Wow. Congrats to our hipster beat bongo poet grandad Ralph! At issue 50 his booklet of the same name might very well be the longest running zine in Canada. Through everything, through thick and thin, through booking agents who tell him that his jazz spoken word act is way too French, Ralph hangs on, lets it all hang out, smiles and write poetry. The 50th edition has lots of Ralph’s book and tune picks, but as usual it’s the poetry that we’re all in it for. Kinda corny, just a bit funny, Ralph’s words give us a crooked smile that we want to hide behind a hand until it fades into a grin. It would be only suitable to leave you with Ralph’s own whimsical words but before I go, I’d like everyone to join me in raising my coffee mug and toasting fifty more editions of Ralph! And now without further ado here’s I Hope He Loves You: “I hope you’re happy/I hope you got kids/I hope he loves you/Like I never did.” (HN)
zine, #50, Ralph, free with postage, Box 93627, Vancouver, BC, V6E 4L7