The wonderful Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton was a big part of my childhood and something of an icon in our family. We listened to quite a lot of country music in those days, and Dolly was a firm favourite—especially “I Will Always Love You” and “Jolene,” two songs I have loved ever since. Her popularity only seemed to climb as the decades passed, until she became one of the rare figures in an increasingly divided America whom almost everyone could agree on. Much of that affection came from her personality: her warmth, humour, generosity, authenticity and wonderful ability never to take herself too seriously. I was deeply saddened today to hear that she has died at the age of 80. She felt like one of those enduring presences who would somehow always be there.

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I Will Always Love You

 

Jolene

 

Working 9 to 5

I also love Whitney Houston’s version of “I Will Always Love You,” which transformed Dolly’s gentle country song into one of the great vocal performances in popular music. It came about when Kevin Costner suggested the song for The Bodyguard after another choice fell through. Whitney’s soaring rendition became a worldwide phenomenon and introduced Dolly’s remarkable songwriting to a vast new audience.

A song for Shushann

A heartfelt song I created for Shushann to celebrate our beautiful friendship. She enriches my life in so many ways.

The Gold You See

Verse 1

Jilly drew a circle

On a Tuesday night in town,

Eckhart spoke of stillness

Till the noise was settling down.

I couldn’t know that evening

How deep this bond would run—

You’d be the friend I turn to first

When worry clouds the sun.

With you I never need a mask,

I’m simply welcome there;

You listen without judgement

And meet me with your care.

Chorus 1

Shushann, you see the gold in people

Before they see it too;

You hold it to the daylight

Till they know that it is true.

With your radiant smile and wisdom,

With a heart both deep and kind,

You give us back the parts of us

We thought we’d left behind.

Verse 2

We drove the road to Bowral,

Took dear Jilly to The Mill;

Out to Tina in Carcoar,

Past the Blue Mountains, calm and still.

Manly, Watsons Bay and Balmoral,

Malabar beneath our feet;

Frenchys lunches, sushi, picnics,

Ice cream, chips and something sweet.

You always knew which exhibition,

Which concert we should see;

We watched the Whirling Dervishes

Turn like a living prayer.

Then out would come Her Majesty—

Your Queen beyond compare—

And soon your glorious laughter

Was filling up the air.

Chorus 2

Shushann, you find joy in small things—

A pathway, meal or view;

And somehow every ordinary day

Feels newly made with you.

You gather friends and keep them close,

You always make a place;

The world becomes more generous

Inside your warmth and grace.

Verse 3

Christmas comes to Coogee

With the circle by your fire;

Sometimes you guide us into stillness

Till the room begins to breathe.

At morning you’re in ocean pools,

Salt water, open sky,

Hoping some small octopus

Will quietly wander by.

Then home again to Anush—

Two souls that just belong;

The love between you, plain to see,

So tender and so strong.

And Mack stays warm in memory—

We’ve always understood

How furry souls can fill a life

With simple, faithful good.

Chorus 3

Shushann, you find wonder everywhere—

In ocean, earth and sky,

In friendship and in mystery,

In all that passes by.

From Uluru to Japan,

From Norway back to home,

Your curious and playful heart

Still calls you on to roam.

Verse 4

You sit beside the troubled,

Help couples find their way,

And help those living with Parkinson’s

Meet each changing day.

You show us age can deepen us,

That eldership is grace—

Not slowly disappearing,

But finding our true place.

You took the hardest chapters

And made wisdom from the pain;

A lifetime spent becoming,

Choosing love time and again.

Through books and soulful cards,

Through every workshop that you lead,

Your creativity keeps flowering,

Still answering the need.

Bridge

There’s a mystic in you listening

For the oneness under all,

For the sacred in the silence,

For the meaning in the call.

And after all your searching,

Your journeys far and wide,

The light you went out looking for

Was always there inside.

Final Chorus

May all the gold you see in us

Come shining back to you;

May love and deep connection

Surround you all life through.

May creativity and wonder,

Beauty, purpose, sacred grace,

Keep opening new horizons

And keep laughter on your face.

And wherever we are carried,

Whatever we pass through,

My life is richer than I can say

For sharing it with you.

You are one of life’s great gifts to me—

Shushann, I love you so.

