Death of Beloved Actor Robin Williams Prompts Music Video for "My Love Will Lift You Up"

Hi Everyone,

The shocking death this week of Robin Williams, one of the world's most beloved comedic actors, prompted me to create this music video.  I wrote the song for friends who got married in 2013, but had not made a video for it until now.

The song mirrors what all of us are charged to do for those in need. Lift them up. I hope that my song conveys to my husband, children, parents, family and friends that I am here for them always.  Be it depression or some other illness, all of us must support our loved ones and get them the help they need.

"My Love Will Lift You Up" by Melissa Hager, 2013

In the times when strength has left you
I will carry on the fight
Have the arms that will uphold you
All the days of my life

Refrain
Be the comforter you need
Get you through times of strife
I'll be there to lift you up.
My love will lift you up.

As the darkness overtakes you
I will be your guiding light
Have the eyes that will adore you
All the days of my life

Refrain

If the storm clouds gather 'round you
In the middle of the night
I will be there to protect you
All the days of my life

Refrain
Be the comforter you need
Get you through times of strife
I'll be there to lift you up.
My love will lift you up.

The song was recorded at Top Heavy Productions in August 2013.  Performed by The Hager Bunch: Barrett Hager, guitar; Allison Hager, background vocals; Melissa Hager, lead vocals. All photographs and video were taken by me (Melissa Hager) - the storm footage on Tuesday night, August 12, a day after Robin's death.  The storm clouds were amazing and I knew some of that footage had to represent the ones in the song.

If you or anyone you know is thinking of suicide, call 1-800-273-TALK  at the Suicide Prevention Lifeline.  This too shall pass and you don't want to miss the sunshine in tomorrow.

Peace and ciao for now!
Melissa

"Black Gold"

Hi There!

It's been a while since I last posted, but I have a new videoetry to share.  It is a bit graphic as I was compelled to write about the cruelty this poor hippo endured at the hand of poachers.  According to The Weather Channel, poaching of black rhino has increased a great deal because of healing powers associated with its horn.  Grab a Tylenol people!

Or Viagara!  My research says that is a myth anyway.

I first saw this video by Marc Braeckman on The Weather Channel.  Would love to know what he was thinking - did he realize how profound it was to be able to have a rhino survive this dilemma?

I don't know if you can "enjoy" this video, but I feel this poor guy survived to walk to a road so he could be videoed.  So that the world can look in the face and see what greed can do.  

Watch the video, "Black Gold" here .

Ciao for now!

Mel

"Diamonds" Music Video on Videoetry

Hi Everyone!

It's over and Alexandra Patsavas didn't ask to put my song on the Breaking Dawn, Part 2 soundtrack (LOL!).  The Twilight series of books by Stephenie Meyer (and subsequent movies ) have been extremely enjoyable!  And made me write a song, so I put the music video on Videoetry.  

Sorry Videoetry followers who are used to my poetry and video music.  I wrote this for the Eclipse movie with a dream of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart singing a duet.  Alas, it will remain a fantasy. :( 

In case there are other TwiHards who would like to help, the Forks Branch of the North Olympic Library System is in need of a roof!  They were awesome to chat with folks in my library a couple of weeks ago to talk about how Twilight has affected the Forks community.  I plan to help them out.  Hope you will, too.

Have a wonderful Christmas season!  The Hager Bunch Christmas video will be out soon.

Mel

BoonePratt's Word Cypher Contest Gives Me A Mention

Hi All!

I have been a terrible blogger - terrible everything lately - with my summer in overdrive!  Ahh, with the cooler weather and fall colors beginning to peep through, maybe I can get back in the swing of things.  I've missed my videoetries!

Had to share my excitement about a word cypher I entered on BoonePratt's site that snagged me an honorable mention.  Actually, he talked about my entry and was even singing my tune, and that means more than winning in my book.  Check it out!

BoonePratt's Word Cypher Winners and Honorable Mention (Me!)

And for the video, here you go -

 

 

Ciao for now!

Melissa





"Chat With Sam" Gets A Reboot!

I know you have to be laughing if you have followed my Videoetry blog for awhile.  I have relaunched my featured video for today not once, twice, but THREE times since its inception.  There's a song in there somewhere.  Right, Commodores?

It all began when I saw Barrie Howard perform as Mark Twain last weekend.  I was so inspired from "meeting" my idol, that I had to relaunch this videoetry. I created it from photographs I took while in Santa Fe, NM. 

With my former videoetry incarnations about Samuel Clemens, Youtube had busted my hump over copyright use.  This relaunch has not only my poem and photographs, but I also wrote the song that is performed by my good friend, Joseph Hasty. 

Hope you enjoy "Chat With Sam". 

Please remember, I would be glad to utilize your poetry, photographs, video, or song in subsequent videoetries.  Collaboration is awesome!

Ciao for now!
Mel

“Winter Myst” – Misty Fog Covers Secrets Hidden Underneath

Hi All!

Did you miss me? 

