so come out of your cave walking on your hands

Whoa guys. This is big. I'm updating from my bedroom. At home. On my bed (which isn't lofted 12 miles high)...I'm home!


And I know I've been home before, but this feels different, maybe because I know I'll be here for longer than four days...whatever it is, I like it. Being home doesn't feel as strange as it did the first time, that's for sure. Mom has her own routine, I have mine, the cat has hers (which no longer involves eating holes in my sheets). In all, it's pretty great :) Hopefully we'll take some time today or tomorrow to put up lights and a tree and get all decorated for Christmas!

Which brings me to my next point: I love Christmas!!! I know, I know, I'm cliche. But that's okay, because I love it anyway and it makes me happy, so there. There's something about the air when it gets this cold, something in the way multi-colored lights make my heart skip a beat. Maybe it's the abundance of red and green or the scent of pine that's getting to my head, but I'd have to say that I'm in love with this holiday. Christmas movies are THE best (especially Prancer...have you seen it? SO good, really makes my heart warm and fuzzy), cookies are...well, cookies, but when you get to make two-headed gingerbread men and pregnant angels (...yes, we do these things. Be jealous) the season gets that much better. And, to top it all off, I'm back home with friends and there are parties and secret santa gifts and coffee runs and late nights. It's like a nice little sabbatical of peace and happiness and fun before the return to the ever-dreaded reality of school and homework and books and blah blah blah. Not that I mind all of that, of course. Going back to Elon means Twisted Measure and my hall-mates and new classes, all of which are exciting. But it's nice to be here and to only worry about whether or not the glass angel ornament will properly reflect the light it's closest to.

I'll likely update again over break, to give one more sappy post about the New Year and opportunity and things I've learned and all that jazz...for my realist readers out there (which, seeing as my readership stays at about a solid 3.25 people, there might not be many), be warned. The shiny happy will dominate the dark and twisty. It's gonna be great :)

My quote/inspiration/whatever for this post comes (once again) from Mumford & Sons:

"It's empty in the valley of your heart
The sun, it rises slowly as you walk
Away from all the fears
And all the faults you've left behind

The harvest left no food for you to eat
You cannibal, you meat-eater, you see
But I have seen the same
I know the shame in your defeat

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

Cause I have other things to fill my time
You take what is yours and I'll take mine
Now let me at the truth
Which will refresh my broken mind

So tie me to a post and block my ears
I can see widows and orphans through my tears
I know my call despite my faults
And despite my growing fears

But I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again

So come out of your cave walking on your hands
And see the world hanging upside down
You can understand dependence
When you know the maker's land

So make your siren's call
And sing all you want
I will not hear what you have to say

Cause I need freedom now
And I need to know how
To live my life as it's meant to be

And I will hold on hope
And I won't let you choke
On the noose around your neck

And I'll find strength in pain
And I will change my ways
I'll know my name as it's called again."

Go placidly amid the noise and haste...

So I'm sitting in Starbucks right now with my friend Lizzy from Twisted Measure. She's basically awesome. And I'm sipping my tall non-fat white peppermint mocha (no whip). Nat King Cole or Bing Crosby or one of those awesome crooner guys is playing on the radio. And I have this really weird feeling that I'm going to attempt to describe to you guys because, well, I think it needs explaining:

I'm so happy right now. We'll start with that. I'm happy. It's taken me a lot to realize that, to be quite honest. This past week or so has been pretty rough, for a plethora of reasons which I won't get into right now, but I realized this morning that I am genuinely happy with my life. All of the things that have been keeping me down are, in the grand scheme of things, so insignificant. Like, really. Looking back at how upset I was, I'll admit that I was being ridiculous. Now, I'm not discounting my emotions, because I believe (thanks to my mom) that every emotion we feel should be recognized as true and real because, well, it's ours. We own it, it came from us. Nothing we ever feel is "wrong." However, I do believe that how we deal with these emotions is huge.

