Saturday, September 12, 2020

Songs for the Suffering World

 

Continuing the poetry thread (how else to capture the full range of beauty and insanity of our times?), with a nod to my tribe, the music teachers. 

 

WHAT ISSA HEARD 

 

Two hundred years ago Issa heard the morning birds

singing sutras to this suffering world.

 

I heard them too, this morning, which must mean,

 

since we will always have a suffering world,

we must also always have a song.

 

-       David Budbill

 

 

FRIEND: DOWNLOAD THIS FREE PROCLAMATION FOR LOCAL USE

 

Whereas the world is a house on fire;


Whereas the nations are filled with shouting;


Whereas hope seems small, sometimes

  a single bird on a wire

  left by migration behind. 


Whereas kindness is seldom in the news

   and peace an abstraction

   while war is real; 


Whereas my words are all I have;


Whereas my life is short; 


Whereas I am afraid;


Whereas I am free- despite all

   fire and anger and fear; 

 

Be it therefore resolved a song

   shall be my calling—a song

  not yet made shall be my vocation

  

   and peaceful words the work

  of my remaining days. 

 

-       Kim Stafford

 

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