Favourite movies: Tuner (2025)

I really enjoyed Tuner. It's an immensely entertaining film that blends genres remarkably well, combining crime thriller, romance, drama and comedy into a story that feels fresh and original. The premise of a piano tuner with extraordinary hearing being drawn into the world of safe-cracking is clever, and the film makes brilliant use of sound to immerse you in his experience. The performances, particularly from Leo Woodall and Dustin Hoffman, are excellent.  I also loved the ending. It ties together the film's themes in a satisfying way and finishes on an emotional, bittersweet note that really stayed with me.

Favourite line

• Niki White: Tuning a piano is about creating harmony out of chaos, and to do that you've got to be comfortable with imperfection.

Favourite scene

• The bittersweet ending where he plays stunning piano to her. His closing line: "E-flat is out."

Favourite songs: Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell)

For me, Both Sides Now is much more than a beautiful song. It is one of the wisest reflections ever written about what it means to be human. Joni Mitchell begins with the certainty and idealism of youth, seeing clouds, love and life through the lens of imagination, only to arrive at the humility of experience: "I really don't know life at all." Far from being a statement of defeat, I hear it as the beginning of wisdom. The older I get, the more I realise that reality is always deeper than my concepts about it. The greatest mysteries cannot be captured by explanations alone—they can only be lived. That is why this song resonates so deeply with me. It reminds me to hold my beliefs lightly, to remain open to wonder, and to approach life with the curiosity of someone who knows there is always another side yet to be seen. In a world that often celebrates certainty, Both Sides Now celebrates something rarer and, to me, far more beautiful: the wisdom of mystery.

Favourite directors: John Carney

I’ve loved John Carney’s films ever since Once, which really touched me with its simple story and wonderful music. I love music and am fascinated by the creative process—how songs are written, developed, rehearsed and finally brought to life. His films capture that process extremely well and make you feel part of it. Music is never just in the background; it is central to the characters and their relationships. Whether it is Once, Begin Again, Sing Street or Flora and Son, his films show how making music can bring people together and change the direction of their lives.

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Movies watched

Hooked on classics

On our Zululand trip, through Antony, I rediscovered the album Hooked on Classics — one we listened to over and over on childhood car journeys in the 1980s. Dad absolutely loved it. The moment it started playing, the nostalgia came flooding back. It really was a phenomenon at the time, becoming one of the bestselling classical crossover albums ever and introducing a whole generation to classical music through its catchy disco-style arrangements.

 

Birthday song for Sam

I’ve Watched You Become

Verse 1

Feels like yesterday, Cape Town light

Holding you there for the very first time

So small, so perfect, breath held still

Didn’t know then just how much I’d feel

Through London years and Sydney skies

Watching your world through visits and goodbyes

But every time I saw your face

I saw the person you’d become

Chorus 1

And I’ve watched you become who you are

From a spark to a rising star

From “faster, faster” chasing the wind

To a heart that lets the whole world in

And even from oceans apart

I’ve carried you here in my heart

Verse 2

Running wild with no brakes at all

Laughing loud, never scared to fall

Sunset gold at Llandudno

Salt in your hair, that ocean glow

Sunrise swims in the quiet blue

Finding something honest and true

Curled up slow with a book in hand

Then lighting up every room you stand in

Chorus 2

And I’ve watched you become who you are

All that light, all that heart

Every laugh and every tear

Every doubt that brought you here

And you shine in all that you do

In a way that’s so deeply you

Verse 3

Now you sit in that sacred space

Holding lives with such quiet grace

You see the parts we try to hide

And help them breathe, and soften inside

You’ve known those shadows in your own way

That’s how you know just what to say

Turning pain into something kind

A healing hand, a steady mind

Chorus 3

And I’ve watched you become who you are

Not in spite of the scars

But because you feel so deep

You can hold what others keep

And the world is better, it’s true

Just because it has you

Verse 4

In Kenilworth streets you’ve made your home

Not far from Matt, not far from your own

Sunlight drifting through quiet rooms

Soft conversations, creative blooms

From Stellenbosch halls to Hermanus shores

Giving your heart to something that’s more

And every client that finds your care

Feels something safe just being there

Bridge

From dancing to Abba as a child

To standing strong and undefiled

From fearless speed to deeper sight

You grew your wings in your own time

And all the love you give away

You see it in the lives you touch

It’s there in how you show up

In all the quiet things you do

Final Chorus

And I’ve watched you become who you are

And I couldn’t be more proud

Through every high and every fall

You’ve found a way to hold it all

So keep shining, just like you do

The world is better with you

The Dance

I love this country song sung by Garth Brooks. It epitomises how I feel about my relationship with Ally.

