2020: songs by ryan rettew, including one inspired by a poem by frank wolfe.

 

here, ryan rettew plays a song partily inspired by jennifer hetrick's three-year poetry project on the manufacturing history of berks county, the labors of our fingertips: poems from manufacturing history in berks county, involving interviewing more than 70 seniors about their memories of working in factories in mills. this song is  reaches so far in its lyrics and into hearts and is well-worth replaying again and again as you cook in your kitchen, rest in your backyard in the sunshine, or sit close with somebody you love and appreciate in your world.

 

 

in 1970, the grateful dead released the song, ''ripple,'' which is another great one to repeat around the house, taking in ryan's rendition. this song carries a lot of hope and beauty in its sound in our far from easy world, so it's a welcome tune to many of us.

 

 

and we are incredibly happy to bring this song to you from ryan because it is inspired by the final few lyrics of a poem by frank, which is shared below. ryan took inspiration from the poem's third-to-last line and the ones surrounding it in writing this song.

 

 

Poem For My Facebook Friends
By Frank Kelso Wolfe, 7.19.2014

Who ponders pencils peaches and peers

and what we wish to share

a man slipping on ice, a woman skating on it

the questions we comment on

which shade of green we would be

who is now in love

which child is ill, or earned their blue belt

why double rainbows and dancing dogs become important

our moments of waking toss us from year to year

computers connect us in modern solitary ways

while we yearn for the warm blanket of

hand heart holds

that brought us comfort when reality was too real

I caringly, needily, desperately, lovingly type to you

my friends, please be well

prepare yourself to hold someone bodily

when the power goes out

when we discover what lies beneath the tenuous technology

when we the breathing are all we have.

 

 

Ryan Rettew is a singer-songwriter based in Denver, Pennsylvania. She lives there with her husband Jim and is a stay-at-home mom to their three young children.