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CLARK STREET BRIDGE IV (copyright FCB, 2013) PERFORMED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO JARED: CUE WALK-IN MUSIC JARED: CUE CLARK STREET BRIDGE LOGO JEFF: CUE THE BAND FOR THE WHALE SONG, AKA; SPIEGEL IM SPIEGEL JARED: CUE THE WHALE FILM JARED: CUE BLACK SLIDE AND THEN DISSOLVE TO SLIDE OF LUNAR ECLIPSE JOHN: IN THE TIME WHEN WE WERE ALL CHILDREN AND THE PLANETS HAD FOUND THEIR WAY WHEN LIVING CREATURES --NOT ALL THAT DIFFERENT FROM YOU AND ME-- STOOD UPRIGHT TO SEE THE WONDER OF IT ALL IF YOU WERE TO WALK AMONG OUR ANCESTORS AT THAT TIME NEAR THE BEGINNING OF TIME

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YOU WOULD BE THERE WHEN WE DISCOVERED FIRE THERE WERE NO WORDS YET SO TO UNDERSTAND WHAT FIRE MEANT WHAT THIS DISCOVERY MEANT TO THE STORY OF OUR PLANET YOU LOOKED INTO EACH OTHER’S EYES AND THERE YOU COULD FIND THE MEANING OF SOMETHING YOU COULD SEE TURNING INTO SOMETHING YOU COULD FEEL AND MAYBE THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF SCIENCE (PAUSE) AND IN THE TIME WHEN WE WERE ALL CHILDREN YOU ARE STANDING WAIST DEEP IN A FAST MOVING RIVER YOUR BODY TURNED INTO THE CURRENT AND YOU SEE

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THE SUN SHIMMERING ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER AND YOU HEAR THE SOUND OF THE RIVER MOVING WITH THE CURRENT AND YOU HAVE A FEELING THERE IS NO WORD FOR YET A FEELING THAT IF YOU PUSH THE AIR THROUGH YOUR MOUTH THE SOUND WILL BE LIKE THE SOUND OF THE RIVER AND THE SOUND OF ONE WILL COME TO MEAN THE SOUND OF THE OTHER AND THIS FEELING WHICH—LATER, WILL HAVE A NAME WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF LANGUAGE AND CARRYING THE FIRE AND SPREADING THE LANGUAGE WILL BECOME THE WORK OF HUMANKIND AND THE DIFFERENCE THAT MAKES US HUMAN IT WAS DARWIN WHO BELIEVED

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FIRE AND LANGUAGE WERE THE TWO MOST SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS OF OUR SPECIES DISCOVERING THE POETRY OF THINGS AND UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY WORKED (PAUSE) IN THE BEGINNING-- NEAR THE BEGINNING OF TIME-- THIS WAS EVERYTHING WE KNEW ABOUT ART AND SCIENCE JEFF: CUE JEREMY AND THE BAND FOR IT’S A MAD WORLD JARED: CUE SLIDE OF THE EARTH AT THE END OF JEREMY’S SONG JOHN: ON A SPRING MORNING A HUNDRED THOUSAND YEARS OR SO AFTER THE DISCOVERY OF LANGUAGE A YOUNG MAN-- CALL HIM MATTHEW-- IS WALKING DOWN A STREET IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA HIDDEN IN HIS JACKET POCKET IS A BADLY FRAYED COPY

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OF THE BIRMINGHAM DAILY NEWS HE WALKS WITH PURPOSE BUT TRIES TO APPEAR NONCHALANT AS NONCHALANT AS A YOUNG BLACK MAN IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA IN THE SPRING OF 1963 CAN APPEAR HIS PURPOSE TODAY IS LINKED YOU MIGHT SAY BY A CHAIN OF EVENTS OR METAPHORICALLY LINKED BY CHAINS TO A SINGULAR EVENT A CENTURY EARLIER APRIL 14, 1865 AT 7:21 IN THE MORNING ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE 16TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES LAY IN A BED THAT WAS A GOOD FOOT TOO SHORT FOR HIM IN THE DIMLY LIT BACK ROOM

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OF A BOARDING HOUSE ACROSS THE STREET FROM FORD’S THEATRE (PAUSE) AT 7:22 AM HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AND EDWIN STANTON THE CONTROVERSIAL, FORMIDABLE SECRETARY OF WAR ADDRESSED THOSE ASSEMBLED MOST OF WHOM WERE SOBBING STANTON, THE IRON MAN HIMSELF, HAD TROUBLE SPEAKING BUT MANAGED TO SAY NOW, HE BELONGS TO THE AGES HISTORY REMEMBERS THAT DAY BUT NOT WITHOUT DEBATE SOME, IN THE ROOM REMEMBER STANTON’S REMARKS AS NOW, HE BELONGS TO THE ANGELS AN EQUALLY WORTHY SENTIMENT BUT DIFFERENT AND MAYBE THAT THOUGHT

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WAS GOING THROUGH THE MIND OF MATTHEW IN BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA ON THIS PARTICULAR SPRING MORNING MAYBE NOT MATTHEW A MEMBER OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE WAS CARRYING, (BREATHE) YOU REMEMBER HIDDEN IN HIS JACKET POCKET ? A COPY OF THE BIRMINGHAM DAILY NEWS AND IN THE MARGINS OF THE PAPER-- THE BLANK SPACES--BETWEEN NEWS OF THE LIQUOR STORE ROBBERY AT THE CORNER OF 6TH AND LIBERTY AND AN ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE PIGGLY WIGGLY WERE WRITTEN THE WORDS HISTORY WOULD REMEMBER WITH GREAT CLARITY AND FEEL WITH UNFLINCHING RESOLVE

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AND RECORD IN THE DOCUMENTS THAT OUR CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN WOULD STUDY TO UNDERSTAND THE PLACE OF AN IDEA AMONG THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS OF HUMANKIND RIGHT NEXT TO FIRE AND LANGUAGE THE IDEA THAT WE ARE ALL ONE SPECIES ONE THREAD WOVEN INTO THE SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY IT WAS THERE (GESTURE) WRITTEN IN A STEADY HAND IN THE MARGINS ON THE PAGES OF THE BIRMINGHAM DAILY NEWS THERE WOULD BE NO QUESTION ABOUT HOW THESE WORDS WERE REMEMBERED ABOUT WHAT THESE WORDS SAID ABOUT WHAT THESE WORDS MEANT JARED: CUE THE FIRST MLK AUDIO PIECE

