nos·tal·gia
/näˈstaljə,nəˈstaljə/
noun
noun: nostalgia; plural noun: nostalgias
- a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.
“Where your treasure is there is your heart also.”
- Matt 6:21
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On Anniversaries and Nostalgia
The carousel continues and it was August1st once again
and the pilgrim wondered
“What is this fascination with nostalgia?
What makes a situation, an event ,a time or a person or group of people worth remembering fondly?”
5o years had passed since a half million children of God
Gathered to become stardust and golden
To set their souls free
on some humble farmer’s garden
in Somewhere Town in lower update New York.
Most famous troubadours of the time played for free and the
Children danced in delight without a care or fee
For a sacred three days that were expected
To transform the world forever.
Now those same redeemed pilgrims , concert makers
And generous musicians along with Johnny Come Latelys
Looked to cash in on the anniversary celebration.
Singing “I , me , mine” ...the greed spun out of control
No common ground was achieved and resulted in the mantra
“If I can’t make a bundle no one will!”
The dream of half century “celebration” evaporated.
“Peace Now! Peace Now!”
And bluejeans and bull horns
Transformed into pinstripes, podiums and powerpoint with chants
Of “No pot of gold, no concert.”
He wondered “What happened to the dream?”
August 1, 1971 a redemptive light shown differently.
A downtrodden musician from a devastated far eastern land
Requested help from a friend who was the soul
Of the most fabulous four troubadours ever.
The famous humbled friend called some musical friends
Who all agreed to play music together.
(Because that is their gift and that's what holy people do.)
No one would profit except for a foundation
Created to serve and assist those in need
In that devastated far east land.
It would be the first completely philanthropic
Performance by a community of the then world’s best.
Accountants do what they do and 50 years later
Their ledger says that the generosity and humility
Of those who came together to make music
That one day in August shows
Over $100 million give or take a million or two
Has been channeled to those in need.
“This is how it is supposed to be, right?”
The pilgrim sat back closing eyes
Seeing eleven years into the past:
His loving companion placed her lips on his
With a kiss that would surpass any great kiss recorded in history,
Poems, plays, storybook stories ,or songs as he was rolled into
Surgery .There the pros from Dover would attempt to repair
His broken heart and a second chance dance , and opportunity
For redemption , would hopefully be the result.
The nostalgia for that kiss, that moment, that day continues
To give him hope…
And that truth , peace , love and mercy would live on…
and never be forgotten.
- JF Sobecki
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Woodstock - J. Mitchell
Concert for Bengla Desh - G. Harrison
Keep me in Your Heart - E. Vedder
Storybook Love
The Glory of Love - T. Bennett
One final word
Pulp Fiction…wait for it
The Holy Longing
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Tell a wise person, or else keep silent,
because the mass man will mock it right away.
I praise what is truly alive,
what longs to be burned to death.
In the calm water of the love-nights,
where you were begotten, where you have begotten,
a strange feeling comes over you,
when you see the silent candle burning.
Now you are no longer caught
in the obsession with darkness,
and a desire for higher love-making
sweeps you upward.
Distance does not make you falter.
Now, arriving in magic, flying,
and finally, insane for the light,
you are the butterfly and you are gone.
And so long as you haven't experienced this:
to die and so to grow,
you are only a troubled guest
on the dark earth.-
- Translated by R. Bly
Amdg
Copyright 2019 All Rights Reserved JF Sobecki LLC