And I was not dealing with mine well. At all. It took a bit of soul searching (and some really good friends) to make me realize that I am so tremendously blessed. I'm at an amazing school that has so much to offer me academically and socially; I'm growing here. I have friends, both new ones here and old ones back home, that love me and appreciate me. The friends I've made here have been crucial in this past week, and I love them all so much for that. I've found a group of singers and friends that have taken me in with open arms. I legitimately love them with a passion that I didn't realize was possible after only knowing them for two months. But it's happened. My mom has been so great through all of this (homesickness especially) and has made me realize how much A) I miss her and want to go home! and B) I can be content here, away from home. I'm allowed to grow and spread my wings and be okay with that!

So. I'll stop this now because I'm sure it's sounding mushy and cliche.


I really don't care because all of it is true!


So, to all of those things--those insignificant, unimportant, distracting things--I say goodbye. Thanks for the ride. Thanks for the laughs (not really). Thanks for allowing me to fall down hard enough to gain some perspective. In an odd way, you've been quite illuminating.

I'll end with a little poem that I'm sure many of you have read. However, it really has been speaking to me a lot lately, so I thought I'd share:

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs;
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love;
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe,
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful.
Strive to be happy."

"Desiderata" by Max Ehrmann 

a long time ago, in a blog far far away...

Yes, I realize the obvious: It's been over a month since I last posted. While this is sad, I'll not apologize--I've been busy, see, and my life just hasn't given me the time to blog.
That's false, actually, as I have plenty of spare time most days.
So, I declare an end to excuses and a new blog post instead!
What happened during October, you ask? Lots of wonderful, wonderful things :)
(If I forget anything, forgive me...)
I went on Fall Break with Twisted Measure! See the TM Blog for more details and pictures! It was basically one of the greatest trips I've ever taken with the greatest group of people I've met so far here at Elon. I'd even say it was magical :) PLUS I got to go home to Duluth and see my mom and friends, which made it even more amazing!
Speaking of Twisted Measure...I just finished arranging a piece for us! It's "Hate on Me" (popularized by Glee) and it's a lot of fun! We just learned it last week, so I'm hoping it ends up turning out okay. I'll let you guys know.
Oh oh! How could I forget? Before Fall Break came Family Weekend, and my mom came to see me for a couple of days! This was nice for several reasons: She's wonderful; I got to sleep in a hotel bed and use a real shower; I didn't have to spend any money; I had time to remember why I love my mom and why I miss home every once in a while. Awwwwww...
Also in October was Halloween! I went as a unicorn (I know, be jealous) and basically got to wear white tights (which ended up running, how sad!) and spike my hair all crazy and make a horn out of shiny paper...it was ridiculous but so much fun!
So, as November is starting (it feels so strange saying that! It's been over two months here!) I'm beginning to plan for new classes! Elon does this thing called Winter Term where basically, for the month of January, I have one class for three hours each day (I believe UGA does a similar thing in May?). This is great because I can basically chill for a month but still get some credit. I'm going to be taking Animal Sociology, which should be..interesting, hopefully. Then, next semester, I'm taking: British Lit I, Education Psych, Intellectual History, Contemporary Wellness Issues (oh the euphemisms we come up with for Health class), Voice Class I, and Piano Class I! I'm really excited about piano--I've always wanted to learn. Hopefully I'll pick it up...we'll see!
Alright, well I'll stop boring you with my life now :) I'll end with, instead of just lyrics, lyrics to a song I've grown to love and link to the video of it!

"Home" by Scott Alan (performed by Shoshana Bean):

"Look at what I'm given,

This beautiful creation, 

This sweet intoxication

Something pure in my life

Look at all these changes

Your the light that shines within me

And you'll be mine completely

There'll be no darkness left to view

I never knew this form of love existed, no

Deep inside of me is where it all begins

So hold me in your heart

Cause you'll have mine forever

Wait and lay inside my arms, I'll protect you for always

Never feel alone, for I'll always be with you

A home is where the heart is meant to be, mmm

You always have a home inside of me

And we will walk this road together

I'll shelter you from burdens

Just lean your weight on me

And stops me bridge the distance

You will always have a home here

Right here inside my arms

There is a love waiting just for you

I never knew this love form of love existed, oh no

A world away from love that I've ever known

So hold me in your heart

Cause you'll have mine forever

Wait and lay inside my arms, I'll protect you for always

Never feel alone, for I'll always be with you

A home is where the heart is meant to be, mmm

You'll always have a home inside of me

No matter where the journey leads you

If your path leads to some place new

You'll always have a home in this heart of mine, ohhh, mine

So hold me in your heart

Cause you'll have mine forever

Wait and lay inside my arms, I'll protect you for always

Never feel alone, for I'll always be with you

A home is where the heart is meant to be

And you'll always have a home inside of me"

