From the desk of Sage Sweetwater, this month's newsletter offers an insider's view of Sage Sweetwater's Authors Den poetry being transcribed and set to music by Iceland singer/songwriter Finnur Bjarki.

In a recent conversation with Finnur Bjarki, it is that the Icelanders and the Native American's are very, very similar in the ancient ways of survival. Finnur asked for some background on some of my poems in order so that he may understand the culture and time frame I write about. Finnur loves cowboys and Indians, he always played the Indian as a young boy in Iceland when he and his buddies were playing 'cowboys and Indians'. Most of Finnur's knowledge of the Indians come from American movies and books, which in most part represent the Native Americans honestly, with the exception of a few which are misrepresentations, but we have those misrepresentations in all cultures.

I have studied the Icelanders and their culture not only for the purpose of that it is a very interesting and strong culture which intrigues me, but in so that I may work well with Finnur Bjarki in our songwriting adventure and so that we may well understand each other. We translate our cultures to each other and we understand each other very well...a half-breed Native American lesbian and a handsome, buffed Icelander do fish in the same waters. Why is it that a firebrand lesbian novelist and a straight Icelander singer/songwriter work so well together you may ask? Read further. As you remember, in one of my first newsletters, I said my goal was to let my audience fish in untroubled literary waters. Fish bonds Finnur Bjarki and Sage Sweetwater. Both of our ancestors survived mostly on fish. Also both cultures were very primitive, building their shelters with earth, rock, timber, and hides. Finnur's grandfather was born on a clay floor in the 1900s. When Finnur said to me he would like my straight-forward opinion that if he said something that was not true to Native American history, then to correct him because he is open to learning at all times. I had before told him "just know that I am an intelligent, talented woman and please don't be offended or embarrassed by my words, I am not sure how censored or how modest you are in your country." Our working relationship is one of cooperation. I gave Finnur permission to alter the language in the songs. We think about marketability and scoring these poems into songs for movies. At this point, he said, "But I will go by the feel of melodies I come up with, how much I change if any!" Finnur has no problem with my sexuality. He admits Sage Sweetwater "is a very open and free way of storytelling and probably not for everyone. You have amazing way of expressing yourself and I do admire the straight forward style.
And I´m sure you give some people a culture shock sometimes:)". I supplied Finnur with this link on the relations between Icelanders and Native Americans in history.

http://servefir.ruv.is/vesturfarar/e/SamIndianar.html

After a few rounds of reading my Authors Den poems, Finnur told me he got the feeling he needed a storyteller. He knows a wonderful actor who has a deep and warm, but rough voice and he hears a woman's voice. Finnur tells that percussions will play a big part in transcribing my poems into song, an adaptation arrangement, designed for the voice. Thank you, Finnur Bjarki for giving me this opportunity!


Until we meet again next month, be well dear readers. I love you all...


~~~~~Sage Sweetwater, firebrand lesbian novelist, bringing you the upper tier in lesbian poetry~~~~~