Reading Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms

Roos-hr-139x210My book Reading Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms, co-authored with Robert W. Lewis, has just been published by Kent State University Press in June 2019. You can order it now direct from KSUP. Here’s a description of the book and a link to order.

Or order it from Amazon.

Or order it from Barnes and Noble.

My song “Caporetto” was inspired by the novel. Watch a YouTube video of the song here.


Dark and Scarlet Moon (For John McCain)

Listen on YouTube

Seems like all is ashes, dust, and sadness
Whatever’s on the stove is way past done
All the minions marching to the madness
Whatever’s good and true is on the run
Masked men with machine guns in the garden
A pirate ship at bay in the lagoon
Desperate people praying for a pardon
Underneath a dark and scarlet moon

Another day, another hero fallen,
Who is there to stand among the brave?
Who is there to hear the wounded calling?
Who will lay a wreath upon the grave?
Someone sang a hymn so wise and truthful
I’d sing it but I can’t recall the tune
Everybody busy looking youthful
Underneath a dark and scarlet moon

Somewhere there’s a child so warm and tender
Wrapped up in her mother’s loving arms
Somewhere there’s someone who won’t surrender
To the power and the greed and false alarms
The Midnight Special standing at the station
Conductor say it leaving here real soon
Must be some way out of this damnation
Underneath a dark and scarlet moon


Copyright © 2018 by Michael Kim Roos

Rich Man

I am a rich man, I take what I want,
From Colorado, Tennessee, and Vermont.
I made a fortune in South African mines,
Been round the world and slept with all kinds.

Blow up the moon, stir up the stars,
Ride on a rocket, take Venus and Mars
Silk stockings, high heels, and cigars
Ride on a rocket, take Venus and Mars

I am a rich man, I drink what I need.
When I make war, it’s you who must bleed.
Why should I worry when I poison the sky?
I won’t be breathing any air when I die.


I am a rich man, I dance when I please.
You see me comin’, better get on your knees.
I own the sun, I own the fuel and the breeze,
Purple mountains, green valleys, blue seas.


I’ll tell you something every senator knows,
I use their hair and their skin for my clothes.
I take their mistresses, their kids and their wives,
Cut out their hearts and eat ’em alive.


I am a rich man, it’s what I deserve.
You want to stop me but you ain’t got the nerve.
You save the whales and you drink your green tea,
But deep inside you want to be me.