Hear the Music

I concentrate to play each note right Pluck the base, strum the treble. Focus on the beat, one-two-three-four. Oh, but don’t forget the syncopation!   Then comes the arpeggio: Fingers move so fast they crash into each other!   And of course the words: I must...

The Silencer

I strum the guitar and sing with exuberance, all concern burnt away by the fire of my ardor.   A voice penetrates my song—needling, sharp, “That is wrong!”   All music stops. Anger sparks within: If that’s how it must be, then I won’t sing at all.   And...

The Beloved’s Playlist

I awaken with a quiet lethargy. It tugs at me like a lead weight pulling me deep into the ocean. But I rise from my bed, do my spiritual practice, and head into the world. I drive to the grocery store, and on the way, the weight bears down again. After a week of...