Coded Language
by Elouise
Powerful, Moving
Ambiguous, Interpretive
Heard, Hidden
Stripped, Caged
Imprisoned, Locked
Unheard, Unknown
Screaming, Silent
Unvoiced, Necessary
Inadequate, Chained
Subterranean, Aching
Exquisite, Angry
Longing, Searching
Hiding, Safe?
Explosive Music
Minus Words
Indecipherable, Acceptable
Tender Music
Minus Words
Lovely, Soothing
Sound of My Prison
Fingers on Keyboard
Aching with Truth
Unacceptable to Voice
Forbidden, Life-giving Truth
Thank you Chopin
Beethoven, Bach
Brahms, Scriabin
Shumann, Debussy
For lending me your music
Thank you Mother
Thank you Mrs. Hanks
You helped find my musical voice
when I most needed it
Thank you God
For this great gift
That communicates truth
Without holding back
At least from my heart and hands
If not always through my words.
Yes! Play the pieces with passion
No! Don’t give words to your passion
Yes! Play with anger
No! Don’t give words to your anger
Why this piece?
Why that tone?
What else would you like to say, Elouise?
Better yet: Don’t talk.
Just play us another piece.
We love to hear you play the piano.
You do it so beautifully.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 18 December 2014
Telling the Truth 
This is magnificent, Elouise. It reminds me of Kierkegaard’s description of a poet as someone who “in his heart harbors a deep anguish, but whose lips are so fashioned that the moans and cries which pass over them are transformed into ravishing music…And men crowd about the poet and say to him, ‘Sing for us soon again’ – which is as much as to say, ‘May new sufferings torment your soul, but may your lips be fashioned as before; for the cries would only distress us, but the music, the music, is delightful.”
LikeLike
Thank you Meg, not just for your kind comment but for the gift of this Kierkegaard quote. It brings tears to my eyes! So true. Lovely and haunting.
Elouise
LikeLike