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“I AM COGNIZANT OF THE INTERRELATEDNESS OF ALL COMMUNITIES AND STATES.” JOHN: NOT FAR FROM BIRMINGHAM IN ATLANTA CORETTA SCOTT KING SITS NEXT TO HER TELEPHONE AND CONTEMPLATES MAKING A CALL SHE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO REACH HER HUSBAND HAVING BEEN DENIED CONTACT BY THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES JARED: CUE THE SECOND MLK PIECE “I CANNOT SIT IDLY BY IN ATLANTA AND NOT BE CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS IN BIRMINGHAM.” JOHN: CORETTA PICKS UP THE PHONE AND DIALS A NUMBER IN WASHINGTON D.C. JARED: CUE THE NEXT MLK PIECE “INJUSTICE ANYWHERE IS A THREAT TO JUSTICE EVERYWHERE. WE ARE CAUGHT IN AN INESCAPABLE NETWORK OF MUTUALITY, TIED IN A SINGLE GARMENT OF DESTINY.” JOHN:

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CORETTA’S PHONE CALL IS TRANSFERRED THROUGH TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO LISTENS TO CORETTA’S FEARS OF NOT BEING ABLE TO REACH HER HUSBAND AND WHAT THAT MIGHT MEAN GIVEN THE UNPREDICTABLE AND SOMETIMES VIOLENT ATMOSPHERE IN THE SOUTH AT THE TIME JARED: CUE THE NEXT MLK PIECE “WHATEVER AFFECTS ONE DIRECTLY, AFFECTS ALL INDIRECTLY. NEVER AGAIN CAN WE AFFORD TO LIVE WITH THE NARROW, PROVINCIAL ‘OUTSIDER AGITATOR’ IDEA.” JOHN: THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THEN CALLS HIS BROTHER THE PRESIDENT TOGETHER, THEY COME UP WITH A PLAN TO PUT CORETTA IN CONTACT WITH HER HUSBAND AGAIN JARED: CUE THE NEXT MLK PIECE “ANYONE WHO LIVES INSIDE THE UNITED STATES CAN NEVER BE CONSIDERED AN OUTSIDER ANYWHERE WITHIN ITS BOUNDS.” JOHN:

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LATER THAT SAME DAY ATTORNEY GENERAL ROBERT F. KENNEDY CALLS THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN BIRMINGHAM AND THAT EVENING CORETTA PLACES A CALL TO HER HUSBAND HE PUTS DOWN HIS PEN THE MARGINS NOW FULL AND CONSIDERS WHAT HE HAS WRITTEN JARED: CUE THE FINAL MLK PIECE “OPPRESSED PEOPLE CANNOT REMAIN OPPRESSED FOREVER. THE YEARNING FOR FREEDOM EVENTUALLY MANIFESTS ITSELF. AND THAT IS WHAT HAS HAPPENED IN AMERICA.” LANGUAGE TRAVELED A VERY LONG WAY TO GET TO THIS MOMENT IN TIME WHERE IT STILL HAS MEANING WORDS—CHOSEN WELL CHANGE THE COURSE OF HISTORY CHART THE COURSE OF NATIONS

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A TRUTH WE HOLD TO BE SELF-EVIDENT JEFF: CUE THE BAND FOR WET, AKA THE CLARK STREET BRIDGE SONG JARED: CUE THE GHENT FILM TO SYNCH WITH THE BAND JARED: CUE THE BOOK ASSEMBLY SLIDE WITH THE CHINESE ICON FOR POETRY FOR: ENHEDUANNA I NO LONGER DWELL IN THE GOODLY PLACE !YOU ESTABLISHED !CAME THE DAY THE SUN SCORCHED ME ! CAME THE SHADE OF NIGHT THE SOUTH WIND !OVERWHELMED ME ! MY HONEY-SWEET VOICE HAS BECOME STRIDENT ! WHATEVER GAVE ME PLEASURE HAS TURNED INTO DUST JARED: CUE SLIDE OFAKKADIAN COIN IN THE TIME WHEN WE WERE ALL CHILDREN THERE WAS A FARMER CALL HIM AHMET (BREATHE)

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AND HE FARMED THE HILLS AND PLAINS OF THE LAND HE CALLED HIS OWN IN THE PLACE CALLED AKKADIA AND HIS LIFE WAS TOUCHED BY SCIENCE BECAUSE HE HAD DISCOVERED THE MIRACLE OF IRRIGATION AND HIS LIFE WAS TOUCHED BY ART BECAUSE HE HAD HEARD THE WORDS OF ENHEDUANNA THE DAUGHTER OF SARGON WHO RULED THE LAND HE FARMED AND HER WORDS (THIS IS WHERE YOU PAUSE) THE WORDS OF THE WORLD’S FIRST POET MOVED HIM DEEPLY HE WOULD PLANT HIS SEEDS AND THINK OF HER WORDS THE SEED AND THE WORD EACH, A THING HE UNDERSTOOD AND AT THE SAME TIME A MYSTERY TO HIM

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5,000 YEARS LATER ON AUGUST 20, 1977 THE WORDS IN THE LANGUAGE CALLED AKKADIAN THE LANGUAGE OF THE SUMERIAN FARMER, AHMET AND THE LANGUAGE OF THE POET ENHEDUANNA WOULD BE LAUNCHED INTO SPACE ABOARD VOYAGER 2 JARED: CUE THE SLIDE OF THE GOLD-ALUMINUM PROTECTIVE COVER OF THE RECORDS IMPRINTED ON A RECORD MADE OF GOLD EVIDENCE OF THE ART AND SCIENCE OF HUMANKIND AN OFFERING--TO ANOTHER FORM OF LIFE OF ANOTHER TIME AND ANOTHER PLACE NONE OF US WILL EVER SEE (PAUSE) THE IDEA OF SENDING A MESSAGE INTO SPACE IS SO MANY DIFFERENT THINGS ALL AT ONCE

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JUST THE PHRASE SENDING A MESSAGE INTO SPACE IS A LITTLE LIKE DYING IN YOUR SLEEP EVEN IF THERE’S A HAPPY ENDING NO ONE IS AROUND TO ENJOY IT SENDING A MESSAGE INTO SPACE IS LIKE A POET WRITING A POEM KNOWING THAT HIS AUDIENCE WILL BE ONLY A HANDFUL OF PEOPLE MOST OF WHOM HE WILL NEVER SEE SENDING A MESSAGE INTO SPACE IS LIKE TELLING YOUR MOTHER YOU LOVE HER KNOWING FULL WELL SHE CAN’T HEAR A WORD YOU’RE SAYING AND WONDERING IF SHE CAN STILL SEE WELL ENOUGH TO READ YOUR LIPS THE STORY OF THE GOLD RECORD (PAUSE) STILL ONBOARD VOYAGER 2

