Nature

Years ago, when I would visit my former English professor about once a year, we discussed which American writer we thought would finally break the Nobel Literature drought, as they hadn't given it to one of our fellow citizens since they gave it to Toni Morrison, a fellow graduate of our school, in 1993.  I've only read Song of Solomon, but I'd give her the prize just for that.

Anyway, neither of us considered that they would break the drought by giving the Nobel Prize to the guy who wrote "Masters of War": "you that build all the bombs."  Dynamite!

Seriously, Bob deserves a paradoxical celebration.  Besides, masters of war inspired such a song about Vietnam, but previous masters of war kept the axis from our shores.  I think that's why Bob stopped writing "finger-pointing songs."  He saw the world from many angles.  I'm not sure how he sees this award.  I don't think awards matter much, because we know if people are talented, and I've been reading American writers despite certain opinions that our culture is too "insular."  Yet I would still disagree with those writers who ironically used the bird chatter channel, the least "literary" medium available, to criticize Dylan's being honored with such a prestigious Literature award.  I think they should give him an Academy Award simply for the way he pronounces potatoes in "Million Dollar Bash," and I'm aware that it's not a movie.

I don't understand why people other than taxonomists care so much about categories.  The only purpose these awards serve is to remind us how lucky we are to be alive to enjoy these incredibly inventive and artistic people.

Mr. Dylan was one of my greatest inspirations for setting out on the open road, and thanks to modern technology, one of my best friends while I was on it.  When I returned from those lucky journeys, very few people wanted to really hear about my travels, because, ya know, life goes on for everyone.  Even so, sometimes I imagine that more people are interested in learning about what I've learned, about all the amazing things the world has shown me while keeping me alive.  And depending on my mood, I could give them the happy story or the one that isn't.  If I simply wanted to guide them somewhere , I could sum things up in two Dylan songs.  Were I thinking of newspapers, how much people blame each other for demographic reasons, and all the things I've been around or been told of by fellow travelers, I suppose I'd just ask them if they've ever heard that song "A Hard Rain's a Gonna Fall."  If I were feeling more optimistic about the harmonious poetic beauty of existence--which I usually am--then I would prescribe "If Dogs Run Free."  Whether or not you'd give him awards is fine with me