Danny Boy

frank coverMy father was known throughout our neighborhood for his honey-rich tenor, his mastery of Irish-American songs, and Sinatra standards. The voice itself was beautiful, but what amazed folks the most was that my father stuttered horribly when he spoke, but not when he sang. It seemed a bit of miracle.

Dad never sang at home though, just in the bars. He had his reasons.

And here I am, near the age when he died, still unable to carry a tune.

 

Dinty W. Moore is author of the forthcoming collection of humorous essays, Dear Mister Essay Writer Guy: An Unconventional Writing Guide, or Curious Meditations on Life, Love, Cannibals, and the Imminent Polar Bear Apocalypse (Random House/Ten Speed 2015), as well as the memoir Between Panic & Desire, winner of the Grub Street Nonfiction Book Prize in 2009. A professor of nonfiction writing at Ohio University, Moore lives in Athens, Ohio, where he grows heirloom tomatoes, lemon cucumbers, and edible dandelions.

For more, see Dinty W. Moore: Writing Essays with Brevity

Photo Credit: Jeremy Chan

3 Responses to “Danny Boy”

  1. Ann Marie Potter says:

    Your Wiki bio says that you were born in Erie, Pennsylvania. Is this true? If so, where did you go to school? Just curious. Also, take a walk through that marvelous cemetery for me. I applied to your school, not for the English department, but because of the cemetery.

  2. Russo Lewis says:

    You bet. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing this Mr. Moore. I too stammered…still do, only my songs came through a puppet. When I cross over that rainbow, maybe, (I’m already making practice jumps,) I can meet others with this form of “rewired projection.” Maybe your dad. All the best Mr. Moore. Thanks again…You’re a good teacher.

  3. paul beckman says:

    “He had his reasons” says so much. Perfect title too.

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