... (best work, 2018)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJ6Mzvh3XCc

There is in all of us
This untapped thing,
This dormant power
And sleeping cosmos

Of such melancholic beauty - 
This love of life's quietest moments,
This concordant serenity with the world as it is,

No less hostile,
No less sad,

But beautiful in its unbelievable and sheer incomprehensible complexity.

This awe,

This awe of everything, and despite everything, and because of everything,
This awe of endlessness, of mirrors within mirrors and dreams within dreams,

This awe that sometimes only the right kind of music can unearth.

I suppose then, Vonnegut wasn't wrong -
What other proof do you need in God

Save for a feeling

Like this.

Author's Note

“Music is, to me, proof of the existence of God. It is so extraordinarily full of magic, and in tough times of my life I can listen to music and it makes such a difference.”

― Kurt Vonnegut

Reviews

[SkinlessFrank]

This is crisp and timeless in its truthfulness. It's like a walk on the beach or lying on one's back in the field gazing up at the stars. One could die in a moment like that in complete peace.

[Ookpik]

Ah, thank you - timeless is a flattering compliment. Though it's been a while since I've really felt like this, yes, it was the kind of thing I'd bask in, during those times that I did.

Thanks for commenting sir teddy-bear-suit - here's hello from the west coast and hoping things are well in Quebec.

-Ook

[Chris Shaw]

I haven't read you before, but came across this beautiful poem by chance.. Music has certainly become a spiritual haven for me in my darkest moments. When I listen to Vaughan Williams, The Lark Ascending, I lose my earthly form. I am that lark. I am at total peace spiralling in a vast expanse of sky. Music is a wonderful outlet which gives and keeps giving. Thank you for sharing. I found this write spiritual and satisfying.

Chris

[Ookpik]

Thank you for taking the time to respond, Chris, and I'm glad that you could find grounds to relate with it - music is undoubtedly a profound thing, transcendental, maybe, and classical has (especially recently) been making its way further into my playlists.

Of The Lark Ascending (first time listening to it) I was reminded of an almost eastern aesthetic by the layering of the strings. There's a fast, rhythmic quality there that's quite prominent and I appreciate both your taking the time to reference, and your stopping in to read.

-Ook

[Chris Shaw]

Pleased to hear Ook that some classical is making its way into your play list. I have a wide range of play that I enjoy, but there are some classical pieces which are certainly transcendental. Elgar's cello concerto, performed by the tragic Jacqueline du Pre is another. Absolutely fabulous. Thanks for such a detailed response.

Chris

[John the Baptist]

A very spiritual offering here. The poet seems to say that life itself, apparent warts and all, is so awe inspiring that the best one can do is to but behold it in silent appreciation. This is the essence of non-resistance, of letting all be as it is, free of ego judgments. This is true spirituality, far beyond the grasp of the warring theologies. I can also identify with music as a proof of Something Higher. I get that feeling every time I listen to Corelli.

[Ookpik]

Perhaps it is only through silent appreciation that we may grow to discover life can inspire awe, at all. And yes, I absolutely agree that there is an almost impartial or objective quality to it - free of ego, as you say, and beyond the encumberments of the self.

If you were to ask me directly whether or not I believe God exists, I'd probably say that I don't really, or at the very least believe that if God were to exist in such the ways we conceive of it, it'd probably make it arbitrary. But if you were to ask me if I believe in a higher power I'd say undoubtedly so, perhaps to the extent that it's hard to deny - and that, ironically, it is from within ourselves that such a higher power is usually found, occasionally with the help of music and occasionally as a result of just paying enough mind to look for it.

That was the essence being driven at here, and funnily enough, the essence that I see you yourself driving at in much of your own work, John, albeit in comparatively different ways.

Thank you again for stopping in and as always it is nice to hear from you,

-Ook

[Ookpik]

P.S. I'm new to Corelli but greatly enjoy Italian orchestra, as well as violinists, and am just starting 12 Concerti Grossi Op.6.

Thanks again for leaving reference, as well as for reading.

[Pete]

i could not live without music. this is deeply beautiful. music and god - count me in.

This concordant serenity with the world as it is,

No less hostile,
No less sad,

But beautiful in its unbelievable and sheer incomprehensible complexity.

This awe,

This awe of everything, and despite everything, and because of everything,
This awe of endlessness, of mirrors within mirrors and dreams within dreams,

This awe that sometimes only the right kind of music can unearth.

i concur with your thoughts. very well said. wonderful poem ... :
)
as my muse thoreau wrote, "Music is perpetual, and only the hearing is intermittent."

[Ookpik]

'Music is perpetual, while the listening is intermittent' -

Wow, that's also a very beautiful thought and cuts to the core of what I'd been trying to say with this.

Ironically, I hadn't known of Thoreau before stopping by your page and had to quickly look him up to understand his influence better. There's no doubt in my mind that he was a pragmatic person, and I expect I'll be looking into him again before long.

Anyways, I've you to thank for that introduction, Pete, and appreciate your taking the time to read and review - it'll be some time before I put anything new up here, but occasionally come back to the café just to check on things. Your review and John's were a nice surprise this time around.

Thanks again,

-Ook

[Onlyme]

I enjoyed this a whole lot. Thank you for sharing.

[Ookpik]

Thank you for reading, and for your second review - both are sincerely appreciated.

- Ook

[Onlyme]

my pleasure.