Patti Smith

I forgot to mention my visit at the Pantheon.  Goodnight…..

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Hello. A little message en route to London. Next stop below. Sending more messages soon. Good health and good wishes to all….

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Today is Sunday and I am packing for a small tour. A night in Bath, two nights at the Royal Albert Hall, two nights at the Grand Rex in Paris, the Cloud in Rome and the Budapest Opera House. As I was choosing what coat to take I thought of my lost black coat that I had written about in my book M Train. It was given to me by the poet Oliver Ray who took the photograph below in San Remo. I halted my packing and found the passage I had written. I still miss my coat but have chosen one for the road- a brown checked raincoat, as it is going to be raining quite a bit in London. I will send missives to all during my travels and will certainly keep up with my continuing The Melting adventures and songs for my subscribers.

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Hello everyone! I am sitting with my bass player Tony Shanahan at the Chicago O’hare Airport. We’re about to play the Riot Fest with the rest of the band in a couple hours

September 14th was the birthday of Amy Winehouse. The day she died Tony and I were at the Madrid Airport waiting for our flight home. Much saddened, I wrote Amy a little poem called This is the girl. Some days later we were recording the album Banga in Electric Lady Studios. Tony sat at the piano to play me a piece of music he had just written. I sensed immediately the poem to Amy would be perfect for his piece of music.

So we are offering it here, a bit ragtag, from a quiet space at the airport. Thinking of Amy, the girl who moved us all to tears.

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These are my journal entries from September 11-17. Below are works I did of the remains of the South Tower. Blessings upon all who were lost and all who remember.

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit pattismith.substack.com/subscribe

Though writing is part of my daily practice I sometimes wish to be vagabond free. But I will never stop writing, nor will I stop dreaming….

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This is a little song for everyone. I am sorry I have missed a few posts. I will be back on track soon. Lenny Kaye and I recorded this today for you all. Happy Full Moon…….

Grateful

Ours is just another skin That simply slips away You can rise above it It will shed easily 

It all will come out fine I've learned it line by line One common wire One silver thread All that you desire Rolls on ahead 

Like a ship in a bottle Held up to the sun Sails ain't going nowhere You can count every one Until it crashes unto the earth And simply slips away You can hide in the open Or just disappear 

Ours is just a craving And a twist of the wrist Will undo the stopper With abrupt tenderness Die little sparrow And awake Singing 

It all will come out fine I've learned it line by line One common wire One silver thread All that you desire Rolls on ahead

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Greetings from Paris,

It’s been a long time since I have traveled abroad and it has been wonderful, and yet a bit daunting. I find myself just slightly overwhelmed and it’s very hard to sit and write. But I have not forgotten my responsibilities and will be as diligent as I am able. I thought to send you all a message from Paris and a photograph of one of my favorite spots. I love the Saint Germain church, which I first visited with my sister Linda in 1969. Adjacent to it is a little park inhabited by scores of pigeons. Grey and black, along with a few pure white doves. The doves always make me think of Picasso; the dove was the first image he painted as a child.

In the park is a wonderful monument by Picasso that he created in the memory of his dear friend, the poet Apollinaire. I have visited this park scores of times and am always humbled by this work. It is actually a rendering of the artist Dora Marr, but somehow I always see Apollinaire in the face of the sculpture.

I am recording poetry in Paris with my friend Stefan, from Soundwalk Collective. For those reading The Melting, he is the enigmatic S., who sent me the mystical frequency equipment, including a fine Neumann. Now I am going to record a little poem for you. It is Le Pont Mirabeau, by Guillaume Apollinaire, a lyric piece I have always loved. I am also including a rare recording of Apollinaire reading his poem.

Hoping you have a nice Sunday. Sorry I was errant. I will make it up to you….

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Thank you everyone for your patience. The technical issue has not been solved. So I am sending you my meager English interpretation of the poor philosopher Colline’s song to his beloved old coat, a humble though beautiful aria from Puccini’s La Boheme. Colline must sell it to buy medicine for a dear friend who is dying. As I have a sentimental weakness for my favorite coat, I understand his sorrow for parting with it. When I am able to send my posts, I promise to send the most touching and masterful version of the song. Until then…

Keep an eye out, hopefully I can post tomorrow. Thank you

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