that one word

Part of my new job consists of teaching classical vocal songs to students. I absolutely love it.I love bringing music from the 1600, 1700 and 1800's to life and making it applicable to students. This was what was brought to my attention when I was learning these songs at their age...like an aha moment that occurred when I realized that we don't stand so far from these poems on life and love as much as we think we do. I've started to realize almost all of them have to do with love at some point, of wanting, despairing, rejoicing, breaking

all over love.

I think the best moment was when I was trying to explain this text:

For the glory of adoring you
I want to love you,
oh dear eyes.
In love I will suffer,
yet always I will love you,
Yes, in my suffering:
I will suffer,
I will love you,
dear, dear eyes.
-Bonocini

In modern day high school terms, I translated:

I want you, even if I have to suffer for it,
wait for the day to come where you say yes,
go for days and months without any text or message from you,
yet I still find you amazing and I still want to love you.

My student's eyes just beamed and she got it. It was great. Nothing is new under the sun really...the story about seeking love out and being baffled by how it comes in such unexpected ways. It makes no sense but it makes complete sense.

Brahms kind of said it brilliantly:

It moves like a melody,
Gently through my mind;
It blossoms like spring flowers
And wafts away like fragrance.

But when it is captured in words,
And placed before my eyes,
It turns pale like a gray mist
And disappears like a breath.

Love can't be contained and if it is, it loses the greatness that exists in its entirety and movement. It breaks you because it's just so right.

"If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing, If I give all I posses to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing."
1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

Love, you're such a show stopper.

Goodnight friends,
C