Empty of Words
Empty of Words
It started in the car. My cellphone with MP3 player plugged in to the speakers, Natalie Merchant started singing "I may know the word…" Hours later my ears sought other music to accompany the ghosts that Merchant roused. I listened to the whole of Hildegard von Bingen's "Canticles of Ecstasy" followed by John Tavener's "Svyati." I thought if I keep surrendering to this, it was likely I would end up playing Jan Garbarek's "Officium."
That was yesterday, the day my mind needed to empty itself of words. Or perhaps of easily recognizable words.
Filed under: Creatures, environment, Fragments and Moments, Influences, Silly Babble, Uncategorized Tagged: Hildegard von Bingen, Jan Garbarek, Jim Pascual Agustin, John Tavener, Natalie Merchant
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[deleted user]
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Feb 22, 2011 08:30PM
You're one of the few people I know who's even heard of Hildegarde von Bingen. I have a friend who actually studied her--alas, for herbal information. I had a book of hers but I imagine it burned up with the rest of my books in my housefire in the U.S. last week.
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:)It was only by chance when I worked at a music shop. Thank you.
A house fire? There's a poem in my new book called "Atar Prays for Rain in the Middle of Summer" - yes, about a house fire. :)
Experienced in this phenomenon?
Wait, you had a house fire last week in the US? You were already in Kuwait? :( I feel sad for all those books. Lost a lot when there was a massive flood that damaged my mother's house in 2010 - I was not there and felt useless being unable to help them physically escape the rushing waters. I've been spared house fire woes so far... knock on wood. But have witnessed terrifying ones.
Yes, I was already here. I got into Goodreads because I was in such shock that I had to escape. The mementos from my parents, etc. and books--really a horror. I do have some insurance, but it won't pay for everything, especially not the irreplaceable. Every day I think of something I lost. Get insurance if you can; put irreplaceables in a safe deposit box or a safe...then cross your fingers.
