I recall what Lennon said upon meeting Dylan for the first time. He said he was embarrassed that his own lyrics were so trite, and he was inspired to write better. Although Lennon never quite reached Dylan’s lyrical genius, he did indeed improve.

A few years ago, I saw a clip of 22 years young Dylan strumming North Country Blues at Newport Folk Festival (1963). Pete Seeger sits awestruck in the background. I, too, sat awestruck and inspired to write this and shared on Facebook:

“Like Shakespeare, I cannot fathom what deep well these men draw from to nourish their words with such truths. How can they know these things so far beyond themselves? How can they empathize so perfectly with the other? How can they then relate that so clearly to me, who listens with amazement, wonder and awe? And, how can they remain so humble in their brilliance as to regale us, yet again and again, with tales anew?”

Bob Dylan, the Poet Laureate of my generation.