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STILL ON MISSION 36 YEARS 1 MONTH AND 6 DAYS LATER IS A FASCINATING STORY OF FIVE PEOPLE WHO, LIKE DARWIN, MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE GREATEST ACHIEVEMENTS OF HUMANKIND FIRE AND LANGUAGE AND WHATEVER ELSE COULD FIT ON A TWO-SIDED GOLD RECORD MEANT TO BE PLAYED AT 16 AND TWO THIRDS REVOLUTIONS PER MINUTE IN ADDITION TO AKKADIAN THE LANGUAGE OF ENHEDUANNA AND AHMET THERE WERE GREETINGS IN 54 OTHER EARTH LANGUAGES AKKADIAN WAS THE FIRST REPRESENTED AND THE LAST-- THE ONE THAT ALLOWS THE TRUE CHARACTER OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEE TO COME THROUGH--

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WAS A GREETING IN THE LANGUAGE OF THE HUMPBACK WHALE THERE WAS ROOM ON THE GOLD RECORD FOR ONLY NINETY MINUTES OF MUSIC HOW DO YOU CHOOSE FROM CENTURIES OF CIVILIZATION AND HUNDREDS OF CULTURES HOW DO YOU CHOOSE HOW MUCH BACH HOW MUCH BEETHOVEN DO YOU INCLUDE THE MILES DAVIS VERSION OF SUMMERTIME THE SELECTION COMMITTEE SOMETIMES SOUGHT HELP FROM EXPERTS COINCIDENTALLY, ONE OF THE PEOPLE THEY CONSULTED WAS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO A SPECIALIST IN NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURES NAMED FRED EGGENS WHO STEERED THEM TOWARD A NAVAJO NIGHT CHANT THERE WERE THREE OTHER PIECES

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OF AMERICAN MUSIC INCLUDED JUST THREE LOUIS ARMSTRONG’S MELANCHOLY BLUES CHUCK BERRY’S JOHNNY B. GOODE AND A REMARKABLE PIECE OF MUSIC BY THE STREET CORNER EVANGELIST AND POSSIBLY THE BEST SLIDE GUITAR PLAYER EVER BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON JARED: CUE DARK WAS THE NIGHT BY BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON JARED: CUE BLACK SLIDE AT THE END OF THE BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON PIECE EVERYTHING ABOUT VOYAGER 2 NOT JUST THE GOLD RECORD SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT OUR LIVES HERE ON EARTH THIS SPACECRAFT MADE OF METAL MADE BY MAN IS THE ONE THING

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MADE ON EARTH THAT HAS TRAVELED THE GREATEST DISTANCE FROM EARTH AND IT CARRIES WITH IT THE STORY OF WHO WE ARE OR AT LEAST A VERY NOBLE VERSION OF IT THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE IN CHOOSING THE LANGUAGES AND THE MUSIC AND THE PICTURES OF OUR CULTURES HERE ON EARTH TO TELL THE STORY OF LIFE HERE ON EARTH WERE GOING THROUGH MUCH THE SAME PROCESS ALL OF US GO THROUGH WHEN WE TAKE TIME TO WRITE WHERE DO YOU START

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LOOKING BACK THE TIME AND SPACE OF THE HUMAN EXPERIENCE HERE ON EARTH IS ALMOST INFINITE JARED: CUE THE OPENING BOOK ICON FOR HELENA CRONIN WE ARE WALKING ARCHIVES OF ANCESTRAL WISDOM JARED: CUE BLACK SLIDE WHERE DO YOU START WHEN THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE LET THEIR PENCIL TOUCH THE PAPER THE FIRST SENTENCE CAME OUT SOUNDING LIKE BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON AND DARK WAS THE NIGHT WHERE DO YOU START JARED: CUE THE PENCIL ICON MAYBE THAT’S A GOOD PLACE FOR US TO START TODAY TWO PARAGRAPHS LIKE THE COMMITTEE OF FIVE YOU HAVE TO DECIDE

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WHAT ONE THING WOULD YOU INCLUDE ON THE RECORD THAT TELLS THE STORY OF WHO WE ARE THAT’S THE FIRST PARAGRAPH AND THE SECOND PARAGRAPH TELL US WHY YOU PICKED THAT MUSIC OR PIECE OF WRITING OR PICTURE JEFF: INTRODUCE THE BAND JEFF: CUE THE BAND FOR NEW HARMONY WALTZ JARED: CUE OPENING BOOK ASSEMBLY WITH THE CHINESE ICON FOR POETRY FOR LAURA MADALINSKI TOO MUCH !AND YET NEVER ENOUGH ONE: NUMBER 31, 1950 CONTROLLED CHAOS OBSERVERS OBSERVING WITH CAMERAS, PHONES, TABLETS COLLECTING EVIDENCE I HAVE BEEN HERE

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I HAVE SEEN THIS POSING CHEEKILY WITH GENIUS IN THEIR SHADOW AND I STAND A FINGER’S WIDTH FROM THE CANVAS MY EYES STRUGGLING TO HOLD EVERY DROP DRIZZLE STROKE SLASH THERE ARE MOMENTS THAT HAVE SUNK INTO THE CANVAS ABSORBED BY ALL THE YEARS THEN THERE ARE MOMENTS THAT ARE SHINY AND WET STILL NEW AFTER ALL OF THESE YEARS CALM AND PRECISE FRENZIED AND VICIOUS LAYER AFTER LAYER A CACOPHONY OF SIGHT

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A HAND ON MY SHOULDER TELLS ME THAT I AM TOO CLOSE I MUST STAND AT ARM’S LENGTH ALWAYS AT ARM’S LENGTH BLASPHEMY TO BE SO CLOSE AND NOT TOUCH MY FINGERS WANT TO FOLLOW THE LINES AND FEEL SUCH MOMENTS UNDER MY SKIN HOW WILL I EVER GET USED TO YOUR HAND NOT IN MINE AS WE SIT IN THE BACK OF A TAXICAB WATCHING THE CITY PASS US BY ALL OF THIS TOO MUCH AND YET NEVER ENOUGH (PAUSE) JARED: CUE BLACK SLIDE THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WRITE (PAUSE)

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THERE IS THE SCIENCE PART OF IT THE PART THAT’S LIKE DISCOVERING FIRE WE KNOW THAT THE ACT OF WRITING WORKS LIKE A HIGHLY ENERGIZED FORM OF THINKING OR PROBLEM SOLVING THERE IS A LINK BETWEEN OUR ABILITY TO WRITE AND OUR CAPACITY TO UNDERSTAND WRITING IS THE DEFINITION OF THE PRESENT TENSE THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMMEDIATE NOTHING MORE ‘OF THE MOMENT’ JARED: CUE THE OPENING BOOK ICON WITH THE CHINESE SYMBOL FOR POETRY FOR SEAMUS HEANEY JOHN: BETWEEN MY FINGER AND MY THUMB THE SQUAT PEN RESTS; SNUG AS A GUN.

