When trying to describe romantic desire, as these blog entries attempt to do, often words alone seem incomplete. The song "Lovers' Waltz" by Jay Unger and Molly Mason provides a slow moving melody that combines romantic desire with a feeling of pleasure when the music ends. Like love itself, the music is sweet, intelligent, and heartfelt.
"For the record Molly Mason and I wrote this one together. We’re happy that people are enjoying playing it and dancing to it. English majors will affirm that the apostrophe belongs to the right of the letter S, unless one lover is waltzing alone."(Jay Ungar) You can hear more of Jay and Molly's music on their radio show "Dancing on the Air."
There are all kinds of preparations before a wedding, but this song of contemplation called "Flower of Beauty" describes a man's reflection on his soon-to-be bride. He calls her a "tender flower of beauty." What a great song to listen to before your wedding day.
Flowers bring beauty and fragrance to your home. Just as Hawaiian Plumerias (pictured below) produce fragrant pink and peach flowers that will transform your porch or patio into a tropical paradise with their rich and memorable aroma, so too, is a beautiful marriage.
“Love is like a tree: it grows by itself, roots itself deeply in our being and continues to flourish over a heart in ruin. The inexplicable fact is that the blinder it is, the more tenacious it is. It is never stronger than when it is completely unreasonable.” ―Victor Hugo,The Hunchback of Notre-Dame
If you are lucky in this life, you meet someone who grows with you and the two of you together create branches on the tree of love. It is my belief that this tree will continue to grow in ways that are unknown even after death. The branches and leaves may fall, but the roots are still there and still stay strong in the hearts of those who remember.
Think of those who have gone. Do you not remember mostly the love they gave you? The material things have very little endurance. But beauty and love are stronger and last into the infinite dreams of space and time.
"Sow a seed and the earth will yield you a flower. Dream your dream to the sky and it will bring you your beloved." ~Kahlil Gibran Keep looking up. Our dreams are up there. When you close your eyes at night, do you see the face of your beloved? Or do you dream by day? Maybe one of the important parts of sleep is that we can pursue our dreams.
Great loves, like great musicians, scientists, or writers come once every two or three generations. Those who find great love, make deep connections, that extend beyond death into eternity.
Here are some thoughts from Kahlil Gibran that are part of the corresponedence between him and Mary Haskell:
Among intelligent people the surest basis for marriage is friendship - the sharing of real interests- the ability to fight out ideas together and understand each other's thoughts and dreams.
(Gibran's words quoted from Mary Haskell's journal dated 26th May 1923)
What difference does it make, whether you live in a big city or in a community of homes ? The real life is within.
(Gibran's words quoted from Mary Haskell's journal dated 27th May 1923)
Something wonderful begins within us when we find the right person in our lives. It is real. Let's call it love.
In this age of cellphones and instant messaging, one message stands out above all others when it comes across your phone:
"I'm On My Way."
While your brain is picturing that person, the pupils of your eyes are dilating and your ears are open and listening for the sound of the car that will bring that special someone to you. It is a very, very happy feeling.
When you set off into this world, whether you are getting ready to graduate from school, or just coming home from work, love follows you. Sending someone on their way lets you love them in new ways.
Here's a great book by Nancy Tillman that reminds us that love will follow us wherever we go.
She writes: So climb any mountain... climb up to the sky! My love will find you. My love can fly!
When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness She is standing right in front of me Speaking words of wisdom, let it be ~Paul McCartney from "Let It Be"
Tomorrow we celebrate Mother's Day. Paul McCartney's mother died from breast cancer when he was only 14 years old. During a difficult time in his life twelve years later: the breaking up of the Beatles, doing drugs, and not having any support person in his life (before he met his future wife, Linda Eastwood), he had a dream about his mother, whose name was Mary.
"My mother appeared, and there was her face, completely clear, particularly her eyes, and she said to me very gently, very reassuringly: “Let it be.” These were comforting words back in 1968 and they still are today. There are many questions in life, but these three words provide an answer: "Let it be." McCartney expands the list of troubles to those involving love: And when the brokenhearted people living in the world agree There will be an answer: let it be For though they may be parted There is still a chance that they will see There will be an answer: let it be When loving relationships end unexpectedly, many questions arise. Paul's motherly advice is helpful to all of us who have suffered the sadness of heartbreak. So to all mothers, all over the world and for their years of sacrifice and great advice, thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love songs about specific people, in this case Suzanne, are rarely as revealing as this one by Leonard Cohen. The couple in this song go down to a river and she feeds him "tea and oranges". The meal is simple, but memorable. Often on a date, we go to a fancy restaurant and order a big meal. It gives the couple time to become familiar with likes and dislikes, generosity and stinginess, conversation and silences.
The meal in this song requires very little money. They probably shared more than food, but the muse fed him abundantly.
The ingredients you need to feed your love are as simple as this painitng by Cezanne. So put on your blue apron or go down to the river and share a good meal together.
When you submit to love, everything feels different. The petals of flowers feel softer. The kiss lingers longer. The places you walk together become a sacred ground. After month and years together, the adventures and the fun continue to unfold.
So imagine you are on the beach in California, walking hand in hand with the one you love. Listen to this song by The Association. Not only does this "Sunshine Pop" music make you feel good, but if you haven't told the person you love how grateful you are for their love, Every Thing That Touches You will inspire you to do so.
In my most secure moments, I still can’t believe I’m spending those moments with you And the ground I am walking, the air that I breathe Are shared at those moments with you You love for real, you show the feel Of everything that touches you In the songs I’ve been singing, quite often a phrase Comes close to the feeling of you But I never suspected that one of those days The wish of a song would come true You love for real, you show the feel Of everything that touches you
You are of gracefulness, you are of happiness You are what I would guess to be most like What I’ve been singing of Love, love, love, love
In the songs I’ve been singing, quite often a phrase Comes close to the feeling of you But I never suspected that one of those days The wish of a song would come true You love for real, you show the feel Of everything that touches you Love, love, love, love
If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love's sake only. Do not say,
"I love her for her smile—her look—her way
Of speaking gently,—for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day"—
For these things in themselves, Belovèd, may
Be changed, or change for thee—and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity's wiping my cheeks dry:
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love's sake, that evermore
Thou mayst love on, through love's eternity.
The forty-four poems that becameSonnets from the Portuguesewere written by the future Mrs. Browning between 1845 and 1846 while she was being courted by Robert Browning.
When you meet your beloved, the time period of courtship is one of the most romantic periods. You can feel her powerful connection to Robert. This amorous sonnet directs her lover to love her "for love's sake only."
While Change in our physical appearance is inevitable, love lives on in an eternal embrace.
I’m spending those moments with you
And the ground I am walking, the air that I breathe
Are shared at those moments with you
You love for real, you show the feel
Of everything that touches you
In the songs I’ve been singing, quite often a phrase
Comes close to the feeling of you
But I never suspected that one of those days
The wish of a song would come true
You love for real, you show the feel
Of everything that touches you
You are what I would guess to be most like
What I’ve been singing of
Love, love, love, love
Comes close to the feeling of you
But I never suspected that one of those days
The wish of a song would come true
You love for real, you show the feel
Of everything that touches you
Love, love, love, love