today’s Musing written and published from
Morning walk: 2C/36F, no clouds, light breeze, yesterday’s snow/ice slurry mostly gone, brilliant sunshine - as curtain rises up on this fabulous day; Gusta enjoyed the husky-pup encounter and trying to tug a candy wrapper from it’s frozen spot in a tree well to no avail, I’m loving my start . . . with great anticipation.
My morning coffee music – classical guitar of Oh seung kook with a little Liona Boyd chaser, and then another by her.
The theatre falls dark, at the end of the day. Are you on stage, or witness? Is there loud cheering, or eerie quiet?
When each day begins, it opens like the rising curtain on our spectacular show. There we are, centre stage – the stars of a solo performance. The audience awaits our stage presence, poise, our opening monologue – and our finale many hours later, the in-between-parts they witness like so many flies on a very big wall.
They see our every distraction, our every mood and nuance. Silently they watch; imagine whether they will sit on the edge of their seats, waiting to see how the show ends. Or, they might walk out in the middle of the show, having found little to keep their interest and attention.
What kind of show are we staging today? Will it be interesting, what will it teach, what will we learn? Will we interact with our audience – or just expect their silent attention and adoration?
Or, is the theatre and empty hall where our thoughts and words simply echo, nobody hearing them or caring much?
When day is done, as the house lights come up, will the audience rise from their seats shouting bravo! at the top of their voices. Will we give them something to cheer about? The answer to that is far less important than this one:
We are all in the audience, someone’s audience, witnessing their performance (everyone in our life/world/work), and in that role, we are sitting on the edge of our seats . . are we getting up to slip out the door quietly, or waiting for the end to give a rousing ovation?
Today begins . . . we are, as Shakespeare said, all players and the world is our stage. We all walk our own stage, and at the same time, we sit in so many audiences. I do, and to all of you, I’m standing for you, cheering for you, wishing you strength in the face of every difficulty you face today. And, I cheer your triumph, each one, every one, that you achieve today.
Someone will be happy when we think they are sad. Someone will be mourning when we think their brave face is just normal. Someone will be dejected and try hard not to show it. Someone will have a great idea nobody wants to listen to. Somebody will be trying, very hard, to get through to you.
Will you be watching, listening, noticing, caring about their performance?
We are all in the audience. We are all on stage. We all are, all the time.
Some of those triumphs are really tiny, in the grand scheme of life, but so essential in your day. A day of strength, a day of imagination, a day of courage, a day when no set of words or piece of music can describe how you feel. Somebody will notice you today. Someone will see you, hear you, and learn from you. To teach them, just be you – you are the star of your day. It will be a mix of comedy, tragedy, farce and grandiose soliloquy.
Go have a great day – it’s your show.
~~~
I QUESTION WHY I CAN - link to archive – The Poetry Project
‘Why not!’, an old school mate would answer,
when that teacher asked him, ‘Pat, why is
__________?’ which response was not so much his
excuse for not paying attention, or not knowing,
but more about not caring?
Sometimes we do things because we have to,
or feel driven to do them, from some gut-angst
that says we must do, or more cavalierly
because we – can do – but then what’s the fun in that,
to just do, because we can?
Does right, or wrong or sense of purpose
come into it, if we just do things because we can,
and what’s the harm we might do to someone else
if indiscriminately we just do, just because
we actually can?
Why can I, or why can’t I, are basic questions
that don’t need much depth to ask, or to answer,
unless we stop to think about what motivates us
to do anything at all, whether rooted in right,
or in wrong?
~~~
Mark Kolke
322,856
204.6
RESPONSES/COMMENTS ALWAYS WELCOME; send to: mark@markmusing.com
April 29 Comments
April 29 – MADE IN MOMENTS – Really liked your poem; of course I did. I finally had a moment to go to your website and read some of your poetry. Your words flow with meaning and feelings Thank you for touching my soul, JK, Kailua, HI
April 29 – MADE IN MOMENTS - Nice writing here today!, JZ,
April 29 – MADE IN MOMENTS - Have a great day....enjoyed your column this morning, CH,
April 29 – MADE IN MOMENTS - A snow storm.....you Canadian's sure have weird spring weather. Spring is supposed to be warmth, leaves, flowers, or didn't anyone tell you guys that? Hope it clears and you get to go traveling, visiting, speaking and listening this weekend. Drive safe, FO, Kaunakakai, HI
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