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One constant in my unremarkable life
The infinite ringing of tinnitus
Ignored by methods learned so long ago
I could not remember to teach them to you
Certainly not fail safe methods
With age it seems harder not to listen
And lament as it gets louder
Slowly, slowly, barely perceptibly
Louder
As through a screen I listen to things
From the dullest congressional hearing
To the most exquisite music
Of Gustav Mahler and Sigur Rós
I know there will come a day
I will not be able to dissect the intricacies of a randomly chosen Mahler symphony
Or appreciate the perfect bliss
Of Jónsi channeling angels
Breaking barriers, cerebral and ethereal
How will I remember this divine sound
When tinnitus masks the music of the spheres?
Will my memory ability do it justice?
Soon, oh graceful Lord, soon the curse will overshadow the blessing
And I will have to stand condemned of it being my own fault
It makes me want to cry when I say
I'll miss all music
For music has been the most trusted and reliable friend I've ever known
Sacrificed for what? Persistent ringing
But who knows, perhaps the tinnitus
Is to keep me from hearing the voices that accompany schizophrenia
Perhaps that's the sacrifice, the trade-off
Godsent music the price to keep insanity at bay
I must not think that way
Though my years are getting shorter
And tinnitus will surely claim my hearing sooner rather than later
I can't let myself feel guilty
For basking in the sonic waves of comfort
For playing Riceboy Sleeps again
Listening for the million musical noises
Floating around in the atmosphere like fire flies on a dark, humid summer night
There are recordings of ghosts on the record
I'm no para psychologist and I don't even believe in ghosts
But I swear I hear their mournful cries
Pianos in empty rooms
Simple melodies picked out by no hand at all
Sounds that cannot be identified
Pin ***** starlight shines pencil thin bright light beams
That show the moths and dustmites hanging from the air
Riceboy Sleeps you can wear like a cool coat or hide beneath like a sheet waiting for Answer Man to come get you
Stalling, stalling to keep you here until the absolute last minute
Something so strong that even tinnitus can never fail to steal it's otherworldly beauty
And though it's true I would choose Mahler over Sigur Rós and Jónsi/Alex
To be stuck on that desert island with
It's only because I think his symphonies would be better tools against boredom, so complex and intricate they are
I could live 50 more years and still not have heard what waits in his symphonies
Jónsi's voice is carved on my heart
I take it with me everywhere I go
I will never lose it
It is indeed part of me, even as it grows in it's mythology
Jónsi will be with me always
Even through the gates and down streets of gold
Mahler, though, will take a long, long time to work his way into my memory banks
Though he my not totally succeed I know
I'll get more than enough
And the desert island experience
Was only made tolerable by those 9 symphonies either in the Claudio Abaddo versions or the Muchael Tilson-Thomas cycle
So I keep 'em both
And in similar ways my tinnitus is staved off by
Message For Bears
Immanu El
Stafraenn Hakon
Yeasayer
Jean Sibelius
Gregor Samsa
...there are many others
   Stand against tinnitus
   Pray a miracle from God
   To point out
   Unrecognized silence
Written under the influence of Jónsi & Alex's superb album "Riceboy Sleeps", an album that I cannot recommend highly enough
Jordan Chacon Apr 2014
Vellekla

Hakon the earl, so good and wise,
Let all the ancient temples rise; --
Thor's temples raised with fostering hand
That had been ruined through the land.

His valiant champions, who were slain
On battle-fields across the main,
To Thor, the thunder-god, may tell
How for the gods all turns out well.

The hardy warrior now once more
Offers the sacrifice of gore;
The shield-bearer in Loke's game
Invokes once more great Odin's name.

The green earth gladly yields her store,
As she was wont in days of yore,
Since the brave breaker of the spears
The holy shrines again uprears.

The earl has conquered with strong hand
All that lies north of Viken land:
In battle storm, and iron rain
Hakon spreads wide his sword's domain.
Johnny Noiπ Dec 2018
Everyone in Australia and Canada,
among men and women, girls and
Asia Southern grass, drought, Russia,
Europe, and let Googie in. Let us
all be sure of Kristin, energy and
lifestyle Imamondo singing whales,
Spanish & Italian magazines, 500
artificial memories, German Memory,
Memory in HD, a fortress, a kiss, a
Memory
Memory of Cicero's lifestyle,
English,
French,
and the Kingdom of Health still
Describes cutting travel to the victory
of the English, to the very Kakajinawa
Saka Farah Alaruk, Mary. Cicero's
brother lies Brown (Mario Cicero),
you cannot do with the fact
that the United States, John
Christian religion to you. a district
on the regions of Asia and Arabia,
and of, 'who sues for unto you the
King of Asia who in Igun is a
gunmaker of witchcraft and the
death of his brother's house: and
he is the one, who has died,
and they can be positioned to cut,
than the fact is that in exchange;
But the most Elijah to use PS.
"The communication wire on
Monique, seven ***** men
& an Ireland Race Track; Kalk
best in bed, bed, Orlando
Gibbons; Jenks Onki; Wanchai,
birds, Amarescava Navar 'Yukuchu"
** Chi Minh Hijira in town,
Canada, Russia, the ring, Canada,
Google that attempts golf stars -
Zymy hostility, China - High School
Drogda Poetariacia new man, salad ...
Thomas Polovie Malani Jagari
Zahulputia soft Mohi Khushi Khost
Patnaia want Color red, bitter 1000 2:
1 McLean's tour of Asia marine baking
car the shopping center Shopping Asia
city Asia Jogieglian Maisel Canada,
Mexico, Yolb mid-June Prize Geo kind
of Helleborus Hannkius with rice,
Chase engagement, "1 am an Hakon
vernulam chili, rice carrier locking -
Innovation - - Carl Jung believed
to be on board, Sangong Gijingu
playlist to check with the robot.
The colors pray for Cheetah  
Chrome, sugar and a music player,
a singer and the kids in his memory
and for kids and money and kids:
Yuku and the kid with the kids
from the kids and the kids in other
law 2,500 children, young girls,
children, young people and young
people and those young players
varsity in July diameter of the well.
Then Judas, who has heard from
the Father, and He is not a it is designed
for Puliolio 1000 Young J Steelji
John would seem to be unknown
to the FA, Jududu Maad, other than
A, which is the 8 of FD Nangal,
Ojajo, Siddhi, Vinayak, Janmuna!

— The End —