'Music' Ralph Waldo Emerson

[mindfulness.livejournal.com]

Let me go where'er I will,
I hear a sky-born music still:
It sounds from all things old,
It sounds from all things young,
From all that's fair, from all that's foul,
Peals out a cheerful song.

It is not only in the rose,
It is not only in the bird,
Not only where the rainbow glows,
Nor in the song of woman heard,
But in the darkest, meanest things
There alway, alway something sings.

'T is not in the high stars alone,
Nor in the cup of budding flowers,
Nor in the redbreast's mellow tone,
Nor in the bow that smiles in showers,
But in the mud and scum of things
There alway, alway something sings.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

As someone whose life is consumed by music, this poem really touched me. Thanks for posting.

[mindfulness.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's pretty fundamental to me too, music. I play classical guitar, and a little of other styles, but even if I didn't, hearing music is like feeling blood flow within me. I'd read an ancient Egyptian legend paraphrased that said before the human species learned to speak, we sang. I really can imagine that.

One of my favourite images, and this might sound obscure, is in 1984 Winston sees the washerwoman singing as she hangs out her washing. I think she sings "Oranges and Lemons". In such a bleak book and such an otherwise dreary scene, it became heartbreakingly beautiful through song.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_lyra_b/]

Well, your response is almost as eloquent as the poem.

I see from your user info you don't do the 'friends' thing, but I am adding you to my list as you have many interesting posts in your LJ. I can always use a good poem or quote.

You may already know about this, but there is a daily newsletter from Public Radio here in the US called "The Writer's Alamanac". Each day a poem is posted along with some interesting literary facts. Here's the link if you want to take a look.

http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/

[mindfulness.livejournal.com]

Thanks and you're most welcome to 'friend' me.

I'll have a look at that site some time. Thanks for that too.