From: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org (onlyJMDL Digest) To: onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Subject: onlyJMDL Digest V2012 #241 Reply-To: joni@smoe.org Sender: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-onlyjoni-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk Website:http://www.jonimitchell.com Unsubscribe:mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe onlyJMDL Digest Tuesday, August 7 2012 Volume 2012 : Number 241 ========== TOPICS and authors in this Digest: -------- The Tea Leaf Prophecy ["Mark" ] Fw: The Tea Leaf Prophecy ["Mark" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2012 21:10:09 -0700 From: "Mark" Subject: The Tea Leaf Prophecy Like Lieve, I was beginning to wonder if I had anything left to contribute to the JMDL. And every time anybody mentions Facebook here, I feel a slight pang of guilt. Actually I've been in a funk about writing anything for awhile. I'm hoping the fog in my brain is at least thinning enough to let a few things emerge. I don't think I want it to completely burn off. The stark, unclouded vision of what's in there might be too much for me. I sometimes fear that I live too much in my own thoughts and I should come out more often before I forget how. I finished another book on my bus to work this morning and, once again, it triggered a Joni Mitchell ear worm without my even realizing it. The book is 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan. There was a very good movie made out of it a few years ago. Keira Knightly got some positive buzz out of it. Enough time has gone by since I saw the movie to make the story seem fresh and the book is very well written. The novel is set in England and begins just before WWII. Of course, the war, the evacuation from Dunkirk in particular, becomes a large factor in the plot. I had some recollection of the twist that comes at the end of the story but it is revealed in a different manner in the book and I was totally absorbed by it. I re-read the last few pages on the bus home and it started my brain off in all kinds of different directions. But underneath it all was the line, set to Joni's melody, 'study war no more, lay down your arms' and just like in 'The Tea Leaf Prophecy' it repeated itself over and over. This has probably been discussed before and if I've written basically the same thing before, all I can say is if I've written basically the same thing before, all I can say is if I've written basically the same thing before.... The needle gets stuck in a groove sometimes, I guess. The line about Hiroshima in the final verse of the song is a strong statement about the ultimate evil inherent in war. But if you think about it, if it hadn't been for the war, there might not have been a 'young flight sergeant on two weeks leave'. The man in question might not have been in the military at all, let alone on two weeks leave. So Bill and Myrtle might never have met had there not been a WWII. It makes me wonder if 'study war no more' has a wee tinge of irony in it as it repeats itself throughout the song. I am in no way implying that there is a pro-war message there. Joni has made her feelings on that subject clearly known almost from the start of her career. But I think the thought must have crossed her mind at some point that she might not exist if that huge historical event had not sent its waves of circumstance all the way to Regina Saskatchewan back in 1943 and brought a man and a woman together . Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2012 21:43:50 -0700 From: "Mark" Subject: Fw: The Tea Leaf Prophecy I looked at Mr. Anderson's obit again. Just ignore this email. - -----Original Message----- From: Mark Sent: Monday, August 06, 2012 9:10 PM To: joni Subject: The Tea Leaf Prophecy Like Lieve, I was beginning to wonder if I had anything left to contribute to the JMDL. And every time anybody mentions Facebook here, I feel a slight pang of guilt. Actually I've been in a funk about writing anything for awhile. I'm hoping the fog in my brain is at least thinning enough to let a few things emerge. I don't think I want it to completely burn off. The stark, unclouded vision of what's in there might be too much for me. I sometimes fear that I live too much in my own thoughts and I should come out more often before I forget how. I finished another book on my bus to work this morning and, once again, it triggered a Joni Mitchell ear worm without my even realizing it. The book is 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan. There was a very good movie made out of it a few years ago. Keira Knightly got some positive buzz out of it. Enough time has gone by since I saw the movie to make the story seem fresh and the book is very well written. The novel is set in England and begins just before WWII. Of course, the war, the evacuation from Dunkirk in particular, becomes a large factor in the plot. I had some recollection of the twist that comes at the end of the story but it is revealed in a different manner in the book and I was totally absorbed by it. I re-read the last few pages on the bus home and it started my brain off in all kinds of different directions. But underneath it all was the line, set to Joni's melody, 'study war no more, lay down your arms' and just like in 'The Tea Leaf Prophecy' it repeated itself over and over. This has probably been discussed before and if I've written basically the same thing before, all I can say is if I've written basically the same thing before, all I can say is if I've written basically the same thing before.... The needle gets stuck in a groove sometimes, I guess. The line about Hiroshima in the final verse of the song is a strong statement about the ultimate evil inherent in war. But if you think about it, if it hadn't been for the war, there might not have been a 'young flight sergeant on two weeks leave'. The man in question might not have been in the military at all, let alone on two weeks leave. So Bill and Myrtle might never have met had there not been a WWII. It makes me wonder if 'study war no more' has a wee tinge of irony in it as it repeats itself throughout the song. I am in no way implying that there is a pro-war message there. Joni has made her feelings on that subject clearly known almost from the start of her career. But I think the thought must have crossed her mind at some point that she might not exist if that huge historical event had not sent its waves of circumstance all the way to Regina Saskatchewan back in 1943 and brought a man and a woman together . Mark in Seattle ------------------------------ End of onlyJMDL Digest V2012 #241 ********************************* ------- Post messages to the list by clicking here:mailto:joni@smoe.org Unsubscribe by clicking here: mailto:onlyjoni-digest-request@smoe.org?body=unsubscribe