Simon the poet

feelings from a traveller along life's pathways

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Location: Watford, United Kingdom

I've travelled; I've lived here and there; always searching for something. And yet perhaps the one discovery of recent years has been the realisation that I have a strong clear voice inside. I listen so much to so many voices, some my own - despairing, angry, frustrated, scared. And I want to achieve so much! But what I'd really like is to reach out to you, call you to listen to your voice. And then who knows what might happen in this crazy world of ours. And I'd like to live on in your thoughts. Share what we have and who we are; what else can we do? We all have such strength and beauty and love - we just have to find the courage to show it - and to share it. Because that's where hope comes from. That's how I can face the future.

Sunday, April 30, 2006

the voices

I just spent the evening hearing wonderful voices singing in the Russian style. I saw an advert for a Russian Choir concert, and visions of the Red Army Choir flooded in - dozens of big Russians with deep mellow voices. This afternoon I checked how to find the venue, and found a link to the choir's website - yes, even Russian choirs have websites now - and found it's an ensemble of soloists - six maximum! And then, when the concert started, four smartly dressed men walked on stage. But what men - a deep basso profondo, a bass-baritone, a strong Russian tenor, and a counter-tenor. And what a sound. They easily filled the church with their voices, creating that amazing resonance that seems to be part of the Eastern European tradition.
And they sang both sacred music and then Russian folk music. What an evening!
The ensemble's name? The Hermitage Ensemble from St Petersburg. Here's their website.

http://www.seenworks.com/hermitage

----
Simon

Tuesday, April 25, 2006

quote of the week

'There is an art, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss.'
Douglas Adams

the next train

Have I missed the train?
No matter - another will come
I didn't want that one anyway
Too soon - not ready - why rush
But when comes the last
Driven by Peter or Old Nick
Guardians of Fate
the 10.05 to Eternity Central
via Judgement Junction

----
Simon

close, but ...

Can I accept I will never be?
The nearly famous
The almost beautiful
The not quite ready
The incomplete
The temporary
The soon not to be

Dare I cry enough
Take the leap of faith
and risk the fall
or curl up safe unfound

----
Simon

midnight thoughts - the morning after

I haven't felt like writing for a while; don't know why. Here's what I wrote last night around midnight.

How long can I sing alone
Sounding my note loud and clear
and yet oft so uncertain
that when I hear others
I go quiet
Afraid of revelation
Charlatan
Mister Average

What will it take
For my song to sound true
My pitch
My pace
My glory to come
Not memories of fading past.

----
Simon