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JARED: CUE BLACK SLIDE THERE ARE 7 BILLION PEOPLE IN THE WORLD ONLY ONE OF THEM ONLY ONE IS GOING TO MAKE THE DECISION THAT TAKES YOUR PEN DOWN THE PATH LESS TRAVELED COLLABORATION IS INSPIRING BUT THAT HAPPENS BEFORE OR AFTER WHEN YOUR PEN TOUCHES THE PAPER IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU THERE IS NO OTHER FEELING QUITE SO LONELY THERE IS NO OTHER MOMENT QUITE AS EXHILARATING (PAUSE) THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WRITE

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THE SCIENCE OF IT HAPPENS AT THE SYNAPSE LEVEL BUT THE POETRY OF IT IS LIKE CONNECTING THE DOTS WITH THE MILKY WAY AS YOUR PLAYBOARD YOU REACH THE END OF ONE SENTENCE (LET’S SAY) BASED ON YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS AND HOW YOU BEGIN THE NEXT IS COLORED BY A MEMORY OF YOUR GRANDMOTHER SINGING TO YOU IN GERMAN OR AN ALBERT BROOKS PUNCHLINE FROM ‘LOST IN AMERICA’ THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS (PAUSE HERE, NOT EARLIER) WHEN YOU WRITE

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TIME STOPS AND YOU BEGIN TO TELL A STORY IT BEGINS WITH THE FIRST WORD OF THE FIRST SENTENCE OF THE FIRST PAGE ACCORDING TO THE SECOND EDITION OF THE OXFORD ENGLISH DICTIONARY YOU HAVE 171, 476 WORDS TO CHOOSE FROM THE AVERAGE WRITTEN SENTENCE IS 17 WORDS THAT MEANS THERE ARE MORE THAN A TRIGINTILLION JARED: CUE THE SLIDE REPRESENTING A TRIGINTILLION --THAT’S A ONE WITH 93 ZEROES AFTER IT-- POSSIBLE SENTENCES EVEN IF YOU TRIED (THIS IS WHERE YOU PAUSE) IT’S MATHEMATICALLY NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE NOT TO BE UNIQUE AND AS YOU BEGIN TO WRITE YOUR NEXT SENTENCE

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AND THE ONE AFTER THAT YOU COULD WRITE 1 SEPTILLION SENTENCES JARED: CUE THE SLIDE REPRESENTING A SEPTILLION THAT’S ONE WITH 24 ZEROES AFTER IT WITHOUT EVER WRITING THE SAME SENTENCE AS ANY OTHER PERSON ON THE PLANET THERE IS SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU WRITE SOME FIND IT THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING A HUMAN BEING CAN DO AN ELEGANT BALLET OF ONE IN HARMONY WITH MANY BUT IT DEPENDS ON WHO YOU ASK IF THE QUESTION IS IF I BECOME A BETTER WRITER WILL I BECOME RICH BEYOND MY WILDEST DREAMS PROBABLY NOT ASK HERMAN MELVILLE

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HE MADE A LITTLE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS ON MOBY DICK IF I BECOME A BETTER WRITER WILL MY CAREER SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS PROBABLY NOT EMILY DICKINSON WASN’T PUBLISHED UNTIL AFTER HER DEATH THE REWARDS OF BECOMING A BETTER WRITER ARE FAR MORE HUMBLE I’M AFRAID AND—FOR THE MOST PART— OF LITTLE VALUE TO ANYONE ELSE YOU CAN MAKE IT THROUGH SCHOOL GOOD SCHOOLS MAYBE NOT AS GOOD AS THIS ONE BUT YOU CAN GET THE DEGREE OF YOUR CHOICE AT A GOOD SCHOOL GO ON TO GET A GOOD JOB AND BE CONSIDERED A SUCCESS

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ALL WITHOUT KNOWING HOW TO WRITE SO THEN HOW CAN IT MATTER IT MATTERS IN THE WAY THAT THE CAVE PAINTINGS IN LASCAUX, FRANCE MATTER IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT’S VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF HOW YOU THINK IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT’S VISIBLE EVIDENCE THAT YOU ARE HUMAN AND IT MATTERS BECAUSE IT’S VISIBLE EVIDENCE THAT YOU WERE HERE JEFF: CUE HEATHER AND THE BAND FOR LOVE SONG JARED: CUE THE PENCIL ICON WRITING ASSIGNMENT #2: IN A PARAGRAPH TELL US WHAT YOUR CHOICE FOR INCLUSION ON THE VOYAGER 2 GOLD RECORD SAYS ABOUT YOU JOHN: TEN THINGS THAT WILL MAKE YOUR WRITING BETTER,

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ALMOST IMMEDIATELY JARED: CUE FIRST LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION JOHN: WRITING TIP #1: EVERYTHING YOU WRITE IS A STORY EVERYTHING EVERY SENTENCE EVERY PARAGRAPH EVERY CHAPTER EVERY PRESENTATION DECK EVERY E-MAIL EVERYTHING YOU WRITE HAS A BEGINNING A MIDDLE AND AN END EVERYTHING YOU WRITE THAT IS WORTH READING IS A STORY EVERYTHING YOU WRITE THAT IS WORTH REMEMBERING IS A STORY EVERYTHING YOU WRITE

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THAT PEOPLE WILL, IN FACT, REMEMBER IS A STORY JARED: CUE OPENING BOOK ASSEMBLY WITH CHINESE ICON FOR POETRY FOR BILLY COLLINS JOHN: THEN I WILL LEAN FORWARD ELBOWS ON THE TABLE WITH SOMETHING TO TELL YOU AND YOU WILL LOOK UP, AS ALWAYS, YOUR SPOON DRIPPING MILK, READY TO LISTEN JARED: CUE BLACK SLIDE JOHN: STORYTELLING IS A GIFT A GIFT OF INTUITION OF INSTINCT OF TIMING OF KNOWING WHERE TO PUT YOUR BOAT INTO THE RIVER AND YOU LEARN THAT BY NEAR DROWNING