O me! O life!

So I'm beginning to wonder if inspiration only strikes me after midnight...it seems to be so, doesn't it? It's 1:13 AM on a Saturday night (or, technically, a Sunday morning) and I get the urge to blog. I don't need sleep, it's all good :)
Anywho! So much has happened since my last post, guys! So much, in fact, that I feel the need to numerically list...

1. I SAW LADY GAGA IN CONCERT. I DIED. Okay, I am now calm once more. In reality, that first sentence is all I really need to say about this. I love her, I was in the same room as her, I cried (for real). It was the best night of my life. Here are some pictures! 

2. I had my first show with Twisted Measure! And when I say "show," I mean that we sang three songs for a group of older people that probably didn't know any of them...but it's okay, I still had such a good time singing and really just having fun with the music, which is something I haven't done in a long long time!

3. Okay so that's really it, not that much has happened...I just feel like, with Gaga and everything, a lot has been going down :) Today was the Fall Festival back in my hometown of Duluth, and I experienced legitimate homesickness for the first time in a long time. It was one of those bittersweet things, where I went back and forth between knowing that I'm so lucky to be here and doing things and living my own life, and then wanting to be home with my friends and family and the familiar. It was weird, but. I sat here, turned off the lights, watched The Dead Poet's Society, and cried a lot. Which really helped, and it reminded my why I love that movie as much as I do!!

In fact, I do believe I shall end this post with a quote from the movie (well, actually it's a quote from Whitman, but it's in the film...anyway, just read, and I'll update whenever I can!)

"O ME! O life!... of the questions of these recurring;
Of the endless trains of the faithless—of cities fill’d with the foolish;
Of myself forever reproaching myself, (for who more foolish than I, and who more faithless?)
Of eyes that vainly crave the light—of the objects mean—of the struggle ever renew’d;
Of the poor results of all—of the plodding and sordid crowds I see around me;	5
Of the empty and useless years of the rest—with the rest me intertwined;
The question, O me! so sad, recurring—What good amid these, O me, O life?
Answer. That you are here—that life exists, and identity;
That the powerful play goes on, and you will contribute a verse."

quick update

Hello to my millions of followers! Hope this post finds you in good health and good spirits and...well, in good life! Just to kind of keep everyone updated (if you don't ever talk to me), this is just a quick post before I have to go to rehearsal.
For what, you ask?
Why, thank you for asking! I found out on Sunday that I got into Elon's mixed a cappella group, called Twisted Measure! It was a pretty intense audition process, but I ultimately made the cut and I am so excited to be singing with a group that simply loves to sing--there's nothing better, I promise you.
So yeah, these past couple of days have been pretty hectic to say the least...a good friend of mine here at school was admitted to the hospital with a collapsed lung on Sunday, so I've been doing my best to be at the hospital with him as much as possible. It's great, I get to play doctor and bring stuff to him and...I feel very much like I'm helping, although I might just be annoying the heck out of him at this point.
I'll have to ask him about that.
School is going extremely well. My classes aren't too terribly upsetting or stressful, although I've discovered a trend: everyone in college loves to question you and your thinking. Which is amazing but terrifying at the same time. I love having a chance to explain what I'm thinking--that is, when I actually understand what that is. It seems like, more often than not, I'm asked to defend the thoughts I have that are least defendable (and yes, that's a word....now) and I sometimes just end up blubbering. But I guess that's good as well, because I have to stop and really evaluate why it is I do think the things I do.
I'm learning guys!
Also, I have to point out a new obsession of mine: a band called Mumford & Sons. I'm sure they're everyone's favorite by now (I'm a bit behind the bandwagon unfortunately) but I still just love their sound and their lyrics and the risks they take with their music. It's extremely refreshing.
Okay, well I'm going to go get presentable so I can sing my little heart out for the first time in a while--I can't wait! I'll let you guys know how it all goes!

