Weird How Things Change, But Stay the Same

I came across a weird little poem today. Upon finishing it, I thought of another poem so similar in thought, written over 100 years ago by my friend Claude Achille Debussy. I wish I could present his in French, because it is oh-so-much-better that way, but the stilted English translation will have to do.


Where have all the gentlemen gone?
Do women long for a tipped hat
and a kind word?
It doesn’t seem they do.

What a sad era I was born into.
I do not wish to be called an “X”.
Surely I am not alone
in feeling this way.

Through the middle of town
runs a railroad track; a skeletal remain
of a once thriving industry;
a once thriving way of life.

At the end is a caboose
faded from red to pink
by the unchanging sun.
How lonely she seems
remembering when she was wanted.
Here is my escape.

Her cracked and peeling paint flakes away
at my touch.
Weeds have grown all about her,
trying to hide her from the world.
But I see her beauty.

I climb inside
and sit upon her rotting cherry seat.
I close my eyes and imagine
being swept away to a world I miss,
yet never knew.

- Terry Cooper

The night is as sweet as a woman,
and the old trees dream under the golden moon.
They didn't know how to call to the one who just passed,
her head crowned with pearls,
now and forever distraught.

All have passed now,
the frail, the foolish,
sowing their laughter in the sparse grass,
breezes brushing
the flowering hips' charming caress.
Alas! Only a white shiver remains of all this.

The old trees weep their gilded leaves
under the golden moon.
No more will anyone dedicate to them
proud golden helms.
Now and forever tarnished,
the knights are dead
on the Grail quest.

The night is sweet as a woman.
Hands seem to stroke the souls,
such foolish, frail hands,
in the days when swords sang for them!
Strange sighs rise under the trees.
My soul, they are from an old dream that holds you.

What strikes me most is that Debussy wrote his poem mourning the loss of the good old days during the time that are Cooper's good old days. Both ask: Where have all the gentlemen/knights gone? What happened to chivalry?What do the objects left behind (caboose/trees) know about the old world? Are they crying over their loss of honor? Why am I stuck in this time, when my soul calls out for an era I never even knew?

It's weird how things change and yet stay the same.

Oh, Poetry...

The chamber choir commissioned some pieces from Chris Theofanidis for a concert we performed in this weekend. They were all a cappella and beautifully set, but the one that has captivated my thoughts for the past several days is "When You Are Old and Gray" by William Butler Yeats.

I don't read a lot of poetry, but whenever I have a reason to ponder the words to a certain poem over a long period of time, it seeps in and invades me in a way that is powerful and slightly alarming, actually.

So, here is the world I am in at the moment. I wish you could hear the sonorities that Theofanidis wrote to accompany these words, but assuredly, they stand alone just as well.

When You Are Old
When you are old and gray and full of sleep
And nodding by the fire, take down this book,
And slowly read, and dream of the soft look
Your eyes had once, and of their shadows deep;

How many loved your moments of glad grace,
And loved your beauty with love false or true;
But one man loved the pilgrim soul in you,
And loved the sorrows of your changing face.

And bending down beside the glowing bars,
Murmur, a little sadly, how Love fled
And paced upon the mountains overhead,
And hid his face amid a crowd of stars.

Creation's Restlessness

I'm still reading Randy Alcorn's Heaven, slowly but surely. It is so wonderfully written. It has plenty of creativity and imagination, but it's not without scriptures to thoughtfully and carefully uphold it. It's truly captivating.

I read something today that really resounded with how I feel. Perhaps it is the melancholy artist/musician-type within, but I feel this all around, every day.

Do you ever sense creation's restlessness? Do you hear groaning in the cold night wind? Do you feel the forest's loneliness, the ocean's agitation? Do you hear longing in the cries of whales? Do you see blood and pain in the eyes of wild animals, or the mixture of pleasure and pain in the eyes of your pets? Despite vestiges of beauty and joy, something on this earth is terribly wrong. Not only God's creatures but even inanimate objects seem to feel it.

God has made us all so differently. We all feel his presence, his power, love, and sense of unworthiness before Him in different ways. For me, it's through the things mentioned above, especially the animals. I can't count the times I've cried for forgiveness for my own sinfulness after witnessing or hearing of the suffering of animals. Without my sin nature, God's creatures and all of His creation would not have to suffer. This is terribly distressing for me.

