“See! The splendour roses in garden!”
“Yeah, they are wonderful. Also they are selected to grow on your grave.”
“Look! the two black little horses is leaping lively on the meadow!”
“Their pace would become slow when they are transporting your corpse. It may be very soon this would happen.”
What a rich wisdom is hidden in this small poem, narrated with a unique dark humour. I love this dramatic contrast. When the poet Eduard Mörike created roses and lively horses scenes, idyllic country side come into my mind. These bright scenes turn dark (grave, corpse) right after being described. He is a true magician.
However, he is not like a villain with evil intention, spoiling everyone’s fun at a jolly party. On the contrary, he is full of wisdom. No one could know if one is still breathing at next hour, this is the hard fact. Sudden cardiac arrest, mass shooting, road accident, war, nature disaster, Covid and many more when you read news. To acknowledge that life could be gone in any time, help us be conscious about how we live our life.
To me, my life is a waste if I do not fulfil the God intended purpose of life. Be kind to people that He places in my life, to be true to the talents He has given to me. Therefore, a successful life is a life accords to His purpose for me. Also, any other thing that is distracting me from His purpose for me is waste of life.
It is worrisome that human has tendency to define his value from outward recognition, for example workplace. Yes, I am responsible to work, however, my work would not define me. If I am sick, I will be replaced immediately. Everyone who has the same training like me can do the job. But if I am sick, my friend, my family care for me, for them, I am irreplaceable. Indeed, no duplication in God’s creation. No one has spot the exactly same two leaves yet I think.
This little poem reminds me about life is fleeting, so think wisely. To pay attention to the thing that matters most – love. Vertically to God, horizontally to people. Be true to my talents, but aware that job or recognition come and go and do not really matter.
Life is soon over, and we are gone.
Teach us how short our life is, so that we may become wise.
Psalm 90:10,12
It is very lucky to have a favourite poem set to music, not to mention by an exquisite composer like Hugo Wolf. On top of that, my favourite artist recorded this song. I hope you enjoy the music like I do.