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YOU STEP UP TO THE RIVER’S EDGE YOU MEASURE THE CURRENT AND YOU GIVE IT YOUR BEST SHOT I’M ALWAYS SEARCHING FOR GOOD STORIES AND I’M STILL TRYING TO LEARN HOW TO TELL THEM AND JUST AS DIFFICULT HOW TO WRITE THEM THE MOTH THE MECCA OF GREAT STORYTELLING THAT YOU CAN FOLLOW ONLINE OR ON NPR IS A GREAT PLACE TO LISTEN AND LEARN JUST REGULAR FOLKS TELLING TRUE STORIES KIND OF AN OPEN MIC CONCEPT BUT THE BEST STORY I’VE EVER HEARD WAS TOLD TO ME BY JAMES DODD A WRITER I MET IN OUR HAMBURG OFFICE IT’S THE STORY OF HIS GRANDPARENTS WHO GREW UP IN SOUTH AFRICA

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AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME NELSON MANDELA WAS GROWING UP IN SOUTH AFRICA THE GRANDPARENTS OF JAMES DODD WERE YOUNG AND PURPOSEFUL AND FILLED WITH CONVICTION AND THEN ONE DAY, THEY MET THEY FELL IN LOVE AND CONVICTION BEGAN TO MEAN SOMETHING ELSE ONE NIGHT THE GRANDFATHER OF JAMES DODD WHO WAS ALSO CALLED JAMES ASKED FOR ELIZABETH’S HAND IN MARRIAGE SHE SAID, YES BUT YOU MUST MAKE ME THREE PROMISES AND WHAT ARE THOSE, ASKED JAMES FIRST, YOU MUST PROMISE TO NEVER RAISE A HAND AT ME YES, SAID JAMES,

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I AM NOT A VIOLENT MAN. THAT I CAN PROMISE. SECOND, YOU MUST PROMISE TO HAVE CHILDREN WITH ME YES, SAID JAMES, I CAN PROMISE I WILL DO EVERYTHING WITHIN MY POWER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN AND THIRD, YOU MUST PROMISE THAT YOU WILL NOT DIE BEFORE I DO YES, SAID JAMES, I WILL PROMISE THAT SO, THEY WERE MARRIED AND THEY HAD A HAPPY LIFE JAMES KEPT HIS PROMISE AND NEVER ONCE RAISED HIS HAND IN ANGER JAMES KEPT HIS PROMISE AND THEY HAD TWO LOVELY CHILDREN. A SON AND A DAUGHTER AND LIFE (GESTURE) UNFOLDED FOR THEM LIKE A MAP YOU CAN NEVER QUITE FOLD BACK THE SAME WAY

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CANCER FOUND JAMES HE STILL HAD CONVICTION THOUGH AND HE BEAT IT BACK BUT AS THESE THINGS GO, THE CANCER CAME BACK AND LATE ONE NIGHT, IN THEIR BEDROOM NOW ARRANGED WITH TWO BEDS, THE ONE FOR JAMES A FEW FEET CLOSER TO THE BATHROOM, JAMES SAYS IN THE DARKENED ROOM, “ELIZABETH.” YES, JAMES, DO YOU NEED SOMETHING? YES, SAYS JAMES, I NEED FOR YOU TO RELEASE ME FROM MY THIRD PROMISE JARED: CUE SECOND LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION JOHN: WRITING TIP #2

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THE MOST IMPORTANT SENTENCE OF YOUR STORY IS YOUR FIRST SENTENCE IF YOU DON’T HAVE A GREAT OPENING SENTENCE YOU MAY AS WELL GO HOME BECAUSE IF YOU LOOK BEHIND YOU AT THE END OF YOUR SECOND SENTENCE YOU’LL SEE THAT THERE IS NO ONE FOLLOWING YOU STEPHEN KING SPENDS MONTHS AND IN SOME CASES YEARS CHASING GREAT OPENING SENTENCES SOME OF THE GREATEST NOVELS EVER WRITTEN ARE RECOGNIZED AND REMEMBERED BY THEIR FIRST SENTENCES JARED: CUE THE OPENING BOOK ICON FOR PRIDE AND PREJUDICE JOHN: IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT A SINGLE MAN IN POSSESSION OF A GOOD FORTUNE MUST BE IN WANT OF A WIFE

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JARED: CUE OPENING BOOK ICON FOR ANNA KARENINA JOHN: HAPPY FAMILIES ARE ALL ALIKE EVERY UNHAPPY FAMILY IS UNHAPPY IN ITS OWN WAY JARED: CUE OPENING BOOK ICON FOR A FAREWELL TO ARMS JOHN: IN THE LATE SUMMER OF THAT YEAR WE LIVED IN A HOUSE IN A VILLAGE THAT LOOKED ACROSS THE RIVER AND THE PLAIN TO THE MOUNTAINS JARED: CUE LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION #3 WRITING TIP #3 JOHN: COUNTRY MUSIC HOLDS THE KEY TO PERFECT SENTENCE PROGRESSION THERE IS A REASON WHY COUNTRY MUSIC

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IS NOT ONLY POPULAR BUT KEEPS ITS POPULARITY FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION IT’S THE PERFECT GENRE FOR STORYTELLING AND THE PEOPLE IN NASHVILLE WHO WRITE THE LYRICS UNDERSTAND HOW TO TELL A GREAT STORY THEY STATE A PREMISE IN THE FIRST LINE TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS, TURN DOWN THE BED OKAY, THAT SETS THE STAGE YOU’VE GOT MY ATTENTION NOW, THE LYRICIST ASKS THE QUESTION WHAT LITTLE PIECE OF THE STORY AM I GOING TO GIVE UP NEXT TURN DOWN THESE VOICES INSIDE OF MY HEAD THAT DEVELOPS THE STORY ONE STEP FURTHER THE LYRICIST ASKS THE QUESTION HOW DO I TURN THE STORY A BIT LAY DOWN WITH ME, TELL ME NO LIES

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OKAY, YOU TOLD ME MORE AND YOU ALSO MADE ME WANT TO KNOW MORE JUST HOLD ME CLOSE, DON’T PATRONIZE OKAY, NOW IT’S ABOUT MORE THAN JUST SEX THERE IS DIMENSION TO THIS STORY EXPOSE SOMETHING, BUT KEEP PEOPLE EXPECTING MORE THAT’S HOW YOU KEEP THE STORY PROGRESSING EXPOSE AND EXPECT ANSWER ONE QUESTION--ASK ANOTHER JARED: CUE LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION #4 JOHN: WRITING TIP #4 TO MAKE WRITING TIP #3 EXPOSE AND EXPECT WORK YOU NEED TO WRITE WITHOUT CLUTTER EVERY SENTENCE NEEDS TO BE THE LEANEST EXPRESSION OF THE MOST INTERESTING THOUGHT (THAT’S WORTH SAYING AGAIN)

