ode to mix tapes by sherman alexie

ode to mix tapes

by sherman alexie

these days, it's too easy to make mix tapes.
     cd burners, ipods, and itunes
             have taken the place
     of vinyl and cassette.  and, soon
enough, clever introverts will create
quicker point-and-click ways to declare
     one's love, lust, friendship, and favor.
             but i miss the labor
of making old-school mix tapes- the midair

acrobats of recording one song
     at a time.  it sometimes took days
              to play, choose, pause,
     ponder, record, replay, erase,
and replace.  but there was no magic wand.
it was blue-collar work.  a great mix tape
     was sculpture designed to seduce
              and let the hounds loose.
a great mix tape was a three-chord parade
led by the first song, something bold and brave,
     a heat-seeker like prince with "cream,"
     or "let's get it on," by marvin gaye.
the next song was always patsy cline's "sweet dreams,"
or something by hank.  but o, the last track
     was the vessel that contained
     the most devotion and pain
and made promises that you couldn't take back.


(from war dances)