Kathy lives in San Leandro, CA in a commune and is the mother of Michael (1970-1982), Melanie (1972) and twins Nicolas and Cassandra (1985). Her primary life partner Dean Dierschow (familiar as her most devoted roadie) lives there with her in a wonderful ongoing courtship. She was very involved in the antiwar movement in the sixties and sang in Kansas City for the first Moratorium. She has appeared as filk GOH at almost every filk convention and many regular SF conventions as well.
Pegasus Awards
* 1989 - Best Filk Song - Arafel's Song (Tree of Swords & Jewels) (With Mercedes Lackey)
* 1989 - Best Writer/Composer
* 1991 - Best Love Song - Velveteen
* 1993 - Best Writer/Composer
* 1994 - Best Filk Song - Drink Up the River
* 1996 - Best Filk Song - When Giants Walked
* 2004 - Best Writer/Composer
Albums
* Songbird - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-??) 1982
* On a Bright Wind - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-??) 1984
* Bamboo Wind - Off Centaur (cassette OCP-54) 1985
* Plus Ca Change - Thor Records (cassette FK1003) 1988
* Plus C'est La Mme Chose - Thor Records (cassette FK1006) 1990
* Made By Magic - with Zander Nyrond, Dandelion Digital CD DD-005CD, 1994
* My Favorite Sings - Prometheus Music CD, 1999
* Plus Ca Change / Plus C'est La Mme Chose - DragonsGate Music CD 2000
Starship And Haiku
Kathy Mar Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I will not dance death
I will not lie down here in peace
And release my last breath
All of our hopes have been cast on the reefs and are gone
Still my salt blood reaches out for the sky
Still my warm song touches notes clear and high
Outward I go and I know I will fly a new dawn
Chorus: Starship and Haiku
Dying hate and living love
Reach beyond our sin
Starship and Haiku
One last flawed reminder of
All we might have been
I am a discord in deathsong I cannot be still
I am an infinite paean a permanent trill
I am a leap to the stars I am song to the sky
Always I shun the bleak burial grounds
Always I listen for life's vibrant sounds
Always my hollow-reed heartbeat resounds with its cry
Chorus
Repeat Verse 1
Words and music: Kathy Mar
Copyright 1984 Kathy Mar
In this song, Kathy Mar sings about an individual who stands out as a "flaw" in a perfect world - the "tea-bowl" representing a sense of peace and harmony. This person is refusing to give in to death and refuses to lie down in peace and release their last breath. Even though their hopes have been shattered and everything seems lost, they still reach out for the sky and continue to sing notes that are clear and full of life. They are determined to go outward and fly into a new dawn, leaving behind the constraints of death and embracing a new beginning. This song is about carrying on and moving forward despite the challenges that come our way, and ultimately being able to reach toward a future filled with hope and possibility.
The chorus, "Starship and Haiku, dying hate and living love, reach beyond our sin," emphasizes the contrast of the darkness and light in the world. The starship represents humanity's capability to advance and explore new worlds, while the haiku represents a beautiful, succinct poem that expresses the natural essence of the world. These two concepts are fused with a message of hope - that love can triumph over hate, and that looking beyond our own selfishness and limitations can help us move forward and ultimately become better people.
Overall, "Starship and Haiku" is an uplifting message about the power of hope and the human spirit to overcome adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
I am the flaw in the tea-bowl
I am imperfect and flawed, like a crack in a tea-bowl.
I will not dance death
I will not succumb to death easily.
I will not lie down here in peace
I will not accept death peacefully.
And release my last breath
And let go of my last breath.
All of our hopes have been cast on the reefs and are gone
All of our hopes have been shattered and disappeared like a shipwreck on the reefs.
Still my salt blood reaches out for the sky
Still, despite everything, I have an unquenchable desire to reach for the sky.
Still my warm song touches notes clear and high
My song is still alive and embodies hope and purity.
Outward I go and I know I will fly a new dawn
I am headed towards a new beginning and I know I will soar.
Starship and Haiku
The combination of science fiction and poetry.
Dying hate and living love
The contrast between hate and love.
Reach beyond our sin
Overcome our flaws.
One last flawed reminder of
A reminder of how we could have been better.
All we might have been
An acknowledgement that we could have achieved more.
I am a discord in deathsong I cannot be still
I am a counterpoint to the idea of death and I will always be restless.
I am an infinite paean a permanent trill
I am a song of praise that will never stop.
I am a leap to the stars I am song to the sky
I am a celebration of the potential for greatness and the freedom of movement in the galaxy.
Always I shun the bleak burial grounds
I refuse to accept a bleak and depressing end.
Always I listen for life's vibrant sounds
I am always searching for the positive energy and hope that lay buried within life.
Always my hollow-reed heartbeat resounds with its cry
My heart beats like a hollow reed, continuously emitting cries of hope and possibility.
Repeat Verse 1
Reiteration of the first verse as a reminder of the imperfection and struggle in life.
Contributed by Muhammad B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.