S4 Ep 5 Daughters Great & Grand

Network Sting: MSW Media

Martin: Hello and welcome to the fourth season of The Martin Sheen Podcast with yours truly, Martin Sheen, of course. And I’m delighted to be back hosting this podcast pilgrimage where the destination is still and always will be the journey itself. Along the way, I plan to share stories and personal memories of some of the many people, places, and events that have helped to shape my lifelong happy and continuing struggle as an artist and a man to unite the will of the spirit with the work of the flesh. I also hope to explore poetry as a powerful form of expression and communication by proxy, as it were, and how poetry is such a vital and necessary component of our spirituality and our public discourse. And from time to time, I’ll invite friends, fellow actors, poets, scholars and family members to join our pilgrimage and discuss what inspires their artistic journey. And so, friends, let us continue.

Martin: from “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman.

“This is what you shall do: love the earth and sun and the animals, despise riches, give alms to everyone that asks, stand up for the stupid and crazy, devote your income and labor to others, hate tyrants, argue not concerning God, have patience and indulgence towards the people, take off your hat to nothing known or unknown, or to any man or number of men, go freely with powerful uneducated persons, and with the young, and with the mothers of families, read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life, re-examine all you have been told at school, or church, or in any book, dismiss whatever insults your own soul; and your very flesh shall be a great poem, and have the richest fluency, not only in its words, but in the silent lines of its lips and face, and between the lashes of your eyes, and in every motion and joint of your body.”

Martin: Walt Whitman was an American poet, essayist and journalist, as well as a novelist. He is considered to one of the most influential poets in American literature and often referred to as the father of free verse. He was born in Huntington, NY on May 31, 1819 and died in Camden, New Jersey on March 26, 1892. Walt Whitman was 72 years old.

Martin: Consider This from the author of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl.

“Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”

Martin: You know, one of the perks to having a podcast is that every now and then I get that very special person, or should I say persons, to join me here in the studio for a chat and some poetry. And this time is no exception. It’s been over a year since my great granddaughters Luna, Sara, and Jade joined the on season two in an episode called Kid at Heart. So I’m very pleased once again to welcome them to the mic and hear a little bit about what’s going on in their lives since then and have them read a poem I wrote especially for them. You never know what’s going to happen here. It’s always a delight and an adventure. So I welcome them back now.

Martin: So we’re going to start with you. Is that right? You grab the chair. Okay. So. All right. Ah. Are you comfortable there?

Jade: Yeah.

Martin: Okay, we’ll fix that. Okay. Okay. Can you hear me?

Jade: Can I hear you?

Martin Sheen: Yeah.

Martin: Okay. Okay. So, Jade, are you all set?

Jade: Yeah.

Martin: I’m delighted to welcome you back to the mic. What you’ve been doing. Tell me, how old are you now?

Jade: Eight.

Martin: You’re eight years of age. All right. And what. What did you do on your summer vacation?

Jade: Ah

Sara: Do you need some help?

Martin: I do, yeah. Okay. Let me ask you this. Let me ask you this. Is there something you wish you had not said the last time?

Jade: I said, my favorite friend is Charlie.

Martin: Grandpa Charlie?

Jade: No, my friend Charlie at school. Oh. And I said, no, he’s not my friend, but, yeah, he truly is.

Martin: Okay, swell. All right, so let me ask you something. Have you written any new poems since I saw you last?

Jade: I was working on one, but it was very bad.

Martin: Okay. So now is there something you want to share?

Martin Sheen: I got better at art.

Martin: Good.

Jade: I just draw a lot.

Martin: Okay. So when you were coming over here, to our house today, you’re at our studio in Malibu. Right. Were you nervous to think that, oh, my God, I gotta go and do that wretched podcast again or what? What was your thoughts? Oh, I hope this won’t take all day. Good. Like that windbag grandpa endlessly talks and asks me all these stupid questions, and I, I just can’t wait to get through this so I can go for a swim or go for whatever. So you were glad to come over here today, or you can’t wait to get out of here?

Jade: that’s all I’ve gotten with.

Martin: Okay. So do you want to let, you know, one of your sisters come by and stand in for you for a little while?

Jade: Yeah.

Martin: Okay. Which one do you want to come to the mic? Why don’t you introduce Sara? And now, ladies and gentlemen, here on the Martin Sheen Podcast, we’re very happy and honored to introduce and welcome back for a second visit to our microphone, the lovely, the beautiful, the talented, the athletic, the poetic miss. Do you remember her name?

Jade: Sara!

Martin: Sara.

Martin: Okay. Oh, what an introduction. Okay. Thank you so much, Sara. Thank you so much. Jade. Hi, Sara. I know. You thought we’d never get to you, right? So, Sara, how old are you now?

Sara: I’m eight years old.

Martin: Eight years old. And what did you do on your summer vacation?

Sara: I went to Legoland.

Martin: Wow.

Renee: Wait a second. I heard they did a cooking camp?

Sara: Oh, yeah, I did a dessert camp.