"As the winter winds litter London with lonely hearts

Oh the warmth in your eyes swept me into your arms

Was it love or fear of the cold that led us through the night?

For every kiss your beauty trumped my doubt

And my head told my heart,

"Let love grow"

But my heart told my head,

"This time no

This time no"

We'll be washed and buried one day my girl

And the time we were given will be left for the world

The flesh that lived and loved will be eaten by plague

So let the memories be good for those who stay

And my head told my heart,

"Let love grow"

But my heart told my head,

"This time no"

Yes, my heart told my head,

"This time no

This time no"

Oh the shame that sent me off from the God that I once loved

Was the same that sent me into your arms

Oh and pestilence is won when you are lost and I am gone

And no hope, no hope will overcome

And if your strife strikes at your sleep

Remember spring swaps snow for leaves

You'll be happy and wholesome again

When the city clears and sun ascends

And my head told my heart,

"Let love grow"

But my heart told my head,

"This time no"

And my head told my heart,

"Let love grow"

But my heart told my head,

"This time no

This time no"

you can't move when there's honey all over you!

(Please forgive the title of this post...it will all make sense soon enough, I promise.)
So. It's 11 at night and I'm sitting outside my dorm room with my laptop, feeling oh so very college-like. It's kind of great, actually. Jared (my roommate, by the way) has an 8 AM tomorrow so he's asleep, and I don't have to be up until 8, so I figured I would let him sleep and do my socializing outside the room. I know, I know. I'm an awesome roommate. Also, it gives me a great space to observe dorm life. For instance: Girl down the hall (who shall remain nameless for the sake of her good reputation) has had three male visitors come to her room in the span of literally 30 minutes. Which isn't against the rules or anything but it definitely looks sketchy to me. Her roommate just walked in and said, "Oh, wow. I don't know these people." And she left looking really freaked out. There's a guy in the stairwell Skyping his girlfriend. Awwwww. Except he doesn't have headphones in so I can essentially hear his entire conversation as it reverberates throughout the hall. Sigh.
Boys.
Because I don't have an infinite amount of time to type this (I would like to try and get as much sleep as possible), I won't go into a whole lot of detail regarding my past few days here at Elon. Basically, move in went well; my roommate is exactly like me; my hall is amazing; classes are stressful but good; orientation was essentially a weekend designed to keep us as busy as possible; and I'm now taking more hours than I had originally planned, including a Chorale class which has me so excited!
So, the title of this post:
We had a hypnotist here last night as a way to kick off the school year. His name was Tom Deluca and he was...beyond amazing. I wish I had been able to record the things he did because it's truly not something you would believe if I told you. So I won't. Okay, so I'll tell you one part but only because it explains the title. He essentially hypnotized this one guy and told him that whenever he heard the word "Elon," he would become the school's biggest cheerleader but he wouldn't know what our mascot was. So the kid woke up and, sure enough, when Tom said, "Welcome to Elon!" the kid jumped up and started screaming, "Yeah!! Go Elon!! Go...Elon...go?" and he seriously had no idea what our mascot was (it's the Phoenix, fyi) and so then he just made up one. So we became the bears, randomly. And he started screaming, "Pour honey on 'em guys!! Bears go pour the honey! We'll kill the other team because you can't move when there's honey all over you!!" And it was one of THE funniest things I've ever seen. So yeah...one of those inside jokes that won't make any sense to anybody except Elon kids but I thought I'd share.
Moral of the story: Life is good.

