43 March 11 - 24, 2022
FUN
Explore Big Sky
American Life in Poetry BY KWAME DAWES It is not entirely clear what has arrived, here in this poem “PSALM FOR ARRIVAL.” What is clear, is the familiar sense that sometimes, after a long effort, we are able to “find sounds/ for words”—to articulate, the difficult stuff of memory. And perhaps this is what has arrived, the voicing of the difficult things. In the end, however, Khaled Mattawa finds no great relief in speaking these words. Somehow the deadening effects of memory can be persistent, despite our necessary efforts to disavow “old sentiments.”
PSALM FOR ARRIVAL BY KHALED MATTAWA When we find the sounds for words we need, their death rattle begins to echo in our throats. Memory creeps up on old sentiments, finds them lurking like blind fish in the twilight of our blood. Dead and living on—ancient prophecies or frozen microbes—something we disavow continues to feed on us.
BIG SKY
Corner Quote
BEATS Luck of the Irish BY TUCKER HARRIS
“You go out for wood and find yourself staring at the stars, the sky so cold it feels like it could crack, and you remember what time of year it is. A far arm of the galaxy is laced from horizon to horizon. Orion chases the beautiful Pleiades nonstop. You are in winter’s cave. This is where you paint the walls with your dreams, counting airplanes as they pass.” – Craig Childs
March 17 marks the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death in the fifth century, observed as a religious holiday for over 1,000 years. Falling over the Christian season of Lent, Irish families would traditionally attend church in the morning and then celebrate in the afternoon with Lent prohibitions waived, resulting in festive dance, drink and feasting on Irish bacon. Today, St. Patrick’s Day celebrates Irish culture, food, the color green and Irish beer. Americans today dress up in vibrant green clothing, find their favorite Irish pub to throw back pints of Guinness and participate in festive parades. Explore Big Sky has put together a playlist for all your St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
“Arrive on St. Patrick’s Day” by Sir Reg “Drink Up Ya Sinners” by Sir Reg “Galway Girl” by Mundy “Drunken Lullabies” by Flogging Molly “The Night Pat Murphy Died” by Great Big Sea “Scalliwag” by Gaelic Storm “Capt’n’s Jig” by Sir Reg “The Rocky Road to Dublin” by Dropkick Murphys “Barrels of Whiskey” by The O’Reillys and the Paddyhats “Irish Pub Song” by the High Kings
