Whispers and Wanderings

This is my effort at 'blank verse'. Not completely successful I feel but the sentiment is heartfelt so I thought I would post it to this blog. It have tweaked it several times in the intervening times but I still like the first version best of all. So, this was written in June 2022.  Imagine, standing in front of a mirror, looking at your reflection and asking yourself..... WHO WILL YOU BE TODAY  Who are you going to be today - a sibling, a parent, a colleague, or friend? What kind of person will you be today, will you be kind, be mean or just pretend to be who you're expected be? What purpose will your words have today - just pause and  give this a thought.  Will they bring joy or encourage, will they heal, will they wound or support - or require you to say I'm sorry? And will you? What emotions will your actions bring  - will they bring happiness, laughter or tears? Will they invigorate, inspire or elevate or will they simply play upon the fears of  those...

This essay, originally written in February 2019, recently reminded me of the night it was written. I had been out with friends and had spent the evening immersed in the sounds of local musicians performing their original creations. I remember being carried by their energy, moved by their talent, and struck by the bravery it must take to stand on a stage and give a piece of yourself to an audience — to be celebrated, enjoyed, and inevitably judged. When I got home I couldn't sleep - this is what I wrote. “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” ― Plato I am a Melophile - I love music! It is my constant companion and, be it vocal or instrumental, often serves to inspire, delight and move me. Like all the arts, Music is subjective - what inspires me may not inspire you, what moves you may not move me.  It is as individual as you or I.  Amongst other factors, our musical tastes are formed by our experiences of life ...

First published - 1 March 2019 Why am I awake at three am? Looking through the darkness, searching through the silence, for signs I'm not alone? Listening to the bad thoughts,  as they jostle out the good thoughts in my mind. Why am I awake at four o'clock? Contemplating friendships, musing on mis-judgements and  words I may have said that have caused pain - and words I should have said that still remain? Why am I awake at half past four? Watching shadows dancing on my wall, thinking of my actions, with divided factions  and how to make the discord disappear? Nothing is clear. I am glad that I'm awake at 6am As the light pervades the darkness,  I hear the sound of bird song and I smile. And I listen to the good thoughts, as they jostle out the bad thoughts in my mind.