The Dance

Lookin' back on the memory of

The dance we shared beneath the stars above

For a moment all the world wasn't right

How could I have known that you'd ever say goodbye?

And now, I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end, the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance

I could've missed the pain

But I'd had to miss the dance

And holding you, I held everything

For a moment, wasn't I the king?

If I'd only known how the king would fall

Hey, who's to say, you know I might have changed it all

And now, I'm glad I didn't know

The way it all would end, the way it all would go

Our lives are better left to chance

I could've missed the pain

But I'd had to miss the dance

It's my life, it's better left to chance

I could've missed the pain

But I'd had to miss the dance

Memorable moments: Love, sweet love, and a little squirt of soap

I live right next to Brennan Park in Waverton, which is a beautiful stretch of green, but its true crowning glory isn’t the trees or the harbor views—it’s the toilet.

When friends from overseas visit, I don’t just take them to the Opera House; I take them on a formal tour of the public amenities. It is a masterclass in automated hospitality. You walk in, and the door glides shut with a soft, futuristic click. Then, a warm, friendly voice fills the small space: "Welcome and enjoy your experience here!"

Before you can even process the invitation to "enjoy" a public restroom, the soundtrack begins. It doesn't just play elevator music; it plays the classics, including the theme of "What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love." There you are, in a public park in Sydney, experiencing a moment of profound, melodic encouragement in the most unlikely of settings.

When the "experience" is complete, the voice returns with a gentle reminder: "Thank you for using me. Please wash your hands." It then punctuates the request by dispensing a perfect, polite little squirt of soap.

I love Brennan Park, but I love that toilet even more. It is a rare and wonderful thing to find a piece of technology that seems genuinely invested in your well-being. In a world that can often feel cold and mechanical, this little booth stands as a beacon of programmed sincerity—offering music, hygiene, and a small, automated reminder that what the world really needs is a little more care and a clean set of hands.

Music

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. Red Auerbach

 

Music, to me, is one of the great gifts of being alive. Nothing makes me feel like music and often it facilitates a sacred release. My preferred way of listening to music is to play it through my headphones and focus mindfully on the music alone, as a form of meditation. At times, I also like to listen to instrumental music while I work. 

Songs

• Songs I created (with help from AI)

Favourite music

• Nostalgic music
• Favourite songs
• Favourite music (spiritual)
• The soundtrack of my childhood & teens
• Albums I listened to over and over in my twenties

Spotify playlists

• Spotify playlists
• Favourite music from my childhood
• Favourite music from my twenties
• Favourite music from my thirties 
• Favourite music from my fourties
• Favourite music from my fifties
• Favourite music from musicals
• Favourite spiritual music
• Favourite instrumental music from movies 
• Favourite songs from movies
• Nostalgic music: TV theme music

Concerts & Musicals

• Music concerts
• Musicals
• Stage musicals
• Deva Premal

Technology

• Posts labelled as "music + technology"

Music listening ongoing

• All posts tagged "music"
• All posts tagged "live music"

⬇︎ Keep scrolling for all posts tagged as “Music”

Memorable moments: The grocer’s growl

In my neighborhood, there is a local grocer I visit almost every day. It’s run by a delightful Greek family—Vula, Steve, and their two sons, Dennis and Peter. They are the salt of the earth. Dennis, in particular, has always struck me as a gentle, quiet soul. He has a peaceful vibe and, notably, even less hair than I do.

When my friend Yogi and I heard that Dennis was the lead vocalist for a band, we were charmed. We imagined a night of smooth crooning or perhaps some laid-back, chilled-out acoustic numbers in accordance with his mellow personality. We decided to head down to the local pub to support him and the family.

We walked into the back room where the performance was starting. Vula, Steve, and Peter were already there, beaming with pride. Dennis stepped up to the microphone, took a deep breath, and suddenly:

"RAAAAAGH!!!!!"

He let out a guttural, earth-shaking bellow like a demented beast from the underworld. The band crashed in with a deafening, distorted roar that felt like a physical blow to the chest. It turns out Dennis isn't a crooner; he’s the frontman for a high-octane Death Metal band.

The room transformed instantly into a sea of pumping vitality. The audience began thrashing and headbanging in a synchronized frenzy, and within sixty seconds, my ears were ringing with the force of a jet engine.