just came to say goodbye, love

I leave for college in two days. TWO. I'm so full of emotion you'd think I was about to embark on some sort of new journey, leaving everything I know behind to dive head first into an unknown future...
Oh, wait.
In so many ways, I'm ready. And in so many ways, I'm not. I'm packed (mostly), I've said my goodbyes, and I'm essentially counting down the days to Elon.
However, I've yet to finish my beloved summer reading, China Road. Saying goodbye has thus far royally sucked. I'm absolutely certain I've forgotten something...these are the ways in which I'm not ready.
I guess, in essence, it all comes down to trust. Trusting that Elon will be everything I've built it up to be, that the people will be as welcoming, the classes as exciting, the experience as life-changing. Elon has a lot to live up to.
Then there's trusting that those I'm leaving behind will be okay. I know my mom cries on a regular basis, and that's with me still here. Other people who I won't mention...I will miss them more than I think they know. Will they be okay--and if not, how can I help from so far away?
Lastly, I have to trust someone called myself. That's the hardest part, I think. Will I make all the right choices? Did I make the right choice by picking Elon? Will I live up to my own expectations?
Trust. It's a weird word indeed...a noun and a verb, a thing and an action.
Do I have it? Or, more importantly, can I do it?

"We're never so vulnerable than when we trust someone--but paradoxically, if we cannot trust, neither can we find love or joy."

on labels...

Because it's currently almost 4 in the morning, and because my brain isn't functioning enough to create a fully sound argument, this will be a short post. I just need to get this idea out of my brain:
Why are we as a people so obsessed with labeling everything we see? It's simply never enough to just have something or to be something or to know something. We must categorize, create a hierarchy, divide, point out nuances, label label label until our little label makers are broken and screaming, "NO MORE!"
For example: In today's world, it's not enough to just be "a Christian." No no, my Jesus-loving friends, you must be more than that! Are you a Methodist? a Presbyterian? an Episcopalian? a Lutheran (and if so, which synod?) or are you, heaven-forbid, a Catholic? because Catholics are different, you know, they aren't exactly "Christian." It's ridiculous to the point of actually being divisive. We spend so much time labeling and dividing that we end up creating factions that ultimately tear apart the very thing which we originally sought to be a part of.
In politics, you aren't an active member until you've chosen a Party. Why? Why must I associate myself with one narrow-minded group that really only functions to yell across the aisle? I don't want to be a Democrat or a Republican or a Libertarian or anything of the sort. I'd like to just be an American, please.
In a nutshell.
We like what we like, we love who we love, we are who we are.
Label that.

from the archives...

As I went about the process of clearing out my flash drive for this upcoming semester, I stumbled upon this lovely composition. It was written on a whim during my summer at GHP, and I was fortunate enough to read it at Coffee House. It's not perfect, but it's me :)

I am dissonance—

rising, falling,

intertwined in my own

confused paradox—

harsh, jarring, unresolved—yet

beautiful in my own

juxtaposition of sound and

Truth.

I am sunlight—

blinding even to myself—

Glaring.

A Glorious display of a

not so Glorious self.

I hide behind my brilliant light,

masking my dense inner Core.

Those who witness my intensity

probe and question, awestruck and—

I just question.

I am wind—

Wild, Untamable—

Master of my own Indecision.

I cannot be held in a bag,

O great Odysseus!

The Night comes and I settle,

rising, falling—

tying the drawstrings as I

enclose myself in a

scratchy burlap sack of

my own Creation.

I am soul—

filled with the amorous Jealousy of

the Black Ram, pushing forward,

pulling, doubting—

The Ancient clutches me in his trustworthy hands,

molding, spinning,

shaping my Truth into a

Grotesque, Distorted image of

what I Am

Not.

But I allow it, because perhaps…

I am seeker—

yearning for what my pale hands fail to

Grasp,

reaching the Pinnacle, unable to breathe—

a white haze hangs over me.

I raise my eyes, staring into the Emptiness—

my Emptiness—

and I sound my own barbaric Yawp,

not over the roofs of the world

but over the walls and ceilings of my

self-perpetuated Frustration.

I am—

I teeter on the skeletal Edge of

my Emptiness and

my Past,

knowing (hoping) that somewhere,

beyond this impenetrable self-barrier,

lies a place where dissonance—

sunlight—

wind—

soul—and

seeker

Rise up and take their place among

Truth and

Self.

