Photography by Joseph Eid
A real pity it is to say…
but a person can lose their home
a person can lose their fine clothes
a person can lose their fancy trappings
a person can grow old, losing their vitality
and all that must be met
with courage
with kindness
a gentle greeting
understanding
and proper aid
even a brave person — to lose their *music
such a person would lose their joy — their mind
it would be the dark death of their verve their soul
and that would prove to be the true tragedy of their life
*
rob kistner © 2022
Poetry at: The Sunday Muse
R.I.P. John Prine 1946-2020 — you are missed
A voice in Ukraine sings out – may it be just one in a chorus of courageous resistance!
* Music means many things — faith, belief, courage, optimism, joy, sanity, strength, humility, memory, wonder, creativity, sorrow, forgiveness, celebration, soul, patience, hope, love — this, and much much more, is all one’s “music”! All the things above and beyond the material. Music of the spheres.
This holds so much truth and wisdom Rob! I think it is a new favorite for me of your poems! It makes you think about what truly matters, and how music does stir the soul so deeply.
Thank you Carrie, very much. It was Eid’s powerful photograph speaking to me. 🙂 This was biograpical in its essence. You know, if you ever discontinue your visual prompts, there is a good chance I will lose my joy, my mind, my verve, and my soul!
This is the image that speaks to me too, Rob. In the midst of devastation, music lifts him up. I love that.
Yes Sherry! 🙂 It is because everything around him truly spoke to his physical, his material, and that is terrible to lose — music speaks only to the soul, it nurtures the soul, the ability to see above and beyond the material. It gives us a passion to live. If one losed that, one loses all. ;(
That’s true even if it’s only the imaginary music in his head
The music of the spheres!
The music amidst devastation is both heartbreaking as well as inspiring. Luv your take on the prompt Rob.
Happy you dropped by my blog today
Much love…
The people must never lose their voices raised in protest, raised in joy! Much love to you Gillena.
Oh yes – to lose one’s music would be a true tragedy!
Music means many things — faith, belief, courage, optimism, joy, sanity, strength, humility, memory, creativity, soul, patience, love — this, and much much more, is all music! All the things above and beyond the material. Music of the spheres.
Yes… that’s what I was contemplating too…
<3
David
Three great minds in agreement!
Good poem…music is sanity
Thank you. Sure as hell is to me Rall. It is all the things I commented to Ingrid. It opens our eyes to see beyond the fundamental base elements of life, the things that make life worth living.
What survives when boulders rain? Music. Can’t imagine a world without it.
Certainly not a world I want to live in Marion!
Dear Rob, I heartily agree! Without music I know my life would lose much of it’s luster, verve, inspiration, energy ….. and on and on. A really neat poem describing that emotion.
Thank you Helen. Music, dance, poetry, art, is all, at its heart, music. It’s tempo, rhythm, balance, expression… It is the soul singing. What is the first act of love between a mother and a child — after holding, it is song. Universal communication..
You expressed the emotions so aptly.
Thank you Sunita… 🙂
Life may have taken many things from this man but, it hasn’t taken his joy and appreciation for music that is what keeps his soul alive, even when the walls around him are crumbling down.
Music feeds the soul, and the soul is always hungry True — as I see it. A starved soul makes physical survival much more difficult — and I ain’t speaking religiously. A person’s true spirit is what I refer to.
Excellent in my book, Rob. Speaking of books, the russian president was shown on TV crossing himself for Eastern or russian Orthodox Easter. His Bible is like others? Those books have the ten commandments, the 5th is “Thou shall not kill.” Besides being a ruthless killer and a mad man, he now has been shown to be a hypocrite.
..
Thank you Jim. He is a monster!
You got to the heart of music lovers. So true.
Music makes the world go round. I do not trust people who claim not to like music. They seem to me either liars or perhaps worse — sociopaths…?