I beat a hasty retreat to the toilets, grabbed two massive wads of tissue paper, and performed a quick "field dressing" on my ears and Yogi’s to filter the noise down to a survivable level.

Once the initial shock wore off and the volume was somewhat muffled by the toilet paper, I actually started to get into it. There was an incredible, raw energy to the performance.

Now, whenever I go into the shop, I see Dennis in a completely different light. As he gently weighs my tomatoes and asks about my day, I can’t help but smile, knowing that beneath that calm, bald exterior lies a man who spends his weekends screaming into the abyss—and that the abyss, quite clearly, screams back. It’s a beautiful reminder that you should never judge a man by his apron; he might just be a grocery clerk by day and a demonic deity by night.

Memorable moments: The logistical symphony

One evening, Ivor and I went to watch his little daughter perform at a school music evening. It was one of those classic parental milestones, but the physics of the event were spectacularly skewed.

When it was her turn, she appeared on stage looking tiny and delicate—followed by an adult lugging a cello that was quite clearly three times her size. It looked less like a musical instrument and more like a large wooden wardrobe she was expected to wrestle into submission.

What followed was a masterclass in slow-motion preparation. It took a solid twenty minutes of intense focus just to get the logistics right: the chair was adjusted, the music stand was maneuvered, the endpin was stabbed into the floor, and she spent an eternity shifting into the "exactly right" anatomical position to accommodate the giant mahogany beast.

Finally, after the Herculean setup was complete, she took a breath, gave what seemed like exactly three deliberate strokes of the bow, and... it was over. The performance lasted about thirty seconds. The ratio of "preparation" to "actual music" was mathematically absurd.

But she was absolutely adorable, and despite the comical brevity of the piece, Ivor was beaming. He was the picture of the proud father, unmoved by the fact that the setup had taken forty times longer than the symphony.

Watching Ivor that night, I realized that pride has nothing to do with the length of the performance. It’s about the twenty minutes of watching someone you love negotiate a truce with a giant wooden beast for the sake of three perfect notes.

Memorable moments: The profane pharaoh

At school, it was boys only—so naturally, boys had to play the female roles. For reasons no one ever fully explained, I became the go-to woman.

I played everything from anxious mothers to dramatic widows, but the peak was an elderly spinster on a plane who foils a hijacking attempt. I studied my gran for days—her posture, her voice, the way she pursed her lips at mild disapproval. It worked. I won the annual acting award.

But by my final year, I’d had enough.

“Bugger this,” I thought. “I want a masculine role.”

We were doing Joseph and the Technicolour Dreamcoat, and I went straight for Pharaoh—the Elvis-style showstopper. Pelvic thrusts. Swagger. Power. Redemption.

Opening night: I cycled onto stage in padded cycling shorts (for reasons that made sense at the time), grabbed the microphone, and launched into full Elvis mode. The thrusts were… enhanced. The crowd loved it. Slight complication: my gran was in the second row, witnessing the entire evolution of her observational study in reverse.

But it was a triumph. Overnight, I went from deeply uncool to oddly legendary among the younger boys.

Then came the final night.

I cycled on. Big entrance. Huge energy. Grabbed the wired microphone… and nothing.

Silence.

Without thinking, I whispered loudly, “Switch on the effing microphone!”

At which exact moment… it switched on.

My voice boomed through the entire hall.

There was a stunned pause.

Then the biggest laugh of the entire show.

I set out to prove I was a man's man; I ended up proving that if you’re going to swear in front of your grandmother, you might as well do it in padded bike shorts with a backing band.

Song for Xenia for her birthday

A heartfelt song I created for Xenia to celebrate our beautiful friendship and her birthday.

