The Chicken Manifesto

Chicken Manifesto

I went to feed my Chickens in their Chicken Coop you see

when suddenly I’d a notion just to set my Chickens free.

Chicken’s in the Barnyard, Chickens in the street;

Chicken’s at the neighbors house finding what to eat.

Chickens riding subways, driving Cars in town,

Chickens in the Super Market, running round and round.

Chickens wearing sneakers, walking down the street;

Smiling and they’re waving at everyone they meet.

Chickens in the bread pan kicking out the dough;

Chickens stuffing pillows with feathers don’t you know.

Boneless Chickens, chicken pox, chickens aching back;

Chickens in the doctor’s office, some say he’s a quack.

Chickens riding skateboards, betting at the track;

The Banks they have no money, just bird seed in a sack.

There’s Chickens in the Library, Chickens in the schools’

Chickens that are scientists and Chickens that are fools.

Chickens need no Oil Wells no New-cler energy;

Won’t be no more frakin, cause Chicken poop is free.

Chickens in the legislature, House and Congress too

Chickens declaring peace on Earth, no more Chicken Stew.

by David Spalding Sharp

copyright 2012

Lifelong Learning Intro to Mountain Dulcimer | Continuing Education at the University of Utah

Lifelong Learning Intro to Mountain Dulcimer | Continuing Education at the University of Utah

Colonel John Francis Sharp MD and family

 

 

 

My Grandfather Colonal John Francis Sharp - Commanding officer of the Army Hospital Unit from Utah. Seen here before heading off to establish a field hospital in the conflict with Pancho Villa, near the Mexican border. He was the units commander during World War I as well. My Grandfather is holding Uncle Gil, who later taught at the New York Art Academy with Uncle Mahonri Young. Standing next to him is his wife Sally Luella Ferin Sharp, who was a Handcart Pioneer descendent and star Soprano of the Salt Lake Oprea Company. She was a favorite student of Madame Von Klenner where Colonel Sharp and she met in New York while taking instruction from her. The oldest child, front and center is Marion, who later was a fulbright in Opera, and member of the Paris and San Francisco Opera Companies. The tallest boy next to her was Klink (Klenner), named after Madame von Klenner and Bones (Harlow), my fathers older brothers and Naval Doctors in the Pacific in WWII. In the foreground is Aunt Martha, she later married Wallice Toronto and wrote a book called "A Cherry Tree grows behind the Iron Curtain". This picture was taken in Liberty Park, Salt Lake City, Utah, circa 1916.

 

 

 

Unkown Union band in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. I like the Chinese paper lanterns in the foreground and the banner in German with Gothic lettering behind the band. They have a Banjo player, and I love Banjos.....

Salt Lake may have been more ethically diverse in the early days than people today realize. The date on the picture says 1918, the union came here in 1902 one hundred and ten years ago.

Trom the archives of the American Federation of Musicians, Local 104 photo archives.

D. Sharp

Don Kirkham's and his Society Serenadiers 1922-23 Season

I found this photo in the archives of Local 104's Musicians Union folder where I work during the day. "See", all my banjo buddies would say, "Banjos used to be used for everything back then". What I want to know is how they got the Banjoist in a suit. Don Kirkham and his Society Serenaders 1922-23 season in Salt Lake City.

The Moon and Seven Stars

The Moon and Seven Stars

Once upon a time beneath the Moon and Seven Stars

A Swan and Seven Cignets swam upon a mirror Lake

An Elvish Woman came from the Hills and music she would make

To the Stars she played upon her Harp beside the lovely Pond

and when at last she'd played enough she left before the dawn

Daylight fades again the Swan's that swam upon the Lake

Would hear again the tales the ancient Harp could make.

by David Spalding Sharp

The Battle of Moytura

This Saint Patrick’s Day I am reminded of this story.

In days long ago, when the Tuatha de Dananan, or children of light, came to Ireland, they found the Fomori opposing them for the mastery of Ireland. They were an evil race of wraith like spirits that had in their enslavement a crude race of giants.  They moved upon the central plain of Ireland, a place called Moytura. There the Fomori brought forth their King, Balor of the Evil Eye. He brought several servants that would lift the lid of his great eye and a warrior in bright shining mail would die. The battle went badly for the Tuatha de Dananan, and Nuada Silver Hand was slain, and Govanan the Smith along with many others of the Children of the Goddess. Just when things seemed at their worst, there came upon the plain a great warrior, bright like the Sun, with golden hair and a great shining Spear.  Luke (Lugh) hefted up the great spear to his shoulder and flung it with all his might. As it flew through the air all living things upon the Earth held their breath as their fate was in the balance. When it struck the Eye of Balor there was a great flash of light that rose to the heights of the Heavens, and to the depths of the great Sea and the hidden places of the Earth. Ireland was free of all Evil for many hundreds of years. For after that the Fomori retreated to their island of Tori, and there they remained lashed by the waves in their ancient tower.  The Children of Light ruled Ireland in peace and contentment until the coming of man to Ireland. The Celtic Cross is both the symbol of Luke the Sun God and the forces of light combined with the Cross of Christ. The Irish harvest festival is named after the Sun God, Lughnasa. I am reminded in these days of controversy and hatred that there is a great and continuing struggle between light and darkness that with courage, love and charity in one’s heart we can defeat those that worship darkness and their ideals of hatred, violence, slavery and denigration. May our world be free of evil and hatred, yet ever vigilant.