Lonnie Glinski as Ophelia and Timothy Hinkhouse as Laertes in the 2015 production of Hamlet at Two Rivers prison

 

THE OPEN ROAD

peace, love, happiness & understanding

 

November 12, 2020

 

I got a letter from Lonnie Glinski this week. He wrote this:

 

The current times are somewhat frightening for society. I know this is antithetical to my recently written statement about only observing, but I cannot help but ache for some peace and compassion when so much of society is embracing dishonesty, hatred and prideful ambitions. Has it always been this way? Have only the justifications for such ambitions shifted from time to time?

 

Even some demonstrations are teaching hate in the name of love. Some time ago I attended a music concert by an outside religious group. Shocking was the observation that every spoken sentence had to invoke the name of Jesus once, even twice–three times or more were extra credit. Feeling assaulted, like the name of Jesus was a club, I was inspired to write the song I now include. The meaning of which was that the teachings and message of Jesus  was left unspoken, unaddressed, as long as the name was invoked again and again.

 

Somebody Famous

 

vs 1  

Wand’ring through the years

Looking far and looking near

Seeking clues in many ways,

Solutions to the fears

Accidentally finding answers

Empowering one to tears

Heaven inside realized

In the things somebody famous once said

In the things somebody famous once said.

 

Chorus

Somebody, somebody, somebody famous

Somebody, somebody, you know what the name is

Famous, famous, somebody famous

Famous, famous, somebody famous once said.

 

vs 2

Somebody famous once said

Love your neighbor as yourself

Let your light shine, keep it high on the shelf

Treat ev’ryone as you want to be

We are all one big family

In the things somebody famous once said

In the things somebody famous once said.

 

Bridge

For the poor in spirit, heaven realized

The meek shall inherit, merciful in kind

The pure in heart, see God shall he

Those who mourn, comforted and freed

In the things somebody famous once said

In the things somebody famous once said.

 

vs 3

Somebody famous once said, find your pearl of great price

My burden is light, come to me as a child

Don’t be a camel stuck in the needle’s eye

Follow me and never die,

In the things somebody famous once said

In the things somebody famous once said.

*

 

Here’s from a letter Lonnie wrote me on October 13th:

 

Dear Johnny,

 

Several things you have written and sent to me lately have spoken to me quite close to my recent thought.

 

One is your being called a hippie. That title has been directed at me lately, since I have let my hair grow out. Dozens have told me, and people currently still tell me, to get my hair cut.

 

On the one hand, I am shocked by the number of people who seem to care that “I” am growing out “my” hair. Yet, at the same time, I’m entertained by the vehemence and anger toward my hair being long. I find my quick head twirls, so the hair swirls from side to side, does little to assuage their frustration….

 

And of course your writing about a golden world is related to my recent song topic of “Bloom where you landed.” It’s the bluesy, striking music I put to it that brings it alive for me. But, here it is:

 

Imagi-

nation never imagined I’d be here today

Lessons learned, tables turned, mistakes along the way

Though I cannot go where my heart longs to go

I gotta bloom where I am, bloom where I’ve landed

 

The roads I drove, the choices I chose,

the words I spoke and the feelings that grow

Now I cannot go where my heart longs to go

I gotta bloom where I am, bloom where I’ve landed

 

I’ve travelled through the air to who knows where

I’ve journeyed by water, sometimes wet for hours

I’ve fallen from trees, landing like a nut

Still gotta bloom where I am, bloom where I’ve landed

 

Standing, crawling, climbing, falling, the winds blew you

Rough or smooth future calling, destination news to you

Help someone like someone helped you

You gotta bloom where you are, bloom where you’ve landed

 

Bloom like you did in the day when someone cared

Bloom like you did when the way someone clears

Bloom like you’ve done when you felt at home

Bloom where you’re at, bloom where you’ve landed

*

 

So, that’s what I’m doing, trying to bloom where I’ve landed.

 

Lonnie

*

 

On August 20th, Lonnie sent this song:

 

And They Just Smile

 

Mentions I hear, someone named Trouble

I try to name the face, but I’m unable

Walk, often-times I hear: here comes Trouble

Taking my chance, turn round really fast…and they just smile

 

Walk past, sometimes I hear: there goes Trouble

Turning, no one’s there, only empty air

Should I fear that Trouble may be near?

Ask where Trouble went…and they just smile

 

Chorus

Closed-door community, same faces to see

Seeking notorious version, of this Trouble person

Where can he be found?, not there when I turn around

Please point Trouble out…and they just smile

 

Chorus repeat

 

Intense mystery, Trouble passes so nearly

Around and around I go, really do I want to know

Where can he be found?, not there when I turn around

And why, oh why, do they just smile?

 

Should I be a’worrying, Trouble near concerning?

Where can I go that Trouble cannot follow?

Where can he be found?, not there when I turn around

Really, do I want to know?…and they just smile

 

Outro (loosely)

And why, oh why, won’t you point him out?

And why, oh why?—come on, help me out

And tell me why, oh why, do they just smile?

And why, oh why, oh why, do you just smile?

*

 

I began sending “peace, love, happiness & understanding” to friends inside and outside of prison, last Spring Equinox, after COVID arrived. This is from a letter Lonnie wrote last April 22nd that includes another song:

 

Thanks for including me on your mailing list. The issue I have enjoyed the most so far was the one on humor. Which fits in well with a song that came to me as I lay there between the states of sleep and wakefulness. While I usually have a message or a theme to construct a song, this one came all out of the blue with no premeditation. I had to get up and write it down immediately, or else, like so many others, it fades away like a fog fades to the rising sunshine.

 

It ain’t me

 

vs 1

Someone squeezed the last toothpaste, left me an empty tube

Someone used the last shampoo…now what am I to do?

I know it was my cellie, I’m gonna give ‘im hell

But…I live in a single cell

 

Chorus 1

It wasn’t me, it ain’t me—doing things irresponsibly

It ain’t me, it couldn’t be, always leaving me in some fix

My cellie’s gonna catch hell, don’t care I’m in a single cell

‘Cause it wasn’t me

 

Bridge 1

I know it was him who ate that last cracker

I know it was him who ate that last chip

I know it was him who used that ticket I know I had

I know it was my cellie, gonna give ‘im hell

Regardless, I’m in a single cell

 

Chorus 2

It wasn’t me; it ain’t me

Like the Family Circus comic strip, it wasn’t me

Don’t watch same TV shows, nor songs on the radio

I’m gonna give ‘im hell for changing that dial

‘Cause I know it wasn’t me

 

Bridge 2

He hides things so I can’t find ‘em

Knocks over things I’ve been organizin’

Empties things I know without a doubt were full

I know it was my cellie, gonna give ‘im hell

Regardless, I’m in a single cell

 

 

With spending so much time in our cells, others can probably relate.

 

—Lonnie Glinski

*

 

Well, that’s about it for the Lonnie Glinski Issue. Thanks Lonnie, for bringing smiles to a lot of faces.

 

May all people be happy.

 

—Johnny