Alcorn goes on to say:

But there's hope, visible in springtime after a hard winter. As Martin Luther put it, "Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime." The creation hopes for, even anticipates, resurrection.

Oh, Lord, how long?

The Wise Women

I spent the last week in long rehearsals for last night's production of Conrad Susa's The Wise Women. It's a "Christmas mystery fable" that looks at Jesus' birth from the perspective of the Wise Mens' homegirls. I wasn't so much into the story nor the feminist slant, but the music and the visual aspects were, in some spots, simply stunning. I played one of the wise women. (C'est moi on the right near the bottom, in the burgundy robe).

The director was Vern Sutton. He is a long-known, talented singer and director. He is occasionally featured in some way on Prairie Home Companion as well. It was great to work with him again and some of the other extremely talented singers and artists who contributed to the production. Gosh, I love what I do.

Unto you is born this day...

Take it away, Linus! We love you!

Lo, How a Strawb' e'er Blooming

Remember my awesome birthday present? Welp, I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of this wondrous sight. Just in time for Christmas! Please don't be jealous, my Iowa friends. Just come and visit me. :)

What would Handel Say?

I think he'd like it. It gets really crazy toward the end. Enjoy!

"Unique"

We've been thinking for a long time about whether or not to homeschool. We're still on the fence. In the meantime, I like to make fun of homeschool families (in the jealous, admirous way). Check this out. Very funny.

No White Christmases in Texas

Today felt like the middle of May in Iowa. It reminded me of recess in elementary school: wearing shorts for the first time that year, basking in the sun, playing tether ball and chasing boys. The warmth of the sun on your arms and legs. Feeling summer around the corner. Smelling the sweet warm breeze and knowing that school is about to yield to slip n' slides and popsicles on the back deck. Yes, that was the way it was today. A beautiful 77. Too bad I'm pining for a White Christmas.

Today the weather man said, "..it's warm today but watch out, it won't be warm on Christmas...it'll be in the low 60's! brr!"....At which point I imagined my friend AK from Iowa being violent against a person for the first time in her life. (Let's just say she's not a big fan of freezing toes, car scrapers, slipping on the ice on the way to work, etc.). It's a good thing she didn't see that or we might have a very injured weatherman on our hands. I heard this song for the first time today on the radio. He almost makes the case for enjoying a warm Christmas, but I'd trade it for a real one anyday...

My Brother's Breakfast

My brother made this a few years ago. He visited this week and I asked if I could have a copy of this. I found out it's on Youtube! Love it!

He's Baaaaaaaack!

Angels We Have Heard On High...Broccoli Style

He's Baaaaaaaack!

Angels We Have Heard On High...Broccoli Style

Photo Booth Rowley Style

Back to square one...

No more Huckabee for me. He's no good on immigration, even by his own admission. Too bad. I'm sorry to say I don't really care for any of these blokes (and let's don't even talk about the blokette). No, thanks. Next!..........??

My kind of humour

So this is it, guys. This is the kind of thing I laugh at...a lot. Does that make me a nerd?

Had to share

This is so cute!

CVS Paid Me to Take This Stuff Home

I busted out the CVS ad, some coupons, and some strategic shopping and I came home with this stuff, plus $7. For reals.

Turkey Day

Powered by GoodWidgets.com

I'm In That Place Once Again...

Wow, that was easy!

Claesen's Thanksgiving meal was a breeze to prepare this year! If only all meal preparation were this easy!!!




As for the rest of us, our menu is as follows-

Cranberry-Glazed Cornish Game Hens
Grandma's Family Recipe (macaroni, sharp cheddar, saltines, butter, milk, and bacon! This is one I can remember having at Grandma's since the beginning of time...the ultimate comfort food. yum!)
Green Beans
Tyler's Cheesy Potatoes (he'll join us and bring that....sounds great!)
Homemade Bread
Artichoke Parmesan Spread (on clearance at Randalls today, what can I say? I loves me some artichokes :)
Almond Crunch Pumpkin Pie (baking right now...it smells heavenly!)
Ice Cream
Coffee

Whooo! And then a nice long walk to clear the conscience.

Family and friends, we really wish we could be with you tomorrow. We're thinking of you and hoping your holiday is warm and wonderful, full of good food, great conversion, and much thanksgiving to our great God who has bestowed so very many blessing upon us all.

Love!