(images provided by The Drifter)
Woody, Wilco, and the Deer, and Billy Bragg
“I have been looking for myself!” – Rumi
HI! – from the Drifter.
I was walking Bucephalus, or Boo, my Siberian Husky, in a beautiful Illinois field one day recently (warm early October). The field was savannah-like, with three or four-inch-tall grass and oak trees spaced around in it.
Suddenly a deer ran up to us, stopped at a safe distance away, and stared at us.
Stared at us – with mixed curiosity and suspicion.
He was (I’m guessing) around one year old, maybe two.
He was a he (I know) because he had antlers.
Two small antlers sticking up on either side of his head, making him a spikehorn buck – a small one.
And he looked at us.
And Boo strained on his leash, wanting to chase the deer.
Suddenly the spikehorn went into motion, he LEAPT into beautiful, true motion.
And he ran all the way around us in a big circle through the grass, leaping, jumping, flying, deer-dancing, bouncing, as if putting on a show, until he got to the point where he’d started – and then he stopped again; and stared at us again: with suspicion, and curiosity (and as if asking, too, had we enjoyed the show).
Then he swung around and ran away into the distant woods.
And he reminded me of Woody – Woody Guthrie.
The nature of the deer is to flee; and fly.
The song “The Unwelcome Guest” is Woody’s Americanized retelling of the Robin Hood story from 1940, put to music by the band Wilco and the singer Billy Bragg on their great Mermaid Avenue collection from 1996.
Billy Bragg, Jeff Tweedy and Wilco turned beautiful, unpublished lyrics (found in a shoe box) by Woody into a song so beautiful it will break your heart every single time you listen to it, which should be (by rights) endless times.
I first heard the Robin Hood story when I was about five or so (or that’s when I remember hearing it), in Madison Heights, Michigan, USA, from my mother; and I wanted to be Robin Hood.
(And I would pretend to be him – among many, many others – while acting out – alone – endless games on the stage of my imagination).
Later the Robin Hood story was reinforced in my soul when I saw it dramatized upon the screen and read it in books, looking at the pictures. (But I liked my own version better.)
Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor has always been needed.
And has never been more relevant than it is today.
And I thought of the young, small, bold, curious, cautious spikehorn deer – fleeing and flying and soaring: voting with his feet, free: running away into the woods of the USA.
((End Note: Boo loves the way he sees his name written everywhere during Halloween Season.))
Saragun Springs 
Hello Drifter
It is wonderful how a sight can open a memory chain. And this tells of a fine set of thoughts. I always want to give Boo his full name but every time I take a shot at it a mess comes out in type. Still, yes, he should be pleased that he is noted often this time of year.
Poor Woody falling victim to that dreadful disease, which came just prior to him being recognized as a true American drifter genius is especially unkind. Some might say “fitting” due to the irony. I say not. Unkind is as good as something like that should get. Still, I hope he understood his impact on some level. His telling of Robin Hood is fitting.
Billy Bragg turns up a lot anymore. I recall his brief fame in the 80’s and I’m glad he is still recognized today.
Another brilliant series of pictures today as well–the Dog’s view of the herd is brilliant!
Leila
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Hi Leila
I want to add a Woody quote here: “This dusty old dust is a-gettin’ my home / And I’ve got to be driftin’ along…”
It was written about Dust Bowl Oklahoma, but of course it has biblical significance that applies to human life itself, any human life, all human life, anywhere, any time.
Yes, the way a fresh sight can open up a memory chain is truly beautiful and a great, great reason to venture out any time you’re feeling energized, and if you aren’t feeling energized, this kind of thing can sometimes bring it back. Such an important part of ART itself, too, because it’s all about MAKING CONNECTIONS, and, at its essence, I believe that’s what art is: making literal connections that lead to connections that rise above and aren’t so literal.
And the higher one is able to take it, the better it is!
Yes, poor Woody had a tragic end to his life and career.
The consolation is that he got to be Woody the entire time.
And toward the end he had that single mysterious visitor, that scruffy kid from Minnesota…
Woody was beyond smart, and he had to have known that kid was special!
Thanks!
The D
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There are, I think, some sights that will somehow never grow old. Snakes, though I admire them and wish them no harm, always make me gulp, the geese in skeins across an evening sky, always makes me cry no matter how often I see them. A murmuration leaves me speechless for the whole length of the show and yes, deer, we see them often but each time it’s a honour and a priveledge. Boar make me laugh, as I back away quite quickly. This was an enjoyable read, Robin Hood is a marvelous idea in theory and we have need of a hero right now. I have to say though maybe Hollywood would have been better advised to leave off the Kevin Costner version – except of course for the wonderful Alan Rickman.
This was an entertaining read thank you – dd
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Hi Diane
I read this fine remark and agree with the Costner flop save for Alan.
When I grew up a local station ran an English made Robin Hood televion series from the 50’s. Richard Greene, I think, played Robin. Although there appeared to be budget problems with the sets I always recall it fondly
Leila
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yes wasn’t that the one that played the William Tell Overture as the theme? I think he was quite pretty.
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Hi Diane!
Thanks for these beautiful descriptions of other animals. I almost stepped on a giant snake the other day in a forest preserve and I jumped about ten feet high instead, without meaning to. I believe the dogs were thinking, “We are being walked by a fool.”
I have the same feeling when I see the geese as you do. We don’t have wild boar around here, but I have seen them in Florida about twenty years ago, along with the alligators. Myself and my kids started watching the Kevin Costner version of RH one time and never made it all the way through! Thanks again!
Dale
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‘The Lone Ranger’ had the William Tell Overture, I think. ‘Robin Hood’ had a song that even a toddler could spot as teeth-grindingly awful (First line: ‘Robin Hood, Robin Hood, riding through the glen…’ Eh?? what on earth is he doing in Scotland??) Wont mention any more in case it jogs memories.
I was born and raised in Derby, not far from Sherwood Forest. The local pub was called The Sherwood Forester. I remember being taken to the hollow tree (‘The Major Oak at Edwinstowe) where Robin and his men hid from the sheriff, and Hathersage Churchyard where Little John was buried. I think most UK children back then were deep-soaked in the legends of Robin Hood. Something to be grateful for.
Will follow-up on the late Kris K albums, which I had no knowledge of.
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Thank you Mick, great to hear from you!
It’s wild that you’ve seen all the original sites of the stories and legends. For me, they were and are purely legendary and mythical, but the reality of place behind them sounds very cool (and even though he probably wasn’t a real person, there were – and are – people like him (symbolically), which is probably one huge reason why he survives). My mother also told me all the King Arthur stories, and even some Shakespeare, like Julius Caesar, when I was little. She was an English teacher who loved both English and American Literature. She and I didn’t always see eye to eye in later years, but I have her to thank for everything in other ways! Once she developed her own kind of spiritualized dementia (where she could see spirits and so forth) she and I became closer again. And we stayed that way until the end.
Thanks again!
D
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Hi Mick
Yes! That was the “song!” But Diane is right, he was a pretty fella.
Leila
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Hi Dale
Love your description of the deer. “Deer dancing,” Great!
Looks like you got a small herd enjoying some freedom!
Christopher
PS: Started the Red Cavalry. Powerful right off the first paragraph.
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