reflections (for nettie) i saw myself upon a parlor chair where shadows drift o'er linen softly pressed my hands in contemplation folded there as breath relaxed inside its mortal vest the clock still marked each hour on its shelf but time had loosed itself from trembling frame and distance was removed 'tween self and self to know all shadows by another name death through its quiet window looks inside each hush and heartbeat, letters left unread of life's long road no secrets would i hide but show them plain in openness instead and as i pondered long this spectral light i yearned to separate the day from night ~ i heard these movements in an upper hall and saw a light that shone in fragile hands now echo qualms reflected on the wall that posed their questions but made no demands the queries stung like salt of raging seas so harshly asked of simple mortal men yet still i contemplate these reveries and thus will i recount them once again why in the moments that i had to spend no hymns of praise were ever given tongue ? no prayers to Heaven ever did ascend but silence reigned and left such songs unsung yet all regret may now be cast away considered in the light of present day ~ through every night and every breaking dawn with every pulsing of this heart that beats may love of life be constant, never gone to welcome every challenge that it meets now let this be my sail through every storm though fear inside me sometimes may reside i am but shadow of the larger form that constant serves as teacher and as guide i fear no more unknown, uncertain fates and reckon even doubt a faithful friend embrace with gratitude whate'er awaits till time and trial come at last to end though death still watches from its distant shore life shall be blessing, worshipped evermore rjh 4jul2026 ~ style and content inspired by Nettie Reclaimed | Sound Experiment, "Through Death's Quiet Window" https://suno.com/song/70311981-2aca-45cd-883f-073d970bb8a5 songwriting pas de deux, #2 sound design and illustration by rjh and chat-gpt 5.5