Martin: Wow.

Sara: That was really fun.

Martin: Yeah, it’s in all the papers, isn’t it? About you being in the cooking camp? What’d you learn? Did you learn to cook something?

Sara: So we made, chocolate banana pancakes.

Martin: Wow.

Sara: rainbow fruit skewers.

Martin: Okay.

Sara: Fruit fondue. strawberry trifles.

Martin: So you could make these on your own now?

Sara: yes, I could.

Martin: Oh, well, congratulations. Well done.

Sara: Thank you.

Martin: Okay. And now you did something else publicly. You performed.

Sara: Oh, yeah, I did my dance recital.

Martin: Oh, just that, huh? Tell us about that.

Sara: So, well, my first dance was the third one, which was my jazz. And then the ninth one was my hip hop. And then, like, the 26th one was my ballet, which is after intermission.

Martin: Wow. And did you perform well?

Sara: I think so.

Martin: Were you happy with what you did? Did the audience scream out your name and applaud?

Sara: No.

Martin: Bravo.

Sara: They did not scream my name.

Martin: Did they take a, did you take a bow?

Sara: Probably.

Martin: Wow. Was it exciting to play in front of an audience again?

Sara: I’ve done it millions of times.

Martin: Oh, I know. Yeah. I saw you in concert a couple of years ago, too. So you have obviously, improved. And you, and you like it even more. Yeah, sure. Okay. Okay. So how would you feel about reading the poem?

Sara: My poem or that poem?

Martin: Oh, you have a poem, too? Let’s hear it. Can we have your poem?

Sara: Here? I’ll read my poem.

Martin: You’re gonna get a bonus. here. What is it called, Sarah?

Sara: It’s called “Together.”

Martin: Okay. Together by Sarah.

Sara: We’re walking through the dark night. You walked through a portal of frightening lightning. But that’s when I lost you. And no matter where we go, where you go without me, we’ll always be together. And no matter where we run away, I’ll always be holding your hand because we’ll always be together.

Martin: Oh, well done. All right. Well done.

Renee: And the crowd goes wild.

Martin: That’s what inspired you to write that poem?

Sara: it just came into my head and.

Martin: Is there someone specific, or would you rather not say who you’re referring to or.

Sara: It’s an a-nom-minis.

Martin: Okay, fair enough. Sarah, one last thing. Would you like to introduce Luna?

Sara: Please welcome my sister, Luna. Bye!

Martin: We’re delighted to welcome Luna back to the mic. You’ve grown even more beautiful since we last saw you.

Luna: Thank you.

Martin: How old are you now?

Luna: I’m 13.

Martin: Wow. Congratulations. And you just started back in school in the seventh grade?

Luna: Yeah.

Martin: What did you do in your summer vacation? I’m just asking all of you the same question.

Luna: So over summer vacation, we celebrated my birthday.

Martin: Okay.

Luna: We went to the mall and the Cheesecake Factory.

Martin: Did they give you a special cake?

Luna: Yeah. Yeah.

Martin: And tell us about your dance recital.

Luna: That was earlier in the summer. It was a lot of fun. I love performing.

Martin Sheen: Didn’t you also go to the cooking camp?

Luna: Yeah, I did. It was more of a dessert camp, though. We made, like, desserts.

Martin: What’s your favorite one?

Luna: We made, like, this smoothie bowl, and that was really good. Yeah.

Martin: Okay. Is there anything that you remember saying on the mic when you were here last time that you wish you had not said?

Luna: Yeah. Last time I remember, you asked me if I had a joke, and I didn’t, and I do this time.

Martin: Could we have that joke now?

Luna: Yeah.

Martin: Okay.

Luna: Why do seagulls fly over the sea?

Martin: I don’t know. Why do seagulls fly over the sea?

Luna: Because if they flew over the bay, they’d be bagels.

Martin: Well done. All right, kiddo. thank you so much for joining us again. It’s such a joy to see you.

Luna: So much for having me.

Martin: So now we get all three of these beautiful young ladies. Now. I think we’re going to have them together at the mic. So should we all do it?

Sara: Let’s do it together.

Renee: Let’s do a group read.

Martin: Do you want to do a group read?

Luna, Sara, Jade: Okay.

Martin Sheen: Let’s do it. Group read. Okay.

Luna, Sara, Jade: Me and You My by great grandpa I’m the only me that anyone ever did see from the start of the world till now. Just as you are the only you and it’s true and it’s true that’s just how it is somehow. And even if we could twist our own fate by changing our name and even birthday date, imagine just how confused we might be I could be you and you’d now be me. Let us perish that thought it’s out of the blue and let us return to who is just who. I’m quite happy just being me and that is reflected in all that I see. So if you’re as happy as happy can be, then you will know what it’s like being me.

Martin: Well done!

Luna, Sara, Jade: Thank you.

Martin: Thank you so much for joining us again and we’ll look forward to the next time here on, Great Grandpa Martin’s podcast. I’ve never said that before, have I? I

Bruce: I think we’re just gonna rename it now.

