A time came along in my life when I realized words meant as much to me as notes, so I started writing the texts for some of my vocal compositions. I’ve shared a few of them below. They’re not intended as poems that stand on their own, but lyrics whose meaning is meant to be completed by the music. Together they show the things that inspire me most—the celestial, radiant beauty of the stars, the immensity of nature, and hope.
the day was harsh
the day was wrong
the day would not let go
the pain was sharp
the wound would not heal
the aching would not quell
ensapphired midnight
a forest of stars
fall into emerald sleep
then I will sing you my silent song
deep in emerald sleep
the door would not close
the darkness got in
there was nowhere to turn
when the walls came down
and the heroes had fled
the roar, the echo
the storms, the thorns
you fly, you fight, you freeze
the clamor, the thunder
the danger, the fear
I can hear you
ensapphired midnight…
leave the bell unrung
leave the letter unread
leave the words unspoken
let fallen angels cry
turn your eyes to the starlit sky
the stars are your kin
your heart is not alone
ensapphired midnight…
walk out of your troubled house
leave behind the raging of the Furies
forsake the noise
abandon the war
banish the restless shades
follow me to the wondrous land
leave storms and thorns far behind
follow me to the silver-bright kingdom
where you are the light of the stars
unwrite what was written
set out, depart
throw off your crown of thunder
encircled with gold
ensapphired by the sky
follow me to the wondrous land
leave storms and thorns far behind
follow me to the silver-bright kingdom
where you are the light of the stars
Beata Mater et innupta Virgo
star of the sea
bright as the sun
star of the sea
haven in the storm
Beata Mater et innupta Virgo
find the lost
among dark whirlwinds
befriend the desolate
among dark whirlwinds
befriend the outcast
among dark whirlwinds
shatter the ice in our hearts
I come from the land of shadows
I stand on the shore of a bitter dream
the storm did not end
the flood took us all
the flood took it all
let me drink from the waters of Lethe
let me hear the music of another land
let me run like a river to the great, still sea
I walked through the dark wood
I spoke to the shade of things to come
I heard the raging of the Furies
I heard the signal but I did not run
let me drink from the waters of Lethe
let me hear the music of another land
let me run like a river to the great, still sea
sing me to sleep
I will dream no dreams
let me wake and forget
let me drink from the waters of Lethe
let me hear the music of another land
let me run like a river to the great, still sea
o shining light
o light
o star-shine gold
jewel of the star-hall
heaven’s sparkling gem
shimmering flower of the field of angels
celestial fire
luminous, radiant, bright
lux lucens in tenebris
loquitur animae stella
[light shining in darkness
the star that speaks to the soul]
oh, shine in light
o shine
it is enough
it is after the end
it’s done
it all came to nothing
the strong overcame the weak
as it was in the beginning
it was not in the end
it is enough
that was the last one
it’s over
the last one
it’s done
and you lost
it all came to nothing
the strong overcame the weak
close the door
shut off the world
without end
as it was . . .
no tears
no sighs
not the memory of an angel
it is not enough
you, the outcast
you, the forgotten
you, the sick at heart
you, on the sidelines
shut in, shut out
bitter, yet silent
you’re going from noplace to nowhere
it is not enough
wondrous beauty, immortall beautie
heavenly beauty, celestial desire
pale emerald and brilliant white
red, violet, a fiery light
fortune-favored, more than fire
wondrous beauty, immortall beautie
heavenly beauty, celestial desire
glittering symbols of the sky
burning tapers, gold candles
the starry crown, the Royall Starre
the Lyon’s herte
distance, brightness, radiance, light
topaz yellow, sapphire blue
deep green, red, violet
more than fire
wondrous, immortall
torrent of light and river of air
flower of fire
the first star, the last star
the radiance, the light
wondrous beauty, immortall beautie
heavenly beauty, celestial desire
quicksilver traveler
radiant dreamer
out of the dark
out of sleep
above the earth
swift as a thought
you heard a call
racing, rushing
rising, soaring
on a river of light
on your bright voyage
swiftly you fly
quicksilver traveler
radiant dreamer
on this journey you fly
on the wind
through the sky
you take flight
on your bright voyage
you answered the call
fiery, dazzling
shimmering, shining
in a sea of stars
quicksilver traveler
radiant dreamer
traveler swiftly fly
on your bright voyage
on a sea of stars