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EVERY SENTENCE NEEDS TO BE THE LEANEST EXPRESSION OF THE MOST INTERESTING THOUGHT EVERY WORD YOU ADD THAT DOESN’T HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE IN DRIVING THE MEANING FORWARD WEIGHS IT DOWN MAKING IT HARD AND UNREWARDING TO GET TO THE END OF THE SENTENCE JEFF: CUE FLORENTINA FOR HER SOLO PIECE JOHN: WRITING TIP #5 WE LEARNED AS CHILDREN THAT VERBS ARE MAGIC THEY UNLOCK DOORS LEARNING HOW TO SAY MAMA WILL GET YOU A SMILE LEARNING HOW TO SAY MAMA GO OR MAMA STAY

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WILL GET YOU WHAT YOU WANT BUT SOMETIMES, OVER THE YEARS, WE FORGET OR SHY AWAY FROM COMMITMENT BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT VERBS DO THEY COMMIT ADVERBS GIVE YOU WIGGLE ROOM VERBS COMMIT THE FIRST WORD IN HERMAN MELVILLE’S 212,758 WORD NOVEL IS A VERB USE POWERFUL VERBS AND YOU DON’T NEED CLUNKY ADVERBS USE POWERFUL VERBS AND YOUR WRITING STAYS LEAN AND EXPRESSIVE USE POWERFUL VERBS AND YOUR READER WILL DO WHAT THE VERB ASKS THEM TO DO JARED: CUE LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION #6 JOHN: WRITING TIP #6

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JARED: CUE OPENING BOOK ASSEMBLY FOR WILLIAM ZINSSER THE ESSENCE OF WRITING IS REWRITING. JARED: CUE BLACK SLIDE WRITING ACCORDING TO DAVID RAKOFF THE BRILLIANT WRITER FROM THIS AMERICAN LIFE WHO PASSED AWAY LAST YEAR WRITING IS LIKE SETTING OUT TO MAKE PANCAKES WITH ROTTEN EGGS (PAUSE) YOUR FIRST ATTEMPT ALWAYS STINKS AND IF YOU DOUBT THAT IF YOU’RE SUFFERING FROM INSOMNIA SOME NIGHT PICK UP THE FIRST DRAFT OF A FAMOUS BOOK ON WHALING THE AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK GAVE THE FIRST DRAFT TO HIS FRIEND, NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE, WHO READ IT AND SAID YOUR BOOK IS ABOUT MAN’S OBSESSION WITH WHALING IT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST TO MORE PEOPLE

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IF IT TOUCHED ON OTHER OBSESSIONS OF MAN AS WELL THE YOUNG AUTHOR LISTENED JARED: CUE OPENING BOOK ASSEMBLY FOR HERMAN MELVILLE. AGAIN: AS THE PROFOUND CALM WHICH ONLY APPARENTLY PRECEDES AND PROPHESIES OF THE STORM, IS PERHAPS MORE AWFUL THAN THE STORM ITSELF; FOR, INDEED, THE CALM IS BUT THE WRAPPER AND ENVELOPE OF THE STORM; AND CONTAINS IT--IN ITSELF, AS THE SEEMINGLY HARMLESS RIFLE HOLDS THE FATAL POWDER, AND THE BALL AND THE EXPLOSION; SO THE GRACEFUL REPOSE OF THE LINE, AS IT SILENTLY SERPENTINES ABOUT THE OARSMEN BEFORE BEING BROUGHT INTO ACTUAL PLAY— THIS IS A THING WHICH CARRIES MORE OF TRUE TERROR

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THAN ANY OTHER ASPECT OF THIS DANGEROUS AFFAIR. BUT WHY SAY MORE? ALL MEN LIVE ENVELOPED IN WHALE-LINES. ALL ARE BORN WITH HALTERS ROUND THEIR NECKS; (CADENCE) BUT IT IS ONLY WHEN CAUGHT IN THE SWIFT, SUDDEN TURN OF DEATH, THAT MORTALS REALIZE THE SILENT, SUBTLE, EVER-PRESENT PERILS OF LIFE. AND IF YOU BE A PHILOSOPHER, THOUGH SEATED IN THE WHALE-BOAT, YOU WOULD NOT AT HEART FEEL ONE WHIT MORE OF TERROR, THAN THOUGH SEATED BEFORE YOUR EVENING FIRE WITH A POKER, AND NOT A HARPOON, BY YOUR SIDE. THIS . . . FROM HERMAN MELVILLE’S FINAL DRAFT OF MOBY DICK JARED: CUE LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION #7 JOHN:

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WRITING TIP #7 WRITING IS A KIND OF THINKING THE ACTUAL ACT OF WRITING A SIMPLE PREMISE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE AND THEN SOLVING THE LITTLE PROBLEMS THAT GET YOU FROM POINT A TO POINT B CAN HELP YOU SOLVE A BIGGER PROBLEM THE ACT OF WRITING IS A POWERFUL KIND OF THINKING A POWERFUL KIND OF PROBLEM SOLVING JARED: CUE LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION #8 JOHN: WHICH BRINGS US TO WRITING TIP #8 AFTER YOU’VE STARTED WITH SOME KIND OF PREMISE AND THEN PROBLEM-SOLVED YOUR WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE TAKE YOUR LAST SENTENCE YOUR LAST THOUGHT AND MAKE THAT THE FIRST SENTENCE

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OR FIRST THOUGHT AND START OVER MUCH LIKE AN ARTIST PAINTS OVER HIS FIRST ATTEMPT HAVING LEARNED AND MOVED ON JARED: CUE LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION #9 JOHN: WRITING TIP #9 DON’T GO IN SEARCH OF YOUR WRITER’S VOICE IT WILL FIND YOU KEEP WRITING EVERY DAY (WHICH, BY THE WAY, IS THE BEST WAY TO BECOME A BETTER WRITER) AND ONE DAY YOU WILL WRITE SOMETHING AND AT THE END

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WHEN YOU FINISH YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SAY NO ONE ELSE COULD HAVE WRITTEN THAT THAT’S YOUR VOICE NEVER, EVER LET IT GO JARED: CUE LITTLE MUSIC INTRUSION #10 JOHN: WRITING TIP #10 CATCH AND RELEASE IF YOU ONLY REMEMBER ONE OUT OF THE TEN THIS IS THE ONE TO REMEMBER CATCH AND RELEASE CAPTURE AS MUCH OF THE WORLD’S EXPERIENCE AS YOU CAN SO THAT WHAT YOU WRITE IS TRUE THEN RELEASE IT THROUGH THE FILTER OF YOUR EXPERIENCE SO THAT IT’S UNIQUE CATCH AND RELEASE THE TRUTH

