I’m a horrible Christmas gift giver.  I shop all year round and then spend the weeks leading up to Christmas forcing myself to NOT give everyone’s gifts to them early.  This year is no different except my biggest struggle is giving one of the gifts away.  A few days ago “Infinity Blues” Ryan Adams’ first book arrived in my mailbox four months before you can buy it at your local bookstore (thank you internet pre-ordering), and I made the mistake of opening it and starting to read some of his writings.  Now I can’t seem to put it down.  The only way I’m actually going to be able to give it away is if I wrap it up tonight and deliver it early.  Before I do I thought I’d share one of my favorite excerpts from IB.

Aplomb

since nobody is listening
I will sing this
aplomb
aplomb
I’m singing that song
but I am not dignified
without dignity
I am alone
and no one is listening

this is MY hillside,
my right and left
sky and tree line barren
white canvas
north and south
devoid of color
listless
totally shut-mouth

since nobody is listening
I will sing this
over myself
over myself
and the thump of my own heart
kicking my chest
beating it
with its blood-fist
aplomb
aplomb
aplomb
aplomb
aplomb
I am alone
I am alone
and
no one is listening

-Ryan Adams