Greetings from the planet formally known as Earth!
Summer greetings from the planet formally known as Earth—and how I wish that was funnier..
Speaking of humor, however, not long ago I got a an email from a fan in Germany that read:
"Dear Tom Kimmel, I am very happy to find your website. My friend said you were dead."
Maybe I've been flying a little too far below the radar. I do have a little news this month, a recommendation, a new poem, and a bit of wisdom for our time from Abraham Lincoln.
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Contents of This Newsletter
1. Sweden Retreat report (It was wonderful.)
2. Crete Retreat in 2026
3. Ireland 2026 & 2027 updates
4. Recommendation: How we can help protect public radio and TV
5. Song of the Month: Long Long Way from Here
6 Poem of the Month: Revenge of the Baby Seals
7. Wisdom for our time from Abraham Lincoln
1. Sweden Retreat (very short report)
Teaching and writing again last month in Sweden at the Gotland International Songwriters Retreat was inspiring and rejuvenating. A wonderful group of fellow writers on this beautiful island in the Baltic Sea.
Sincere thanks to Swedish artists Annika Fehling and Eva Hillered for inviting me.
Enjoy Annika Fehling's and Eva Hillered's lovely music at Spotify, Apple Music et al.
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2. 2026 songwriting retreat on Crete
Speaking of teaching, I've been invited to return to Crete in June of next year to teach and write at Eva Hillered's annual writing retreat . I'll post details next newsletter.
BTW the retreat site overlooks the blue Mediterranean. And the food, dear Lord. Who knew olive oil could be so good?
3. Ireland 2026 and 2027
My upcoming August tour is sold out, as is my June 2026 tour, but occasionally cancellations happen, so if you'd like to join our waiting list, visit the Inishfree Tours schedule page here:
https://www.inishfreetours.
Scroll down to my June 24 tour and click the Join Waiting List button. If you feel the tug, please plan ahead. It's such a special place.
4. Protecting our endangered public media
As we know, public radio and television are in a precarious situation. Here's a great resource for keeping them healthy and free.
https://protectmypublicmedia.
5. Song of the Month: Long Long Way from Here
I grew up during the civil rights era, and I wish to God it was over! I wrote this song with my talented friend Cliff Goldmacher for my Short Stories album (which Cliff produced).
To stream for free (or buy for 99¢), visit my website and scroll down the homepage. You’ll see it there—and of course it's also streaming everywhere.
And if you'd like to read the lyrics:
https://tomkimmel.com/track/
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6. Poem of the Month
Revenge of the Baby Seals
In this shocking development
baby seals fight back.
In a scene never before witnessed
a pack of baby seals apparently
attacked a group of seal hunters
as they approached
for the annual harvest.
According to three surviving hunters
the small seals suddenly charged
with alarming speed, ripping the clubs
from the surprised hunters' hands
and tearing through their thick clothing.
One of the hunters, having fled
to a nearby fishing village
led skeptical law enforcement officers
to the gruesome scene
where they found no trace of the missing men
and a bloody trail to the edge of the sea.
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7. Wisdom for our time
"At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad."
—Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), 16th President of the United States
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Till next month, Maximum Peace, Love, and Understanding,
TK
©2025 Point Clear Records & Press