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TOLD THROUGH YOUR EYES CATCH AND RELEASE (PAUSE) IF YOU CHOOSE YOUR WORDS CAREFULLY AND WRITE THEM DOWN PURPOSEFULLY YOUR WRITING CAN LIVE ON TAKING ITS PLACE ON A PIECE OF PAPER THAT CAN BE PICKED UP BY SOMEONE ELSE A HUNDRED YEARS FROM NOW AND UPON READING CAN CALL UP THE SAME EMOTION THE SAME EXPERIENCE THAT YOU FELT WHEN YOU WROTE IT MUCH LIKE NOTES FROM MOZART LEFT ON A PIECE OF PAPER AND PLAYED BY A MUSICIAN IN ANOTHER CENTURY

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WHO WEEPS AT THE BEAUTY HE SEES THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE’S EYES AND HIS OWN AT THE SAME TIME MUCH LIKE THE MESSAGES WE SEND OUT INTO SPACE WITH NO PARTICULAR RESPONSE EXPECTED STILL WE MAKE EVERY NOTE PERFECT JUST THE SAME JEFF: CUE CHERYL AND THE BAND FOR BREATHE ME HOW TO WRITE A POEM FIRST YOU MUST PICK TWO POINTS IN SPACE MAKE ONE THE VERY TIP OF YOUR PENCIL-- HELD AT ARM’S LENGTH ALWAYS AT ARM’S LENGTH-- AND THE OTHER

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A SOMEWHAT ARBITRARY POINT IN SPACE THREE THOUSAND MILES FROM THE NORTH POLE OF NEPTUNE THEN DRAW AN IMAGINARY LINE BETWEEN THEM JARED: CUE THE HORIZONTAL LINE IMAGE AND TRANSITION INTO THE WAVE FORM TECHNIQUE WE REMEMBER FROM HIGH SCHOOL GEOMETRY THAT A LINE GOES ON FOREVER IN EITHER DIRECTION BEYOND THE TWO POINTS THAT ESTABLISH IT JEFF: CUE SLOW FADE-IN OF BACKGROUND PRESENCE SO TO THE LEFT OF THE TIP OF YOUR PENCIL THE LINE CONTINUES FOREVER AND TO THE RIGHT OF THE POINT NEAR THE NORTH POLE OF NEPTUNE THE LINE CONTINUES

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FOREVER LET’S SAY THAT THE TIP OF YOUR PENCIL IS THE PRESENT AND THE POINT NEAR THE NORTH POLE OF NEPTUNE IS THE PAST AND IN BETWEEN IS EVERYTHING WE KNOW THAT HAS HAPPENED IN WHAT WE KNOW AS TIME EVERYTHING AND AS YOU THOUGHTFULLY BEGIN TO PLACE THE MOMENTS IN TIME ALONG THE LINE OF TIME LIKE WHITE SPACES ON THE FACE OF A CLOCK AS YOU START TO WRITE THE POEM THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE IS THAT THE WORLD REPEATS ITSELF AND THIS REPETITION WILL BECOME

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YOUR IAMBIC PENTAMETER OF HISTORY START SMALL SMALL MOMENTS IN TIME BREATHING COMES FIRST YOU’LL WANT TO MAKE A NOTE OF EVERY BREATH THAT’S THE RHYTHM OF LIFE AND EVERYTHING ELSE KEEPS TIME TO THAT RHYTHM LIKE THE WATCHFUL MEMBERS OF AN ORCHESTRA THE RHYTHM OF THE SEASONS THE RHYTHM OF THE WIND IN THE TREES AND THE RAIN ON THE ROOF THE RHYTHM OF BIRTH AND OF DEATH AND OF LIFE AGAIN OF THE ORDERLINESS OF OUR EXISTENCE AND OF THE THINGS THAT MAKE IT RANDOM AS WELL

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THE RHYTHM THAT ECHOES IN EVERY STONE OF THE GREAT CATHEDRALS IN THE RELENTLESS REPETITION OF HISTORY AND IN THE WINGS OF SMALL BIRDS JEFF: CUE CHRISTIAN’S FIRST PIANO ENTRY AND THE RHYTHM OF WHAT WE WRITE AND HOW OUR EYES TURN THE WORDS INTO THE SOUNDS THAT OUR MIND HEARS THE RHYTHM OF LIFE IS THE RHYTHM TO WHICH WE ALL FROM BIRTH KEEP TIME AND ONCE YOU’VE PLACED THE SMALL MOMENTS

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ALONG THIS LINE OF TIME YOU’LL WANT TO REMEMBER THE MILESTONES AS WELL THE PUBLICATION OF ON THE ORIGIN OF SPECIES AND THE PUBLICATION OF LEAVES OF GRASS WHICH, ALONG A LINE OF THIS LENGTH, HAPPENED WITHIN A HEARTBEAT OF EACH OTHER THE EVOLUTION OF SPECIES A HAIR’S BREADTH FROM THE EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE AND ONCE YOU’VE ADDED ALL OF THE MILESTONES THE BIG MOMENTS IN TIME YOU’LL WANT TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE EFFECT OF PLACING SMALL MOMENTS RIGHT NEXT TO THEM MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WRITING LETTER FROM A BIRMINGHAM JAIL

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RIGHT NEXT TO THE MOMENT YOU LOST A MITTEN IN THE SNOW GALILEO DISCOVERING THE MOONS OF JUPITER RIGHT NEXT TO THE MOMENT YOU FIRST FELL IN LOVE THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT POETRY THE LANGUAGE IS SO DENSE THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL THESE MOMENTS THE BIRTH OF A SON THE DEATH OF A FATHER AND WHERE THEY MEET BITTERSWEET AND JUST IN CASE YOU GET LOST-- YOU SEE IT GETS CROWDED AND SOMETIMES CONFUSING AROUND WORDS LIKE WONDER AND DESPAIR

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TRUTH AND BEAUTY LOVE AND LOSS-- JUST IN CASE YOU LOSE YOUR PLACE ALONG THE LINE JUST IN CASE YOU GET LOST IN TIME YOU HAVE THE WHALES TO SHOW YOU THE WAY THEY ARE THE TIMEKEEPERS OF THE PLANET THEY HELP YOU COUNT OFF THE CENTURIES A CENTURY A SECOND WORKS WELL YOU’LL FIND WHALES LIVE A HUNDRED YEARS AND WHEN THEY DIE AND FALL TO THE BOTTOM OF THE OCEAN FLOOR THEY CREATE AN ECOSYSTEM FOR FOURTEEN THOUSAND DIFFERENT SPECIES OF MICROORGANISMS AND THIS ECOSYSTEM LIVES ON FOR ANOTHER ONE HUNDRED YEARS

