The Withered Flower

There was a flower once near my home.
I often went to find it.
It was stunted, dull, and badly withered
and choking weeds did bind it.  

I tried to to help the unfortunate plant 
As much as I could do.
I often went to keep it company 
And maybe pull the vines, too.  

The flower, I learned, had been oft uprooted,
Moved from place to place.  
This prevented it from getting
Sustenance from its space.  

One day the flower vanished away.
I did not know where to.  
I feared that it would die completely
And fade from memory too.  

But one day I saw it in another place
And, were my eyes deceived?  
The flower was thriving as never before.
I would never have believed

That this flower could ever revive and live.
But live it did, and thrived.
And I rejoiced to see it blooming,
Tell see it now alive.
 


 

Fifteen Years Later

I have little to nothing to say about the 9/11 attacks.  All I can say is that I was ten-years-old when it happened.  It was also my very first exposure to Islamic ideas, which meant that I feel into the prejudice trap.  It has taken me years to recognize that most Muslims are honest people who do not want to see their neighbors blown up.  But I have also learned just how complicated a lot of issues are, and that there is often no clear-cut answer to many of the questions today.  

I'd talk about what needs to be done, but I would only go off on a riff, so I will simply for those who lost families when the Twin Towers were destroyed. 

Johan Botha: 1965 to 2016

South African tenor Johan Botha died untimely at the age of 51 earlier today.  Let's just say that I'm glad I got to see him when I did.  While he was known for such roles as Calaf in Turandot or Florestan in Fidelio, I'll always remember him the title roles of Otello and Tannhäuser.  He was what is known as a Heldentenor or "Hero Tenor", a very heavy tenor voice for which such roles as Siegfried and Tristan are written.  

I do regret that this guy is gone.  He was an amazing singer and I was looking forward to hearing more from him.  It's one thing when a famous person goes in their old age after a long life, but it's a completely different thing when someone dies in the middle of their career.  May his soul forever rest.