These Days by Paul Raymond

The guitar played on “These Days” was fashioned from a log I found in early spring on a moss and pebble covered meadow in Western Appalachia. As the snow was beginning to melt with the ending of winter I glimpsed it through the boughs of its piney cousins and knew instantly it was what I needed to write the melodies and lyrics of what you are about to hear.

I hoisted its wet and earthy weight upon my shoulders and made a treacherous decent over lichen covered trails. Upon gratefully reaching the door of my wood shop I placed the log on my work bench whereupon I commenced with the lengthy, and dare I say tedious, process of drying.

Days become weeks. Weeks turned to months. As the woody membrane gave up its moisture I oversaw the letting with pen and paper like a scribe witnessing the persecution of Damocles by that single horse hair. The ink flowed whilst the log dried. When the time was right I commenced to carve the most beautiful instrument to ever hold six strings. When struck for the first time it made a pleasing sound.

I then married my poetry and prose with this music box of my own making and I now present the results here for your amusement, pleasure, and joy.

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