The Road Gets Brighter With You

Verse 1

Tuesday nights in Jilly’s lounge

Quiet seekers gathered round

Listening for a deeper truth

That’s the night I first met you

You spoke your heart so honestly

No disguise, just authenticity

And something in that gentle room

A rare friendship began to bloom

Chorus 1

Life gets brighter walking with you

Through harbour winds and morning blue

From Jilly’s circle to cafés nearby

You make the ordinary shine

Some friends appear then drift from view

But some feel timeless, deep and true

Through every step my heart still knew

Life’s a richer road with you

Verse 2

Bowral roads and country skies

Driving out to visit Jilly

Lunch at The Mill, laughter rising

Those long trips felt easy

Friday mornings, Balls Head views

Harbour light and quiet blues

Meditation, dreams we share

Designing lives with care

Chorus 2

The road grows deeper walking with you

From Bowral hills to harbour views

Friday mornings by the sea

Talking about the lives we’ll lead

The courage in the truth you show

The open heart that lets love flow

Through every mile my spirit knew

Life feels wider next to you

Verse 3

You sing when courage calls your name

Your voice rising clear and brave

You share your art with open heart

Showing others it’s okay

You help the lost stand up again

Seeing light in broken souls

Though the world may overlook

The quiet strength you hold

Chorus 3

The world feels kinder walking with you

Through parkland paths and harbour views

Through lockdown days we found a way

Meeting in the park each day

Through laughter, wisdom, food and song

A friendship steady, deep and strong

Through every season I still see

The gift you’ve been to me

Verse 4

With Chris and Jane and Shushann too

And Krissula beside us

Our little circle gathering

Where laughter lives and guides us

Stories shared across the table

Life unfolding as we go

Friendships woven strong and kind

The kind few people know

Chorus 4

And the circle grows brighter with you

Through meals and music shared in view

Through honest words and laughter too

You make this wandering life feel true

Some friends pass quickly out of view

But some help shape the life we choose

And every mile my heart still knew

Life’s a better road with you

Bridge

You’ve taught me truth is worth the cost

To live with nothing left concealed

To meet the world with honesty

And let the heart be fully revealed

And when my anxious storms appear

You meet them calm and crystal clear

A friend who helps me find again

The beauty living here

Final Chorus

Life feels sacred walking with you

From Mackie’s quiet trust of you

To harbour winds and wandering paths

And tables full of joyful laughs

Through every valley, every view

I know how rare a soul like you

And every mile my heart still says

Life is a better road with you.

Her lovely response

Favourite songs 2025: Save Your Tears

I discovered the joys of both Ariana Grande and The Weekend this year.

Favourite songs 2025: Popular

From the musical "Wicked"

Spotify Top Songs by Year

Spotify gives you a playlist of your most listened to songs by year. Unfortunately 2022 and 2020 won't embed here.

2024

   

 2023

   

 2021

 

A song for Helen, Chris's sister

Helen is unwell and Chris wanted to create a song for her expressing love. We had so much fun creating it.  Song creating is such a wonderful new creative outlet.

“Helen, You Still Bloom”

(from Chris to Helen)

Verse 1

You came along six summers after me,

Little bike wheels humming up and down that path so free.

I’d stand there teasing, blocking up your way,

You’d shout at me, then laugh again — that was our everyday.

I’d lift you on the bar of my old bike,

We’d ride and sing those silly tunes you always seemed to like.

“Riding along on a push bike, baby…” in the breeze,

A big dumb brother and his sister, happy as you please.

Chorus

Oh Helen, sweet Helen, you’re a gentle, shining soul,

With a heart that finds the smallest joys and makes the broken whole.

Like a lost cat in the shadows, you still purr and you still bloom,

You bring your light and laughter into every quiet room.

Oh Helen, my Helen, if you only truly knew,

How loved you are, how cherished — I’m so proud of you.

Verse 2

You watched the creatures roaming through the yard:

Duke the dog, and Twinkle in the garden standing guard.

Blossom with one bright eye, Tyler roaming free —

Each whiskered friend you gathered felt like family.

You’re the Jane Goodall of every cat,

Reading all their secret moods and knowing where they’re at.

Closer to the animals than the people sometimes too,

But that just showed the softness and the kindness deep in you.

Chorus

Oh Helen, sweet Helen, you’re a gentle, shining soul,

With a heart that finds the smallest joys and makes the broken whole.

Like a lost cat in the shadows, you still purr and you still bloom,

You bring your light and laughter into every quiet room.

Oh Helen, my Helen, if you only truly knew,

How loved you are, how cherished — I’m so proud of you.

Verse 3

Do you remember Susan with her mud-cake trick?

Hundreds and thousands sprinkled on — it got you pretty quick.

You took a bite and scrunched your face, I hurled one as she ran,

It splattered down her dress and back — oh, what a day we had!

And later on in Auckland, when you stayed a little while,

You found a job with films and walked with that proud smile.

Your own flat and a boyfriend, Sunday catch-ups too —

Those simple golden moments will always shine in view.

Verse 4

You loved the zoo, the music, all the 80s songs,

Singing in the kitchen, tapping rhythms all day long.