My goodness, I have been a busy beaver lately. If you’re not aware, I have a new Youtube channel with  partner, Sean Rutkowski, called Slider Cat Adventures.   It’s been keeping me busy, as well as life in general!  Be sure to check out Slider Cat Adventures at www.youtube.com/slidercatadventures.

Today’s videoetry was created from photographs I had been holding for a couple of months.  I took the photos at sunrise off of my deck when a heavy fog covered the valley.  And there I was stuck about what to write regarding them.

Then I met someone recently who touched me with a story of an embattled youth, a youth scarred by abuse.  You always know there is more to the people you meet than what is shown on the outside.  Hence, the metaphor of the mist that covers what is underneath – for good and for bad.

Hope you enjoy it.  Click here to view "Winter Myst".

Ciao for now!
Melissa

Happy Holidays From Videoetry!

Merry Christmas, All!

The holidays are barreling down on us and I couldn't let them pass without sending my card to you.  It contains a compilation of shots I have taken in my home and in my community.  There is also a song I recorded with my son. 

May your holidays be peaceful, merry, and bright!  Happy New Year, too!

Hope you enjoy "Merry Christmas From Videoetry"

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Segue On An Autumn Road"

Hi All!

My videoetry for today is another first!  Three Youtube channels that I follow contributed video, photos, and music for a videoetry I put together about life and autumn roads. 

Sean Rutkowski with laketahoeweather, who was my first non-family contributor, is back with some great fall video footage around Lake Tahoe.  "Autumn Notes" music from donniemusicchannel and Don Sanders, adds the perfect haunting backdrop for the piece.  Then, great macro photography from ithree6mafia rounds the videoetry out.  Voila! Another videoetry is born!

Autumn is my favorite time of year and I've always loved how the trees seem to give this great gasp of beauty and energy before they "die" for the winter.   Where are you on life's road?

Ciao for now and hope you enjoy "Segue On An Autumn Road".

Mel

"Sailing" - A New Collaboration

This is a post in arrears on probably one of my favorite videoetries, "Sailing".  It is a meditative piece AND it is a collaboration using video footage from Sean Rutkowski at LakeTahoeWeather on YouTube,  music from DanoSongs.com, and my poetry and video editing. 

Lake Tahoe is such a beautiful place and Sean's lovely footage around the lake makes me smile.  Thanks, Sean, for sharing!

I love working with folks to create these videoetries. Feel free to share your photographs, video footage, music snippets, and poetry.  Or better yet, make your own videoetries and let me share your work on my channel as well as yours. 

Hope you enjoy "Sailing".

Ciao for now!
Mel

An "Autumn Moon" Is Rising in This Collaborative Videoetry!

Today, I introduce my second videoetry which I collaborated with someone to create.  Courtney Bowman, a fantastic photographer who is only a high school senior, shared this photograph with me to use for my "Autumn Moon" poem. 

Embracing the concept of the line "Removes the colors from our sight" from the Moody Blues song "Nights In White Satin", I had created a poem.   The videoetry required a cool shot of a moon in the fall and I happened to remember this photograph from Courtney's photo album on FaceBook.  It was taken in the fall of 2010. 

Not only does this photograph hold the requisite full moon, but it has one tree with full green leaves and yet another which is headed toward nakedness.  A perfect representation for this particular time of year.

Hope you enjoy "Autumn Moon" on Videoetry.  Many thanks to Courtney for her photo!

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Sunflowers"

Today, I feature my first collaboration with someone other than family. In this videoetry, beautiful sunflowers are celebrated in footage provided by LakeTahoeWeather's Sean Rutkowski. I was honored that Sean offered his video footage for me to use in videoetries. There is more of his lovely footage from the Lake Tahoe area he shared with me, and I hope you will check back to see what other videoetric delights we can come up with!

Add to the mix, a fantastic tune from DanoSongs.com.  There you can download free music to use in your videos.  I look forward to exploring more of Dano's tunes for future works.

 

I hope you enjoy "Sunflowers".

Ciao for now!

Mel

"Prayer for Texas"

My recent trip to Texas found me scootin' through the back country southwest of Dallas, meeting nice folks, and gaping at the expansiveness of everything.  People still smile there even though the ground is thirsty. 

Many said they were sad that I would see their land in a drought, but I still saw the tenacious beauty that is Texas.  I offer this prayerful videoetry in hope that rain will return soon.

Hope you enjoy "Prayer for Texas".

"Ode To Tahoe" and Labor Day Weekend

Happy Labor Day Weekend, Folks!

Today I reach back into my photo collection and use photos to create a videoetry about Lake Tahoe.  Wish like heck I was there!  Tahoe is currently in the throes of summer's last breath and will probably see the first snows soon.

fabulouslaketahoe made a comment on my "Shenandoah" videoetry on how beautiful it is up there in Virginia.  When I remarked to him that he lives in the most remarkable place, he commented that you have to work around stuff.  True, but that's true anywhere.  Even places like Yosemite have touristas everywhere getting in your photographing way.

