Photo: Sam Watson

THE DANCERS

SUMMER MAGIC

We come to hear the music of Papa Bear

And celebrate his birthday here

I climb the steep hill when I arrive

More rugged and difficult than gym stairs no jive

I pause at the top

Take in the surroundings

Enjoying the dank zaza in the air

Then I go down to the sound

And the dancer appears

 

Back to back with the dancer

The sun shines through her

There is light in her eyes like stars above

Face sprinkled with glittery sparkles of love

Playful interaction smiling poses

One ankle adorned with roses

She wears no underwear

No one can see

Laughing and dancing

She´s independent and free

 

Summer magic

Fun all around

Dancing bears

Hearts united by sound

The band musicians are having a blast

Everyone listening wants it to last

Laughing with the dancing bears

Barefoot in the sand

Summer magic and special fun

In motion with artistics hands

 

We´re daydreaming together

Summer sun perfect weather

Love in the spirit excitement in the air

Music massage and healing

Senses hear

 

Butterfly over a girl

Beautiful as a pearl

Summer hair on her face

Good vibes in this place

Dancing with bare toes

Feeling the wind blow

The magic of summer flows

In the stream and at the shows

 

Listening to old songs

Making new friends

Summer is here

As the magic extends

Summer fun

For everyone

"You got any smokes, man?" Robert Hunter asks me. He signals me he's looking for a cigarette and I give him a hand rolled one, marijuana but no tobacco. "It's the best of this year's crop" I tell him. He looks at it like an alien would, holds it, studies it, lights it. "This stuff, heh! The funny stuff." He exhales and takes another toke, and says "OK" and passes it to Jerry Garcia who mimics Hunter, and they're both hilarious. Garcia tokes, "Goofitus!" and another "Smoketitus!" laughing and passes the joint along to Donna Jean. She is in the corner surrounded by people talking to her. When Jerry Garcia passes the joint to her, she holds it a long time without taking a toke. I wait, and  capture a glance of her, and she hands me the roach, and I give her the four leaf clover in the flowerpot I’m holding, and share with her Kaela's story. "On the eve of the winter solstice,  I'm with Mikaela in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco at the Polo Field when I find a four leaf clover. Kaela is five, goes into the bushes and comes out with a digging tool. We cut it out of the ground and repot it at home. Kaela asks me to give the four leaf clover to you Donna". "Were you looking for it when you found it?" asks singer Maria Muldaur. "I found one when I was ten years old, and searched for years after that, but running in The Park this week I stumbled upon this one." "I been looking for one for a long time" Maria says. Awhile later, I found a patch of four leaf clovers on Mt. Burdell in Novato. I brought one to Maria Muldaur after a show at the Sweetwater in Mill Valley one night, reminding her of the one I brought to Donna Jean."

 

 

FRANKLIN´S TOWER

Uncle John, vocals

Music by Terrapin Family Band

with Phil Lesh

Terrapin Crossroads, San Rafael, CA

Video recording on Iphone made by my brother Brian,

images shaking as he dances & records

FRANKLIN’S TOWER