On Becoming a Hermit, Sort of ... Days 61 & 62 (the Weekend)

Days 61 & 62
Saturday & Sunday, 16th & 17th May 2020)

I think it’s time to update the depressing statistics for the victims of Corona Virus, as of Friday, 15th May.

Globally, confirmed (COVID-19 tested) cases have reached a staggering 4,637,130 of which 1,425,793 have recovered. Deaths (the case fatality rate) stand at 312,000. This leaves 2,899,494 unaccounted for, presumed still poorly with the virus.

In the UK, confirmed cases stand at 233,151 of which recoveries are not reported (in the Guardian), so I may have to go and dig for that figure. Deaths in the UK have risen to 33,614, which is 11% of the World total. With a mere 0.86% of the World’s population, isn’t that damning?! Ok, the population density in the UK may be higher than the global average, but the fingers of the World’s press are pointing very noticeably at the UK government’s handling of this pandemic. At home, it appears that things are on the verge of unravelling for Boris Johnson’s administration, which is under huge pressure now. Donald Trump’s credibility, if he ever had any, is looking more fragile than ever, particularly in the eyes of the rest of the world. Is the US our only hope as an ally..? If it is, then God help us! And I mean absolutely no offence to my many good friends in various parts of the USA; you know that I'm talking about the corrupt corporate and political communities on both sides of the Atlantic.

Enough of the negative now. It’s the weekend. Let’s indulge in some culture, some music and perhaps some poetry ...

I have discovered, in the quieter, calmer, not to mention cleaner atmosphere of Coronavirus lockdown, that there are some souls, who are seemingly less able to cope with the quiet. There is an intrinsic need for sound, which sometimes translates into noise: the radio, their favourite upbeat music. For me it is singing and listening to music, but only indoors - if ever I leave a window open then I apologise to my neighbours, if they don’t like my personal choices of entertainment. When youth with their boy-racing cars, fly on down the road with windows open, sub-woofers thrumming, loud rhythmic voices rapping the beat of their lives, I am inclined to the view that they have a need to demonstrate their excitement in their music of the moment, which of course is neither to everyone’s taste nor what they want to listen to in that moment. 

Encouraged over the years by my wife, I have come to appreciate nature’s voice, nature’s music, nature’s sounds, nature's silences ... 

Silence

Do not fear organic sounds

embrace the mood of calm,

the voice of reason in your head 

that yields a mindful balm.

By listening to nature’s own

true voice of those who care

for musicality from all

of those, who own the air.

Let not your peace be overruled

unhinge your own true grace

when zest for superficial life 

adulterates your space.

Cloying sounds of weekend nights

are ringing in the ear

overflowing in the garden

I'm praying for air to clear.

There is a kind of therapy

embracing this stillness 

by letting go the ego’s drive

to share so much excess.

There’s always an alternative

hiatus in the scream

a heavenly place where you might hear

the trickling of a stream. 

There is no time more peaceful

the quietest minutes on Earth

an hour before the sun’s first light

'til birdsong dispels our dearth.

~~~

And the music choices for this weekend from Clemency Burton-Hill's "Year of Wonder" are : 

Saturday: An irresistibly cheering little 17th century dance by Andrea Falconieri (c. 1585-1656) Chaconne in G major 

Sunday: Lyric Pieces Book 5, Op. 54 No. 4: Notturno by Edvard Grieg (1843-1907). Today, Sunday, is Norwegian Constitution Day or National Day of Norway and who best to celebrate it than, as Clemency calls him, the ultimate poster-boy for Norwegian classical music. It is interesting to note that Grieg was originally from a Scottish family, Greig. But music has no boundaries, except insofar as it is able to express the diversity of humanity and its local influences and traditions. 



However you may be affected by anything I've written here, do let me know by leaving a comment below or, if you prefer not to, share your thoughts with a trusted friend or someone you love.