Sonnet XIII
Who stands in abundant weakness weary Where mind imperfect tis replete with sorrow Whose strength in defeat doth without query Sew cruel seas of doubt till it be morrow Such flawed actor playing thy part in fear Weep thine eye in fathomless waters deep Where siren’s sing of sunken treasures dear Thy stage in decay […]
Sonnet XII
Behold mine heart’s glow in raiment ablaze Such sweet melody givest hope divine Presume not thyself unworthy always Thou livest within my tears that shine Within thine chary breast this naïve do find Bearing mine every flaw by chance forgiv’n Expiate though I as love’s witness bind For candles burn though rain so long be […]
Sonnet XI
Far in the East, a woman’s face sails ships Where boundless sea doth marry endless sun Shine fairest maid, unveil thy rosy lips That daylight’s kiss so purely hath begun Thy bloom tis rare and heart bewitching be As nature bows in reverent esteem Oh fragrant rose tis bold thy purity Where garden’s grow the […]
The Only Thing That Speaks Is Courage
Musical comment: In terms of pure musical thrill, this is my favorite Callas moment. The variation on the last verse with the staccati up to Eb and descent to Ab is magical, but what I love most is actually the part immediately after (at 2:43). Bernstein’s tempo is breathtakingly fast, but Callas dispatches the series […]
Sonnet X
What means hath thou outwardly investedThat fortifies scorn born of virtue lostIn age to come let thy word be testedFor poets live in hearts as dreams be tossed Let all bells toll as ancient rhyme repliesThat clever delight in form and pleasureBe thee reborn where sea’s meet blissful skiesMourning thy warm embrace first love’s treasure […]
Death Has Nothing to Do With Going Away
Death has nothing to do with going away.The sun sets. The moon sets. But they are not gone. PERSONAL REFLECTION: In Rumi’s words death is unveiled to us as a construct of the world and not of a loving God. Man has created this primary reverie from which the illusions of death stem. Perhaps we […]
Sonnet IX
Where doth eternal happiness derive All poet’s knowledge of princes grow Such fortune born of heaven’s stars do thrive In seasons gone and beauty yet to know If time wouldst befriend thy heart ever pure Thy dear perfection here be richly set I promise thee my heart that groweth sure Loveliness charms a jester’s solemn […]
In the Dark of Night a Light Shines
The musty smell of humanity surrounds me from every angle. In the dark of night, a railroad car, no room to breathe, time lost to insanity. Last night, twelve SS men broke into our home and our lives were changed forever. Abandoned by Adonai, I never dreamed this would happen to us. Right in this […]
Sonnet VIII
Late is the night where slumber’s soul doth weep And tears remain entombed ‘neath shallow grave Thy boundless song doth know thine azure deep Standing ‘fore thee, fear commands not the brave Life force bare thy semblance that you were Oh beauteous light thy luster gleaming Dim tempest looming upon my breath doth stir Stabbed […]
Sonnet VII
That which thou perceivest where mem’ries fly Born of the winged dragon’s transcendent flame Thy youth before thee torn from azure sky Rough winds did blow and time n’er be the same Send me a sign of thy soul’s divine love Setting ablaze such gladness long denied Sweet sorrow’d Icarus sing from above For stout […]