Sunday my voice
sings your praises
in words written
before we knew
our psychology
broken chords
inducing emotion
Spirit moves within me
increases blood flow
electrochemical response
to acoustic cues
god spot in the brain
neuropsychological
basis of spirituality
We lift up our hearts
branches bearing fruit
extoling perfect love
virtue without condition
casting out fear
make known to us
liberty’s source
ever abiding
Antiphon rings out
I hold you, beloved
beyond expectation
apart from you
I can do nothing
Posted as another response to Stuart McPherson’s music prompt and linked to dVerse Poet’s Pub for Open Link Night hosted by the immensely talented Hedgewitch. http://dversepoets.com/2012/05/08/open-link-night-week-43/
Chromapoetica 
another gem… i love this:
“god spot in the brain
neuropsychological
basis of spirituality”
this is one i could hear in my mind, ringing true.
Yes, now they think its not just one spot but a region but that isn’t as poetic :). It was good to have additional time to reflect on the prompt, I always appreciate your feedback!
Hallelujah! What a weave!
Thanks Tash, you’re the best!
really nice Anna. The love in the poem can mean so many different things, I love that. The spirit flows stanza is incredible. Thanks
Yes, I took a cue from Rumi and the Sufi mystics. Thank you Fred, it originated yesterday after the Gospel of John reading and arrived today almost fully formed. I’m so glad it spoke to you.
Lovely. K.
Thanks K. :).
this is lovely…its different for you, but still got your finger prints all over it…there is def feeling…and hey you got my spirit moving…smiles…
Ha, that’s the problem with writing with your fingers (sometimes I paint with them too). Thanks Brian that’s lovely to hear :).
very beautiful with both
room to breathe and this longing
“I hold you, beloved
beyond expectation
apart from you
I can do nothing”
Thank you, how kind. Nice to see you :)!
It’s always interesting how your poem can contain lines that sound rather schematically scientific and yet convey the spirit and things beyond technical explanations (i.e. love ), and blend all so well. This sounds like it could be a hymn. 🙂
Yes, I almost put hymn in the title then fell in love with the broken chord/arpeggio (which I sing as a warm up all the time) :). I always look forward to your visits!
I love how you write about music; your words like it raise one’s understanding of the ineffable qualities, transcendent qualities, spiritual qualities unique to music of all the arts. Wonderful work, Anna.
Always wonderful to hear how the work affected you Gay.
apart from you i am nothing -> apart from music and song, we are doomed!!
god spot on the brain -> that’s where the serotonin floods
you need some great Bach church repertoire? check this out:
Seufzer, Tränen, Kummer, Not
it’s in 12/8 count that baby out…here’s English Translation:
Sighing, crying, sorrow, need,
Anxious yearning, fear and death
Gnaw at this my anguished heart,
I am filled with grieving, hurt.
and yeah, for an ADHD like me, that intro goes on forever……..
Thanks for the link, I’m going there now :). Oh, I know this and love Kathleen Battle!
I love how you’ve mixed spirituality with biology, all the more mysterious now.
Thanks, deepening the mystery is awesome feedback.
A gorgeous weave, Anna. Love it.
Always nice to see you Ayala, so glad it appealed!
The God spot, I never heard it called that before, apart from the hour on TV on a Sunday. LOL
Yes, this is a little different for you but, it is really as lovely.
Haha, well, you know how journalists love the sound bite and to coin a phrase. Happy to hear it still works despite its difference.
apart from you I can do nothing –
something we can all relate.
the doG tops – the G spot – lol
V.cool
nice response to the prompt too 😀
Nice anagrammatic joke there. I don’t know though, activating the G-spot can be a mystical experience. Thanks for playing :P.
Apart from you- I can do nothing….wow Anna- this just sums up everything beautiful about music, how it grabs us, holds us, how those pieces of music, those real special ones just stay with us, haunt us and transfix us….this was really beautiful
Thanks again for your amazing prompt. I’ll probably write to it again :). I so appreciate your kind words.
Loved this! You must sing!
Yes, thank you Audrey for the big smile :).
I love the idea of there being a god spot. Much like love and everything else that’s largely chemical or biomechanical, it brings up such interesting questions about whether the scientific reality takes anything away from those things — or actually adds to them, in a way.
Yes, I like your point. From my perspective it adds but I majored in Biology and did some post-grad courses in Psychology.
Love this, Anna. Especially:
“in words written
before we knew
our psychology”
I feel so many of these same ways when I sing worship. Just beautiful.
Wow, that’s fantastic to hear. I’ve never actually talked to anyone about it and felt a little strange writing about something so deeply personal as love, music, and spirituality in this way. Thank you!
This blew me away, Anna. I love the open-ness of this; your vulneraility and boldness and fearlessness to share yourself. One of my favs today. I really enjoy true expression. Excellente!
I don’t know how often I’d like to be this vulnerable on my blog, it feels like going to the store in my pajamas – yikes. However, I deeply appreciate your encouragement.
If PJ – store thing ever happens, you let me know okay. Just for research, of course, would make for an interesting write: Mountain girl goes to store in pajammas. 🙂
You’d be surprised how often that happens in a tiny town. Not me though, not me :).
After reading your verse and then listening to the song, they both fit perfectly together, you weaved it so well, very nicely done!
Oh Pat, you’re the first to mention the song and the interweaving which was important to me, thank you!
Anna… the way you bring this expression in and out of spirit to psychology and science … to God spot on the brain… is wonderful…. a river flowing with life and breath. I love this song and your response to it… yeah Anna!
Thank you Patricia, it felt right to me and I’m very happy to hear its river brought joy to your mind!
How hopeful are your lines:
We lift up our hearts
branches bearing fruit
extoling perfect love
virtue without condition
casting out fear
Thank you, I was just commenting on how much I enjoyed Sparks :)!
this is lovely anna…and who else would have electrochemical response in a love poem…so your own voice…made me smile and sigh..
I tried; really I did, to leave that whole part out :). It didn’t work. I’m glad to hear you it amused and moved you.
It is a good question, or quest, sourcing in the dominant major strain of our first encounters with music a womblike access to belief, the god-part of the brain. Many other modes come into play, major and minor, as we age, become more nuanced in that relation, but the simplest strains ascend the highest and deepest regions of the heart. I didn’t listen to the Wainwright clip but I know he has such a sweet, yearning voice. – Brendan
Yes, absolutely the nuance yet I resonate with your assessment on the simplest ascending, winnowing. Thank you.
Wow. Wow. You and Rufus? I’m undone! : ) Gorgeous words and my favourites begin:
We lift up our hearts
branches bearing fruit
Such a great song. I love how it pulled me in with your words wrapped me deep into the core of a beautiful place.
I’d also like to use this space to say how much I appreciated your April series. Each piece was wonderful and although I couldn’t comment on all, I read each one with awe and inspiration. Thank you for all that you do to put your work out there, Anna (love to you).
-Eva
Oh Eva, wow, I’m speechless and a bit teary-eyed with joy. I’ll take some deep breaths so I can type and just say how much gratitude I have for your kindness, your support and send love to you too. Ok, maybe more than a bit :D.
This is my favorite part:
“electrochemical response
to acoustic cues”
Sorry for the delay in responding, your comment went to spam. Thanks Shawna, always nice to see you :).