Words & Music

by Mike Power

latest

  • Brooklyn Sketchbook

    A long time ago, when the earth was green, I lived in Brooklyn, on Fifth Avenue between 13th and 14th Streets. It’s probably a nice place to live now, out of my price range, but it was neither back then. This was the view from my bedroom window. So was this. I’d be very surprised… Read more

  • We’re Not The People

    The year was 1987. Or maybe it was 1989. Something like that. I had an acoustic guitar, a 4-track cassette recorder and, best of all, some astounding companions, compatriots, and co-conspirators. We wrote and recorded this song in the living room of one of these fine people. The ones going:ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah The lovely ladies in the… Read more

  • The Ocean of Time

    No bridge can span the ocean of timeNo numbers can measure such distance I don’t trust memoryAnymore Perception is distorted throughThe prism of experience Through the blood we left behindThrough the sawdust and the seawaterThrough the storms that never endThrough the steady, lonely heartbeat ofThe dog who’s had his day And the cat who’s satisfied… Read more

  • Review: The Phillips Collection

    My latest review, of The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC, was just posted by Arte Fuse Magazine. One of my favorite artists is Edward Hopper and his “Approaching A City” is one of the highlights of the collection. On my Metro-North ride to Grand Central every morning I see this out the window and it… Read more

  • Happy Labor Day

    If you can read this, on a paid day off from work, thank a union, and all the men and women who fought and fight for unions and the rights of working people in this country.  Here’s Pete Seeger singing Woody Guthrie’s “Union Maid.” There once was a union maid, she never was afraid Of… Read more

  • Fictional Humans of New York – Frank

    I want to kiss the back of your leg. Just that. Just there. Soon enough the cooler weather’s going to come – you can see the sun is setting earlier now – and your legs will be covered up again until the warm days come back in the Spring. Who knows if I’ll still be… Read more