Poetry Wednesday 06/25/08: Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues

After 18 years, former Moody Blues vocalist and keyboardist Mike Pinder returned to the music business in 1995 with an enlightening album called Among the Stars. Yet it wasn’t until he set out to promote the disc that he found his true comeback vehicle — narrating children’s stories and poetry over his exquisite musical arrangements.

“We were doing a show in Phoenix and I had some time off so I wandered into this bookstore,” Pinder said. “As soon as I walked in, I saw a doorway in the back of the room with a curtain over it that beckoned to me. It was a tiny room with one set of bookshelves, and it had children’s picture books in it.

“My eye was immediately caught by one of the books on the shelf called Arrow to the Sun by Gerald McDermott, and I looked at it and read it. It was a wonderful story. I called my wife over and said, “This is it. This is what I’ve been looking for. I’m going to do an album of children’s stories.”

“A People with One Heart”, and “A Planet with One Mind”, a remarkable collection of myths from around the globe, narrated by Pinder and backed by some amazing multicultural sounds.
“Generally speaking says Pinder from his home in the Sierra foothills of California, “I was looking for stories that were all uplifting to start with. And also, that they were not condescending to children.”Far from condescending Pinder crafts an album of tales spanning the lore of Native Americans, Asian Indians, Chinese, Myans and Aztecs, and providing as much enjoyment for adult listeners as for their children.

The idea blossomed into a trilogy of discs as Pinder, and his wife, Tara, found a wealth of material that met their criteria.

“We wanted stories that had multilevel meanings, morals and mythology,” Pinder said. “We went through hundreds of books. We were looking through lots of books that were like, `The rabbit went down to the mouse’s house for a cup of tea.’ But we were looking for books like, `The rabbit went down to the mouse’s house and discussed the Zen of tea making.’ We were looking for these particular things.”

They created a trilogy on C/DS as poetry set to music based on classic children’s stories. Mike Pinder and his wife, Tara, personally selected all the stories recorded on the albums. Mike recited all the stories, and his two sons, Michael and Matt, created the wonderful backround music you hear.

I was only able to obtain two albums of the trilogy. One of the poems that he recorded was called, “The Little Blue Ball.” It was taken from part of a book called, “A Spark in the Dark.” A SPARK IN THE DARK is a rhyming children’s picture book about a lonely star in the sky. It creates a blue ball and spins it around. The star adds mountains and trees, but is still lonely. Then the star has an idea. It rains down star beams that turn into children of every shape, color, and size. To the star’s surprise, a light from each child’s heart fills up sky with twinkling lights! It was recited on his first C/D entitled, “A People with One Heart.”

apeoplewithoneheart.jpg picture by lstlight

The story was inspired by a quote from astronomer, Carl Sagan: “Everything that is, the planets, the water, the mountains and trees and we, ourselves, are made of star stuff“.

The Little Blue Ball – The continuation of A Spark in the Dark. A story about life down on “the little blue ball”, the magical dust that makes each of us different and special, and the light we all share in our hearts. By Richard Tichnor & Jenny Smith.

The Little Blue Ball
written by Richard Tichnor & Jenny Smith
recited by Mike Pinder

The Little Blue Ball
by Richard Tichnor & Jenny Smith
recited by Mike Pinder

Not long ago on the little blue ball,
with the mountains, the trees, the water and all,
two children tumbled,
they played and had fun.
they were so close,
they thought they were one.

At the end of the day,
they fell fast asleep.
Then awoke in the morning,
by a pool very deep.

They looked in the water,
and to their surprise,
they saw looking back at them,
two pairs of eyes…two noses, two mouths.

But wait ! There is more !
as for their ears,
they counted four !
If we are just one,
then two ears will do,
but since we have four,
this cannot be true,
So I must be me,
and you must be you.

From this I conclude,
We are not only two,
but you’re so much taller,
and my color’s red.
We’re totally different,
what more can be said ?

Then just at that moment,
A splash and a splish !
There came from the water,
a voice of a fish.

“Hey you, with the mouths
that makes so much noise.
Lend me your ears,
I’ll explain your surprise.

“When you were born,
you came from the star,
down here to the Earth,
and that’s very far.
Between here and there,
you remember I trust,
are planets to rest on of magical dust.
There are planets for all of the things that you are,
for all you become when you fall from the star.
The dust that you landed,
is part of the game.
It makes us all different,
no two are the same.
And look in your hearts,
if you look deep inside,
the light we all share,
is what you will find.

“The thing to remember,
the point of if all,
is that we all share this little blue ball.
Now I’ve said what I know,
and I really must dash.”

