I liked the idea of comparing the movements in our souls to whale songs for a couple of reasons. It seems fitting to use a different, fluid environment than what we're used to, but I really liked thinking about something like soundwaves and what they convey within the depths of that fluidity.
This seems like a fairly complex poem to me, one of those that moves in a few directions at the same time, but I also like the basic gist: we can't come to fully know ourselves or appreciate the world when we're deceitful or afraid, when we pretend we're smaller than what we can be. Opposed to those who say individuality or the ego is wrong or evil or whatever, I think it is possible to find the basis of beauty in individuality-in-communion. Sometimes, though, we need to get out of our concepts and into our hearts and bodies in order to come back to who we can be with all of our energy and clarity.
Oh, what beautiful, clear...ideas!
Your full, well-rounded...words,
he says.
Is that how it works?
Animals communicate attraction
through scents
and glances.
Sometimes we hide our intentions
in tones instead of words.
In one case, "I love you,"
is simple truth, direct.
In another, it is unknown to the speaker
as prophecy.
We do our best to lie,
and some manage to stay small.
But our souls reach out
for truth and beauty.
At one depth, only images.
But with two eyes,
we see many depths.
One way of loving is to see only love.
There is another way of seeing.
One person only listens to words,
but there is more.
There is a way of listening to souls,
echoing in the ocean depths.
We are great, massive beings,
and graceful.
On the surface, you are lucky to see tails.
Below the waves is where we live.
Our songs are not sung by words,
but by passions.
The listener's depths are gauged by the method;
the singers couldn't help you if they tried.
These songs are for an exclusive audience.
They are not performed for money,
or accolades,
they are formed of joy.
If you listen with a skeptic's mind,
read with a critic's eyes,
feel with a cynic's heart,
you receive what you desire.
If you want to hear music in the noise,
mystery in the song,
love in the words,
joy in your depths,
listen with your being.
Whales sing for anyone listening.
The great souls know their greatness.
You understand.
We so often pretend
to be less than ourselves.
We forget expanse
in acting small.
We give up voice and act weak,
then begin to feel weak.
But the time comes when
your own weight moves you.
Your nature calls you--
the songs of others call you--
into the depths.
You take a deep breath
and feel your size
and descend.
You find yourself,
not surrounded by splashing, but
surrounded by majesty.
You join the chorus of mingled song.
You add your life to all that living.
When you come back up,
you hear deeper than words,
deeper even than petty intentions
behind petty words.
You hear prophecies in lies.
You hear love in truth.
You no longer listen to fairy tales
about love
as if love is a fiction, an idea,
as if fiction is all there is.
You find one love and
many depths of love.
When we are willing
and able
to know ourselves,
we begin to hear
this beautiful mystery
in which we swim.
Is that how it works?
What makes you sing?
Copyright 2007 Todd Mertz