Modern Bards

Hybrid Bard Troubadour

In this modern day the poet and the singer are often one and the same. The classic case is, of course, Leonard Cohen, who was already a successful poet prior to taking up the guitar and releasing his first (of many) albums of songs.

However, the one I'm thinking of tonight is Billy Joel. I heard an interview with someone who knew Billy well and the guy said (if I may paraphrase) "There'll be things in your mind that you've been struggling with for weeks and Billy just says it perfectly in one line, that's his brilliance."

On that note (pun un intentional) I'll leave you with a beautiful collection of Billy's verses from the song A Matter of Trust (some verses discarded and others re-ordered to suit the local situation). He's talking about a specific relationship but the song is general enough to refer to all relationships, even devotees in a sangha.

Some love is just a lie of the soul
A constant battle for the ultimate state of control
After you've heard lie upon lie
There can hardly be a question of why

You can't go the distance
With too much resistance
I know you have doubts
But for God's sake don't shut me out

It's hard when you're always afraid
You just recover when another belief is betrayed
So break my heart if you must
It's a matter of trust

I'm sure you're aware love
We've both had our share of
Believing too long
When the whole situation was wrong

Some love is just a lie of the mind
It's make believe until its only a matter of time
And some might have learned to adjust
But then it never was a matter of trust

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Perhaps it's time for us to work together with a lot more caring and trust, Thise who can already do. The rest simply need to let go and trust Gurudeva, our Lordships and each other, collectively. We can make it work and we will make it work.

tkd