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WHALES LIVE A LONG LIFE THEN THEY LIVE ANOTHER LIFE IN THE LIFESPAN OF JUST TWO GRAY WHALES THE FIRST SLAVE SHIPS SAILED FROM AFRICA ABRAHAM LINCOLN SIGNED THE EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION AND ROSA PARKS REFUSED TO GIVE UP HER SEAT WHALES ARE THE TIMEKEEPERS OF THE PLANET THEY HAVE A PLACE OF HONOR ON YOUR POEM’S LINE OF TIME THEY BRING DIGNITY TO THE TONE AND STYLE (PAUSE) AND WHEN YOU THINK YOU’RE FINISHED WITH YOUR POEM TAKE THREE STEPS BACK AND LOOK AT THE LONG LINE OF MOMENTS IN TIME

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EVEN THOUGH YOU CAN’T SEE AS FAR AS FOREVER IN EITHER DIRECTION WHAT YOU CAN SEE IS NOW EXACTLY THE LENGTH MEASURED IN TIME THAT KNOWLEDGE MUST TRAVEL IN ORDER TO BECOME WISDOM AND AS YOU MOVE THE TIP OF YOUR PENCIL TO THE FAR LEFT JUST AT THE EDGE OF YOUR FIELD OF VISION THE FIRST THING YOU’LL NOTICE IS THAT YOUR LINE IS NO LONGER JUST TWO DIMENSIONAL IT HAS ADDED A DIMENSION-- BECAUSE THAT’S HOW POETRY WORKS YOU HAVE WORDS THAT ARE PRINTED ON THE PAGE AND THE EXTRA DIMENSION OF THE MEANING

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THOSE WORDS ‘TRAVEL’ WITH THEM IT’S LIKE THE WAY WE VIEW THE STARS FROM EARTH THE CONSTELLATIONS THE BIG DIPPER THE LITTLE DIPPER CASSIOPEIA THEY ALL APPEAR TO BE FLAT A CONFIGURATION DRAWN ON A TWO-DIMENSIONAL MAP IT’S NOT UNTIL YOU TRAVEL INTO SPACE THAT YOU SEE THEY HAVE BEAUTIFUL DEPTH THERE IS THE IDEA OF CASSIOPEIA AS SEEN FROM EARTH AND THERE IS THE IDEA OF CASSIOPEIA ILLUMINATED BY THE LIGHT OF LIGHT YEARS AND IT TAKES OUR BREATH AWAY AND THAT IS THE POEM

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YOU HAVE WRITTEN TODAY AN INVENTIVE EXPLORATION OF THE INTERSECTION OF ART AND SCIENCE--THE CRITICS WILL SAY-- OF WHERE MEASUREMENT MEETS THOSE THINGS THAT CANNOT BE MEASURED WHERE THE REPRODUCIBLE ANSWER MEETS THE UNANSWERABLE QUESTION WHERE YOU HAVE BROUGHT FIRE AND LANGUAGE ACROSS TIME AND SPACE TO FINALLY REST AND AS YOU TURN TO GO YOU LOOK BACK JEFF: END OF BACKGROUND SYNTH PART & CHRISTIAN’S PART AND NOTICE ALONG THE LINE THAT IS YOUR POEM --AN EMPTY SPACE--

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A STORY YOU FORGOT TO TELL IT WAS IN 1989 NEAR THE COMPLETION OF WHAT WE NOW KNOW WAS JUST THE FIRST PHASE OF THE VOYAGER TWO MISSION VOYAGER TWO— THE INCREDIBLY PERSISTENT AND PRECISE SPACECRAFT WHOSE (THEN) TWELVE-YEAR MISSION WOULD TAKE IT PAST JUPITER IN 1979 AND SATURN IN 1981 AND FINALLY ON TO NEPTUNE IN 1989 WHERE, TRAVELLING AT 10 KILOMETERS PER SECOND NEWTON WAS RIGHT SOMETHING SET IN MOTION STAYS IN MOTION TRAVELING IN MUSCLE CAR TERMS AT 42,000 MILES PER HOUR IT WOULD PASS WITHIN 3,000 MILES OF THE NORTH POLE OF NEPTUNE AND JUST BEFORE

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IT WAS MEANT TO LEAVE OUR SOLAR SYSTEM JUST BEFORE IT WAS MEANT TO RETIRE TO A PLEASANT LIFE IN THE COSMOS STUDYING ULTRAVIOLET SOURCES AMONG THE STARS JUST AS IT WAS ABOUT TO DO THAT THE PEOPLE OF NASA COULDN’T RESIST THEY SENT A SIGNAL TO VOYAGER TWO AND THEY TURNED THE CAMERA COMPLETELY AROUND SO THAT VOYAGER 2 WAS TRAVELING FORWARDS LOOKING BACKWARDS OVER ITS SHOULDER AND LOOKING BACK THEY TOOK A PICTURE OF EARTH JARED: CUE THE SLIDE OF EARTH AS SMALL BLUE DOT A SMALL BLUE DOT IN A SINGLE BEAM OF SUNLIGHT AND THAT, SHOULD ANYONE EVER ASK YOU, IS THE DEFINITION OF ART AND AT THE TIME NOBODY ASKED WHY THEY TURNED THE CAMERA AROUND

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BUT, SHOULD ANYONE EVER ASK YOU THEY TURNED THE CAMERA AROUND NOT FOR SCIENCE, BUT FOR THE SAME REASON WHEN YOUR PARENTS DROPPED YOU OFF ON YOUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL YOU WANTED TO BE BRAVE AND START OFF ON A NEW ADVENTURE BUT YOU COULDN’T RESIST YOU LOOKED BACK OVER YOUR SHOULDER AND YOU TOOK A PICTURE OF THAT MOMENT THAT’S WHY THE PEOPLE OF NASA TURNED THE CAMERA AROUND THEY COULDN’T RESIST THEY HAD TO SEE WHAT HOME LOOKED LIKE SO FAR AWAY FROM HOME AND THAT SHOULD ANYONE EVER ASK IS WHAT DEFINES US.

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JEFF: CUE HEATHER AND THE BAND FOR ALLELEUIA JARED: CUE THE PORTRAITS & QUOTES SLIDES—THE GALLERY OF HUMANITY JARED: CUE THE CLARK STREET BRIDGE LOGO SLIDE WHICH REMAINS ON THE SCREEN DURING Q & A (092513)