And the fish disappeared,
with a splish and a splash.

The two of them stood there.
They stood side by side,
four ears, four eyes, two mouths open wide.
You’re different from me,
your color is blue,
but that really is what I like about you.
and since we are two instead of just one,
we see and hear more, so it’s twice as much fun!

Now together they played,
one tall and one small,
with the light we all share,
on the little blue ball.

Among The Stars
written & recited by Mike Pinder

Among The Stars
written and recited by Mike Pinder

Among the stars you and I
We learn to live the Dream
Suspended here in time and space
Projections on a screen

We move through love to reach the light
That shines within us all
The knowledge of the Universe
Live love instead of war

True freedom’s spread around us
It’s right here, right now, today
Humanity’s forgotten how
To step back in the way

The way is dark and narrow
It climbs and then unfurls
Inner-space is where we find
Ourselves within all worlds

Click here to return toSans Souci, our poetess, hostess with the mostess !

21 CommentsChronological Reverse Threaded

delete reply

starfishred wrote on Jun 24, ’08

This is just wonderful so much to read and ponder

delete reply

jayaramanms wrote on Jun 24, ’08, edited on Jun 24, ’08

As Heidi commented it is just wonderful and there is a lot to read and read and understand which I am doing. It is a great blog Laurita. Thank you for the Birthday wishes conveyed. Please see mine at – http://jayaramanms.multiply.com/journal/item/207/POETRY_WEDNESDAY.

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 24, ’08

He was always my favorite.

delete reply

brian51 wrote on Jun 24, ’08

When the grandkids start arriving, I’ll be looking to read to them exactly this kind or delightful work.

delete reply

sanssouciblogs wrote on Jun 24, ’08

Hey sis, these were terrific to watch and to listen to; love the song at the end. Fantastic, very cool!

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 24, ’08

Thank you for your nice comments. I love the song at the end, too.

delete reply

kwika wrote on Jun 24, ’08

All new to me thank you.

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 24, ’08

I hope you enjoyed it, kwika.

delete reply

bostonsdandd wrote on Jun 24, ’08

New to me too. I wish I had these when my children were little LOL. But with the new addition coming, my brother’s baby in December, I’m going to have fun reading this kinda stuff to it :o). Thanks for the introduction. They really were great, and meaningful, poems!

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 24, ’08

Thanks Lori, these poems are great to read to kids.

delete reply

dianahopeless wrote on Jun 24, ’08

Love children’s books. I couldn’t count the number I bought and read to my own children and grandchildren, when they were little. I hope one day I will be blessed with great-grandchildren, so I can share these, and others like them with another generation. TY for sharing these.
http://dianahopeless.multiply.com/journal/item/295/Silent_Charms_poem

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 24, ’08

Thank you for your comment, dianahopeless. You would probably love “To Our Children’s Children’s Children”. It’s one of the best albums by The Moody Blues.

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 25, ’08

There was a trilogy of these children’s poems, but I was only able to find the first two.

delete reply

ppiccola wrote on Jun 26, ’08

it seems that BLUE was the poetry for the week…and i love blue so much, thank you Laurita, as usual you always bring for us here an amazing contribution. http://ppiccola.multiply.com/journal/item/450/Goodbye

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 26, ’08

Thank you for your kind comment, ppiccola. I’m glad you enjoyed my post this week.

delete reply

lonewolfwithin wrote on Jun 26, ’08, edited on Jun 26, ’08

great post! i loved “the little blue ball” and especially enjoyed “among the stars!” though i’m not familiar with the author, i think i shall do a lil research… thank you for sharing!

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 26, ’08, edited on Jun 26, ’08

Thank you, lonewolfwithin. Mike Pinder had a low profile over the years because he chose to spend more time with his family and less time on the road. To save time in your research, go to his web site at: http://www.mikepinder.com

delete reply

philsgal7759 wrote on Jun 27, ’08

Now together they played, one tall and one small, with the light we all share, on the little blue ball.
Marvelous work I do like to look at lyrics and take time to ponder the words

edit delete reply

lauritasita wrote on Jun 27, ’08

Narice, thank you for your comment. I always try to post the lyrics to a poem/song, even if it takes a few days to locate the lyrics. I feel that lyrics are very important (especialy if the videos don’t work !).

delete reply

zafreud wrote on Jun 28, ’08

“You’re different from me, your color is blue, but that really is what I like about you. and since we are two instead of just one, we see and hear more, so it’s twice as much fun!”
I wish this would be a moto for all people!!! However, it seems that humanity has quite a long way to cover until then!…
An excellent – as always!!! – presentation, dear Laurita!!! 🙂