I know I have eyed a huge bunch of these beautiful, yellow flowers at my kids' bus stop.  I keep fussing at myself for not bringing my cell phone to get a shot of those flowers in the early sunrise light.  They're at the end of our drive and next to ugly blacktop, but I bet I'll make them pretty!  If I do get some shots before they die, you'll be the first to know.

Finally, I dedicate this videoetry to two of my subscribers who a) live in fabulous Lake Tahoe and b) follow my videoetries.  I truly appreciate you laketahoeweather and fabulouslaketahoe!  Hope you enjoy
"Ode To Tahoe".

Ciao for now!
Mel

Quick Trip Yields Gorgeous Views and "Shenandoah"

Hi All!

Ahhh, a little trip to the Shenandoah River valley in western Virginia is just the cure for my little videoetry drought.  What amazing views from the valley, but to experience Skyline Drive that winds down the spine of the Appalachian Mountains?  Whoa!  I highly recommend it. 

Shenandoah National Park has a $15 per car fee, but it gets you to hiking trails, Skyline Drive (which is nearly 100 miles long), and a ton of overlooks.  We started at the top at Front Royal and drove to the bottom.  If you can't hang for 100 miles, there are many exits along the way you can use to leave the park.

I used the acrostic form of poetry to spell out "Shenandoah" (click to see video).  Hope you enjoy my latest videoetry.

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Blink"

This poem took two funeral processions to get written down.  It is a reflection on that very sad part of life - death, and the Southern way of honoring the dead as they move to their final resting place.  People in the rural South pull their cars over for the dead and their mourners - a tradition lost in urban areas and other parts of the US.

As I said, it was written in two parts - it first came to me on the long drive from the funeral home to our family cemetary where we buried my grandfather.  It revisited me two months later as I was driving in my husband's aunt's funeral procession.  I managed to jot it down without running over the car in front of me. 

Please click here to see "Blink"

Ciao for now...
Mel

"Five Flats In Cut Time"

Another poem inspired by a prompt at Poetic Asides http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/, "Five Flats and Cut Time" is about a moment for me when I was NOT paying attention.  If you know anything about music, time and key signatures are awfully important.  If you miss what they're telling you (as I did :) ), it can sound AWFUL!

You can also scroll through at http://www.virtualpoetryreading.com/ and find this poem read by me among others.  This neat site from poet, Buddah Moskowitz, allows one to exercise their vocal skills and read your poetry as if you're at a poetry slam.  Hey!  I miss Teen Poetry Happens @ The Bean during the summer.  I need something!

Hope you enjoy "Five Flats and Cut Time"

Ciao for now!
Mel

Step Back In Time To Celebrate July 4th!

Ahhhhh....it was only a year ago that our family went on that marvelous vacation out west that spurred on videoetries!  Today, I thought I would highlight our Lake Tahoe section of the journey as that's where we spent the 4th and 5th of July last year. 

According to Fabulous Lake Tahoe's blogspot, Lake Tahoe's fireworks are rated at 6th best in the country.  After seeing them, I would say definitely so!

My husband and I both wrote poetry about the fireworks.  Then, I created videoetries for both. 

Hope you enjoy Brent's poem "Twice The Show" 

and my poem "Tahoe Toe Lapping"

Happy Independence Day!

Mel

"Lost in Enchantment"

Hi There!

I'm proud to launch this videoetry that was inspired by a poem my son wrote while traveling in New Mexico last summer.  Trying to find our way on the Mile High Road from Santa Fe to Taos, we kind of got sidetracked (OK, lost).  My son decided this would be the moment to launch his poetic musings.  Ha!

In case you don't know, New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment.  Hence the name of his poem.

Videoetries may be sparse over the summer as it is when I am the busiest with summer reading at the library.  Why won't some of you come up with video snippets?  Remember the rules above and get creating!

Ciao for now!  Hope you enjoy "Lost in Enchantment"! http://www.youtube.com/Videoetry?feature=mhee#p/u/6/V0LFFknQvNQ
Mel

"Goodnight, Little Girl"

Hi There!

My videoetry for this week was inspired by a poem I wrote for Poetic Asides, an online poetic community to which I regularly contribute. http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/  The poetry prompt for that week was to write a reality based poem without metaphor or simile. 

Since this incident truly happened and my "little" girl has left the building (OK, so I CAN'T completely get away from metaphor), I thought the poem fit the prompt quite well.

The photographs of her come from our wonderful vacation out west last year.  Hope you enjoy "Goodnight, Little Girl"

Ciao for now!
Mel

"Purple Haze" and we're not talking Hendrix!

Oh, but the teens like this title!  Jimi Hendrix still thrills the new generation. 

This poem was written about a gorgeous wisteria vine that was adorning a fence in front of a beautiful home in Charleston, SC last year.  Our family was there for Easter (see "Lonely Palm of Folly") and I imagined a war between the fence and the vine. 

The poem is published in the 2011 edition of The Lyricist poetry magazine.  Campbell University sponsors the statewide poetry contest and puts out the winners and honorable mentions in the magazine each April.

Hope you enjoy "Purple Haze".

Ciao for now!
Mel