Sara: I thought this was gonna go on for like 15 hours.

Martin: Consider this from legendary Yogi Berra.

“You can observe a lot by watching.”

Martin: “Prairie Spring” by Willa Cather

Evening and the flat land,

Rich and somber and always silent;

The miles of fresh-plowed soil,

Heavy and black, full of strength and harshness;

The growing wheat, the growing weeds,

The toiling horses, the tired men;

The long, empty roads,

Sullen fires of sunset, fading,

The eternal, unresponsive sky.

Against all this, Youth,

Flaming like the wild roses,

Singing like the larks over the plowed fields,

Flashing like a star out of the twilight;

Youth with its insupportable sweetness,

Its fierce necessity,

Its sharp desire;

Singing and singing,

Out of the lips of silence,

Out of the earthy dusk.

Willa Cather was an American writer known for novels that explored immigrant life on the Great Plains, such as “O Pioneers” and “My Antonia” and “One of Ours” for which she won the Pulitzer Prize in 1923. She was born on a small farm in Back Creek Valley, Virginia, on December 7, 1873. She died April 24, 1947, in New York City. Willa Catherine was 73 years old.

Martin: The following is a selection from the book “Blessed Among Us” by Robert Ellsberg. The book is filled with daily reflections that explore the lives of saints as well as ordinary men and women, with extraordinary stories of courage and spiritual awakening.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, arguably the greatest classical composer of all time, was born in Salzburg, Austria, in 1756. His prodigious musical talent was evident from early childhood. By the age of six, he was performing in the royal courts of Europe, and his fame as a composer quickly followed. His compositions ranged across every genre, from masses and oratorios to symphonies and secular operas. Still, he spent much of his life in financial insecurity, depending on the fickle support of patrons in the church and various royal courts. His short life ended in poverty and protracted illness. In 1791, he worked feverishly on a Requiem, convinced he was composing his own funeral mass. He died before its completion and was buried in a pauper’s grave. Mozart is widely regarded as a great religious artist, and not only on account of his liturgical compositions. In all his work, there is a delight in creation, a balance, an affirmation of the final triumph of light and life over death and darkness. George Bernard Shaw wrote that Mozart’s music is the only music that would not sound out of place in the mouth of God. Mozart’s quote “I never lie down at night without reflecting I may not live to see another day. For this blessing, I daily thank my Creator and wish with all my heart that each one of my fellow creatures could enjoy it.” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart died on December 5, 1791. He was 35 years old.

Robert Ellsberg is an American publisher specializing in religious and spiritual exploration. He is Editor in Chief and publisher of Orbis Books. He lives and works in upstate New York with his wife.

Martin: “The Echoing Green” by William Blake

The sun does arise,   And make happy the skies;   The merry bells ring   To welcome the Spring;   The skylark and thrush,   The birds of the bush,   Sing louder around   To the bells’ cheerful sound;   While our sports shall be seen   On the echoing Green.    Old John, with white hair,   Does laugh away care,   Sitting under the oak,   Among the old folk.   They laugh at our play,   And soon they all say,   “Such, such were the joys   When we all—girls and boys—   In our youth-time were seen   On the echoing Green.”    Till the little ones, weary,   No more can be merry:   The sun does descend,   And our sports have an end.   Round the laps of their mothers   Many sisters and brothers,   Like birds in their nest,   Are ready for rest,   And sport no more seen   On the darkening green.

William Blake was a poet, painter and printmaker. His more notable works were Songs of Innocence and Of Experience. Blake’s work was largely unrecognized during his life but highly regarded later by critics and readers for his expressiveness and creativity and for the philosophical and mystical undercurrents within his work. He was born on November 28, 1757, in London, England, and died there on August 12, 1827. William Blake was 69 years old.

Martin: I invite you to delve further into the works of the poets I shared with you, and I hope you seek out writers and poets whose work speaks to your hearts and minds with the power to inspire your life. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve heard here, please subscribe to my podcast The Martin Sheen Podcast, with your host, yours truly, Martin Sheen off course, wherever you find your podcasts. Yeah, I still have to say that. You can find a complete list of the poets and titles of their poems that I’ve chosen at our website themartensheenpodcast.com

I want to thank the people who make this podcast possible. Our producer and research assistant, Renee Estevez, whose explanation of the Internet really gets me thinking, “What’s for lunch?” And our sound engineer and editor, Bruce Greenspan, the man behind these rich and seamless recordings with the much-deserved nickname, the Sound Surgeon. And I especially want to thank you, our listeners, for joining me.

And so, friends, we part with the prayer from Tagore.

Where the heart is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls;
Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action—
Into that heaven of freedom (my Father) let our country awake.

Renee: The Martin Sheen Podcast all rights reserved. No part of this podcast may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form without prior written consent of the author and TE Productions

Renee: “Blessed Among Us: Mozart” by Robert Ellsberg is included here by granted copyright permission and we thank the author for this opportunity to share his work.