Les Crane instituted ... the poem has peaked at #8 on the Billboard Chart, #4 on the Canadian RPM magazine chart, and #6 on the UK Melody Maker’s chart.

Desiderata seemed to be a thoughtful poem for the start of 2013 – I hope you enjoy hearing the words and perhaps during the year, we can all return to listen and remind ourselves of the words and meaning of the poem.

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste .... as 2013 charts its course for the year ahead ...

The British Library's poster for The Hobbit at 75 ...
Let your unexpected journey of 2013 begin ...

 A very happy and successful New Year to you all ...

Desiderata by Les Crane via YouTube – 4:19 mins

Hilary Melton-Butcher

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