And every time you phoned me with a laugh or just a “Hey…”

I felt that little sister love in such a tender way.

You’ve always cared for others with a quiet, steady grace —

For Mum, for friends like Mavis, for each soul in every place.

You spread your warmth so easily, the way a candle does,

And every heart you touched still glows because of who you are — because…

Verse 5

And Marian’s been your anchor through the years,

Calling, visiting, steadying your fears.

A sister’s love that never fades away,

Your daily rock, your sunlight in the day.

And John once opened up his home to you,

Shared the shopping, shared the ordinary too.

Even through the storms his mind would send,

He offered you a place — a brother and a friend.

Final Chorus

Oh Helen, sweet Helen, you’re a gentle, shining soul,

With a heart that finds the smallest joys and makes the broken whole.

Like a lost cat in the shadows, you still purr and you still bloom,

You bring your light and laughter into every quiet room.

Oh Helen, my Helen, if you only truly knew,

How loved you are, how cherished — I’m so proud of you.

My first spiritual song

 

I created my first spiritual song with Suno, inspired by a poem I wrote in 2021.

Right now

Right now I Am…

   soaring high on outstretched wings

   opening my petals to the morning sun

   scurrying through a termite cathedral

  spinning an intricate web of silk

   trumpeting through an upturned trunk

   laying eggs in a little pond

   picking nits from my lover’s fur

   probing the damp soil with my spindly roots

   singing a duet through a twittering beak

   galloping along on mud-spattered hooves

   surfing waves with gleeful squeaks

   gazing out meditatively with large, luminous eyes

   stretching my branches up and out into the vast, open sky

   smelling for truffles with my sensitive, pink snout

   probing a hole in the rocks with a nimble tentacle

   paddling along a stream with powerful kicks

   hungrily sucking warm milk from my mother’s teat

   searching the ocean bed in search of a larger shell to call home

   charging headlong into the horns of another with a mighty clash

   licking my paws with a raspy tongue

   wriggling this way and that to shed my scaly skin

   breathing in air through my damp, permeable membrane

   bobbing up and down in an intricate dance with my life-long mate

   cutting the water with my dorsal fin

   rising up on thrusting haunches in orgasmic release

   stalking stealthily in pursuit of unsuspecting prey

   enclosing my young one in a protective embrace of flippers and feet

   staring patiently at the water with my rapier like bill ready to strike

   wagging my tail in unrestrained welcome

   sharing a belly-laugh with a beloved friend

   staring in wonder at a crimson sunset

   shedding grief-stricken tears at an untimely loss

   typing this poem with clumsy fingers and an open heart

All these things I, the Cosmic Mind,  experience in the timeless Now

and a quintillion quintillion more things

across countless different worlds and dimensions.

All experiences past, present, and future

exploding forth as pure perception from the Singularity I Am,

the Infinite Awareness I Am,

in a great, exultant cosmic bang,

creating the ultimate immersive, experiential work of art,

wondrous and beautiful,

epic and profound,

beyond all imagination.

Another spiritual song (entirely different!)

Based on a poem I wrote in 2021.

I Am

I am unremitting joy. I am utter despair.

I am languid peace. I am chaotic turmoil.

I am abundant generosity. I am insatiable greed.

I am adoring love. I am heartless indifference.

I am pure innocence. I am vulgar sleaze.

I am cocksure swagger. I am fearful doubt.

I am a shy smile.  I am a vicious snarl.

I am a soaring symphony. I am a fearful din.

I am a scurrying ant.  I am a motionless sloth.

I am a soaring eagle.  I am a crawling worm.

I am a gargantuan tree.  I am a tiny flower.

I am an omnipotent king.  I am a cowering subject.

I am an athletic champion.  I am a lazy slob.

I am a holy saint.  I am an atrocious tyrant.

I am an impenetrable jungle.  I am a withered land.

I am a  mountain peak.  I am a gaping abyss.

I am a blazing sun.  I am a planet of ice.

I am an endless galaxy.  I am a grain of sand.

I am a radiant light.  I am the darkest night.

I am this.  I am that.

I am here.  I am there.

I am him.  I am her.

I am you.  I am me.

I am the collective experience of all these things

and many, many more;

a kaleidoscope of a quintillion different perceptions

and I am that which makes experiencing possible.

I am the Eternal Subject

yet I also take the form of every object.

I Am All That Is.

I Am all Knowing.

I Am all Being.

I Am.

I Am.

I Am.

Written: 2021