Happy Thursday, friends!
Normally on a Thursday I would post an essay or some other resource, but I felt inspired by our conversation this week about nostalgia—plus some other personal experiences from the past few days—and wrote a slightly longer poem, instead.
As I’m sure you’ll recognize, this poem comes from a deeply personal place in my own nostalgic past. It features a song (the eagle-eyed among you might find it in the poem; if you catch it, leave your guesses in the comments!) that used to sting whenever I heard it, but now just fills me with an overwhelming sense of gratitude that I’ve matured, grown up, and learned a little something about real love, not the Hollywood mythologized stuff we are often fed.
A bit of a departure from my normal fare here, I’m sure, but it follows our path through the topic of nostalgia this week: sometimes, if we let it, sentimentality can lead us to gratitude, not yearning.
No matter whether recollection of the past stings or soothes, I hope you enjoy this little poem, or perhaps even find yourself somewhere in these lines.
Some Songs Make Me Cry S.E. Reid it's a song from a movie I've never seen about two musicians who fall in love, but ultimately their love is doomed. the first time I heard it I was myself a reluctant musician (unsure, unschooled) and he was a god with a guitar, and I thought it was love because the song said so. (it wasn't.) but for years after I couldn't hear that song without hot tears (of sorrow? of shame?) falling slowly. but you know what? that didn't last; when I learned that love is more than a songful infatuation the spell of that song broke and now I can hold that melody in my hand examine it and think how glad I am of the songs I sing now and how I've grown from who I was once.
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Beautiful poetry, S.E.! Once is also one of my all-time favorite movies.
I was able to see them when they were first touring together, and it was spectacular. I also saw Glen Hansard solo a few years back, also awesome. Thanks for sharing this today.
A lovely poem, S.E. And a beautiful thought. I prefer the gratitude (and learning) from looking back. I don't like to stay behind in the good old days. I'm grateful I lived them, and took learning from them into being who I am now, Just as I am grateful for today and what I take from that for tomorrow. It's all about growth.
Very curious about the movie and the song now, though... I see people mention Once. Haven't seen it, but will listen to the soundtrack.