“The courage of the poet is to keep ajar the door that leads into madness.”
Christopher Morley
Nessun Dorma – (None shall sleep) by Puccini
Where all is absence
I have heard the heartbeats
of a room full of people,
a vague purr with the finger
drumming of impatient hands.
I have heard
the sound of rich soil yield
as Snowdrops break free and blink,
lured by first light’s warm cheer.
And the static crackle of true love
from the quiet corner couple
within the garish loud of
surrounding revellers.
I have seen tears from eyes
that can no longer weep,
blurred to depravity and pain
by severed humanity.
I have seen
a park bench’s memories,
a nebulous home movie
of time trapped smiles
watching childhood play.
And the racing, eager thoughts
of infants as they begin to
unravel the mystery of being.
I have felt the air brush
my face from the wings of
distant winter geese in flight.
I have felt
the fading fire of passion spent,
flicker unto ember glow,
unnoticed beneath familiar habit.
And I have felt the fog of nothingness
envelope me, blurring sight and the pull
of the void, the vacuum where silence
is deafening,
where all is absence,
that is the price I pay
and will happily pay
again.
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The true heart of a poet, always seeing, feeling, and experiencing infinitely more than others. This is poignant and beautiful, Nige ! That’s a great quote, too.
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Nigel, you write poetry with such depth and music. This one has me read and read again and I feel there is very little I can add except saying; thanks for letting me come along as we see these people, hear these sounds and even feel the nothingness.
To hear Nessus Dorma along gives euphoria. I love it and wonder who doesn’t.
miriam
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Thank you very much Miriam, I can’t claim to be a big opera fan, but I’m a sucker for Puccini’s arias, as you rightly say who doesn’t love Nessun Dorma.
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Brilliant post and poetry Nigel. Everything, the quote, the music and the poetry just meld together. Although Kevin Baxter and his pram walked in halfway through. Just shows the quote is true.
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Thank you very much indeed Davy, I tried to track Kev down on farcebook to no avail, he’s probably head of an international corporation or in charge of publicity for the Vatican.
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There is never a day Nigel when you fail to make me laugh. I now have a vision of KB dressed as a Pope pushing that pram.
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💜
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Thank you very much.
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