This week I have written a hymn to nature and people. In much of our day to day discourse, nature and people seem extremely at odds, but now and then I am struck by the relationship they can still share. Human beings are animals that are uniquely able to appreciate what nature is. Our impressive brains, and nuanced hearts can read the poetry in the still of the night, marvel at the loudness in the silence, and truly grasp the artistic wonder of the natural world. Creatures everywhere would be blessed to know the capacity that we uniquely enjoy to be touched by our surroundings and by the people there. Most of this song is a prayer about the truth in the night, but about halfway through the song, the sun rises and reveals other truths around the edges. A big part of me is bemoaning that I didn’t elaborate further on the “sunrise” bridge that cuts this song in half. It is a simple bass line, and a driven vocal, and I can’t help but wonder what might have been if I’d repeated it again and again with increasingly elaborate instrumentation. I tempered that impulse. I sometimes try to remind myself that a little bit of a good thing can sometimes be better than a lot of it. I hope I was right.
lyrics
Human heart
Stand outisde
Guess I’ll hardly see the moon tonight
Senses fail
Getting dressed
Human beings like those
They are uniquely blessed
Best uncertain
Like a fable
Learn this lesson
When you feel you’re able
Way down deep
In the ground
Down below the answers that we’ve found
Turn to you
In the dark
Something like a silhouette describes your heart
Best uncertain
Like a fable
Learn this lesson
When you feel you’re able
Sunrise fingers
Tracing over all these places
Hits you right between the eyes
Hold the edge
Of your sight
Where the honest truth can catch the light
Keep it there
It comforts you
The tiny bits you glean of something truly true
Best uncertain
Like a fable
Learn this lesson
When you feel you’re able