While learning how to play John Lennon's beautiful Imagine in January, I stumbled on this absolutely riveting version of the song by an Oahu-based ukulele player named Aldrine Guerrero. I had never heard Aldrine play before, but his rendition of Imagine just blew me away. Artists can do that and songs can do that, and when both are fine, it can be a transformative experience like nothing else. Go support Aldrine if you see him coming to your town, or just check out his YouTube page.

In fact, Aldrine's rendition of Imagine inspired this poem that I wrote in five minutes called The Right Song. Since May I have been writing poems, and I often prefer small ones. They are like a noisy fever in the head; when they come the world stops and I have to write. It is something I cannot explain well, but could explain better in rhyme perhaps. Just listen to Bob Dylan if you want to feel that fever. Even math (OK, women and math) can turn into something thoroughly pleasurable in verse.

In June, I also began playing guitar. Both interests have sparked a love of singer-songwriters, particularly those who can rhyme and tell a good story in verse. This is not easy, particularly rhyming consistently song after song. Hardly by accident I have listened to nearly the entire catalogue of Bob Dylan. I respect him as a writer, singer, and musician. The man understood himself, his heart, his world, and women. My favorite songs by Bob, at least now, are the perfectly crafted Simple Twist of Fate (cover version by KT Tunstall, nicely done, as Youtube has taken down illegal versions on its site) and Don't Think Twice, It's Alright. But there are so many others I am trying to learn, whose lyrics and melodies are just so right: Girl from the North Country, Temporary Like Achilles; It's All Over Now, Baby Blue; and especially I Don't Believe You (She Acts Like We Never Have Met). Thanks for the beautiful, honest, exquisite songs, Bob. Wish I had stumbled on your tunes and guitar playing earlier in life.