First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a …
I Strings in the earth and air Make music sweet; Strings by the river where The willows meet. There’s music along the river For Love wanders there, Pale flowers on his mantle, Dark leaves on his hair. All softly playing, With head to the music bent, And fingers straying Upon an instrument. CHAMBER MUSIC By …
On a birthday party, I sat next to an 8 years old girl, with enthusiasm she told me about her violin lesson. She just learned pizzicato, and she can play 3 tunes on A-string, her teacher put sticker to mark where her finger should place. “If you would like to, I can play ‘the apple …
During the social distancing period back in March and April. I always heard children talking or playing wherever I was. Their conversation was my amusement as I walked by and accidentally heard it. A boy behind the hedge raised his voice to call his friend at may be two houses away. “Paul! Do you want …
I have closed my ears, I refuse To listen to my mouth weeping. I have closed my mouth, I refuse The taste of weeping eyes. I have closed my eyes on the past. I was not there. I was away. At the poles, in the Amazon. I am not going to have been Where you …
“A glutton for punishment” means someone who seems to enjoy doing something that you consider unpleasant, according to Cambridge Dictionary. “A glutton for punishment” is also a title of Richard Yates’ short story in his “Eleven Kinds of Loneliness” short stories collection. In this story, he described the day when Walter Henderson has been fired. It …
“Let’s have Fika!” K said with excitement. Right after I touched down in Stockholm, K met me in airport and announced we should have Fika. So Fika is the first thing I did in Stockholm. And I like it! Wait a minute, what is Fika? Fika is a Swedish tradition. An English word for …
The dirtiest house Sophie has ever seen was Howl’s moving castle. Sophie was the cleaning granny in this castle. She was actually 17 years old, but she was under a spell that made her a 80 years old granny. Even if she was not under the spell, she was an old woman inside, who confined …
Eine Liebe kenn ich, die ist treu, War getreu, solang ich sie gefunden, Hat mit tiefem Seufzen immer neu, Stets versöhnlich, sich mit mir verbunden. Welcher einst mit himmlischem Gedulden Bitter bittern Todestropfen trank, Hing am Kreuz und büsste mein Verschulden, Bis es in ein Meer von Gnade sank. Und was ists nun, …
I know the title is obvious plagiarism from the air “The Trumpet Shall Sound” in Händel’s Messiah. The air is about the life after death, when the trumpet sound, the dead shall be raised, and we shall be changed, because in Christ shall all be made alive. Actually this writing is not about Händel’s Messiah. …