09 February 2005

I Am in Need of Music

I am in need of music that would flow
Over my fretful, feeling fingertips,
Over my bitter-tainted, trembling lips,
With melody, deep, clear, and liquid-slow.
Oh, for the healing swaying, old and low,
Of some song sung to rest the tired dead,
A song to fall like water on my head,
And over quivering limbs, dream flushed to glow!

There is a magic made by melody:
A spell of rest, and quiet breath, and cool
Heart, that sinks through fading colors deep
To the subaqueous stillness of the sea,
And floats forever in a moon-green pool,
Held in the arms of rhythm and of sleep.

~ Elizabeth Bishop

(A day late for her birthday, but an excuse to post poetry nevertheless...)

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

You are like the world's best super sleuth. Where did you find this? Lovely, lovely, lovely. Full of us in every syllable, every pause, every word, between every line. My mind has been much on music lately, day dreaming in staff meetings of those songs that have opened up history to me: Miner's Song (CJ) and Gold Rush Brides (10,000 Maniacs) and wanting to write about what it all means to me someday, someday. Tonight we'll see Griffin and music will open wide the skies toward heaven and we will all willingly drink every drop that is given. It's great to know that in this world of change, disappointment, hurt, mistrust, and loneliness, that music is one thing that will never leave us, never disappoint us, or change. It is only us that changes because of the music, and always, ever and always, we are the better for it.

Thank you my angel. - Jane