I will rise up, for—

I am Wings.

all's fair in love and war...maybe

I know many of you will read this post and say to yourselves, "He's eighteen, what can he possibly know about love?" Well. To you naysayers, I simply must say that I have been fortunate to know more than my share of love, and, to put it bluntly (and a tad bit cliche-ly), it's changed my life. Forever. I won't spend time drawing out the details of exactly what I'm talking about for several reasons, but I will say this. I know how it feels to love and to be loved, and I question daily which of the two I cherish the most. Ultimately, however, I made a decision, one which haunts me to this day and which, while I know it was the "right" one, I still question. I threw away that which I had been so blessed to have, and I hurt the one that I loved more than I think I'll ever possibly understand. Forgiveness and reconciliation have proven to be tricky things to conquer, things which we're still working out. There are days when I feel somewhat normal, when it seems like my life is moving on like I said it would...and then there are days when I just know I've made a huge mistake. To put it simply, I'm working on it, and it's most definitely a process. The thing that I fear the most is never regaining the trust of the one that used to trust me implicitly. Do I even deserve that trust? I'm not sure...
Okay, so I promise that this blog won't always be filled  with my melancholy thoughts on love, but. I felt the need to express them today and I hope you'll forgive me.

Until next time, here's a little something from an absolutely phenomenal new musical called "Next to Normal."

"Day after day,
Give me clouds, and rain and gray.
Give me pain, if that's what's real.
It's the price we pay to feel.
The price of love is loss,
But still we pay.
We love anyway.
And when the night has finally gone.
And when we see the new day dawn.
We'll wonder how we wandered for so long, so blind.
The wasted world we thought we knew,
The light will make it look brand new.
So let it
Shine, shine, shine.

Day after day ,
We'll find the will to find our way.
Knowing that the darkest skies will someday see the sun.
When our long night is done,
There will be light."

and thus began his last first-attempt at blogging...

It's official: I have a problem, a phobia, a disease. I can't keep a blog to save my life. And, as I pondered this sudden realization, it hit me that maybe, just maybe, I never had much of anything to say up until this point. I've tried the whole, "Let's tell the world about my exciting high school life," bit, as well as the, "Let's do movie reviews!" thing. Neither were very successful.
I think the problem was that, as with many things in my life, I was simply trying too hard. Profundity cannot simply be forced into existence, this I've learned. It has to self-create and express itself on its own time.
So. Here we are. I start my new life at Elon University in 16 days, and I could not be more excited/scared/nervous/happy/anxious/AAHHHHHH. I'm a regular Holden Caulfield (Side Note: The English Major in me wants to throw in as many literary references as possible. Go read The Catcher in the Rye and tell me you didn't like it. We'll talk.) So far, I have high hopes for my college experience. I'm going to a school that's small, beautiful (it's a botanical garden!), and safe; I'm in the Honors Program, which could prove to be more intimidating than I'm letting on; my roommate is absolutely spectacular (theater major, essentially my twin); and I'll be in college, getting the opportunity to start over and meet new people and think deeply and truly become the person that I've started catching glimpses of here and there this year. I'm hoping that this blog will...
Actually, no. I have no hopes or expectations for this blog. And I definitely don't mean that in a negative way! I'm simply saying that, starting now, I'm choosing to let this blog happen as it happens. No themes, no musts, no pressure. Just me :)
Let's keep our fingers crossed, shall we?
One thing I would like to keep constant with this blog is my inclusion of things that have affected me, either in my past or in my present (and maybe my future). I'll end each post with some sort of...something, be it a poem or an excerpt or simply a thought that has crossed my mind.This post's something is a poem by Walt Whitman (a personal favorite) entitled, "A Clear Midnight." It's what inspired the title of this blog!

"This is thy hour O Soul, thy free flight into the wordless,
Away from books, away from art, the day erased, the lesson
 done,
Thee fully forth emerging, silent, gazing, pondering the
 themes thou lovest best,
Night, sleep, death and the stars."