sorryless

Silent Night

Sorryless67 Comments

North Star

They sit on the top of a hill overlooking Bethlehem. The air is thick with frost but they are warmed by the light of a single star. Vonnegut, Hendrix and Van Gogh spin on the prayers that are being answered inside a manger down below.

” . .  so there I was, watching this butterfly weave its sacred messages into thin air . .  and I just wept for the miracles that happen inside the quiet . .” Vonnegut says.

“You sure have a funny way of talking,” Jimi laughs.

“And you have a funny way of wearing that suit. And old Vincent here has a funny way of painting stars. And what made us this? Believing. That’s what,”

“Yeah, but to believe . . and I mean to really believe is to know you’re gonna lose. And that’s what makes it the most beautiful thing in the world. Because you do it anyway,” Jimi says as a tear runs down his cheek.

“Being born is losing. The minute you’re born into this world, you start losing things. You lose innocence and teeth, friends and lovers and car keys and memories and recipes. But you keep waking up anyway . . .” Vonnegut says.

“And it’s called faith. Like my paintings of farmers, who worked the lands of their mothers and fathers with the intent to make miracles happen,” Van Gogh observes.

“To think, there came a day when we got too smart for our britches. It seems that progress can be a four letter word if you let it run wild on you. And that’s the sticky part of the label, really . . . the idea that we became too smart to believe in the things we could not see,” Vonnegut says.

“Well, I could have told them differently. If my music taught me anything, it was to believe in that which you cannot see . . .” Says Hendrix.

“Because in the doing, this allows you to appreciate the things you can,” Vonnegut finishes, before digging into another memory. “As a young boy, I would sit in church and try to figure out why dressing up in suits and dresses stood for piety. To me, it was the moments nobody was looking at or preaching on that provided me with the proof of His existence. To me, God was speaking inside the shine of that thick varnish. To me, he was smiling inside the perfectly tweaked stained glass windows that allowed the sun to sing a million different songs,”

“And what did he say?” Jimi asks.

“Don’t take life so seriously,” Vonnegut laughs.

“Easy to say, much more difficult to live,” Van Gogh opines.

“Ah yeah Vincent, but it’s in the trying that you find your soul. I never wrote a song that didn’t write me first. The lyrics mothered me and the melody fathered me and I must’ve created a thousand songs just to get to the one that made vinyl,” Jimi says.

The three men contemplate the mysteries tucked inside a well spent moon as the wind sings in harmony with dragonflies and plums. The ground beneath their feet is a finely stitched applique of grass and soil and water, nipping at their heels with the infinite wisdom of the ages.

“So whaddaya say, fellas? Wanna go down there and see what all the fuss is about?” Vonnegut says whilst chewing on the moon with his eyes.

“I would very much like to stay right here and figure out that constellation,” Vincent says. “But it would take me a million years to figure out its math, but for that star . . that bold and valiant thing that floats on top of the heavens . . .”

“It’s calling to you too, huh?” Jimi says.

“Ah yes, the reason for all that heavy lifting God was doing . . once upon a time,” Vonnegut says before turning to his friend. “What about you Jimi? You in?”

“I wouldn’t miss this for the world,” Jimi smiles.

 

 

 

 

67 thoughts on “Silent Night”

    • I thank you humbly and much, Frank.

      It was immediate, the idea of those three together. I tossed with different people but it always came back to them. I’m glad it did and I’m very glad you liked this. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

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  3. I loved that picture…that Nazareth blue. And you know i loved Kurt so much. He had so much to say and swear, I can still hear him. I don’t have a strong belief in a traditional afterlife, but yet, I feel sparks of energy, more often than not. I can see Hicks in that cozy group making them all laugh. 🙂

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  4. B,

    This is exactly the writing I fell in love with. I won’t do my usual because I feel this needs nothing more. You are brilliant.

    Oh, and lovely version of Silent Night (though I have my fave, I am willing to give this one a big thumbs up).

    Merry Christmas, lovely man, with hugs and blessings and peace and lots and lots of my love,

    Q

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. Dude. To come back from an unintended break and find this amazing piece of writing … Duuuuuuude. You brought the heavy hitters in a trinity of amazing philosophy, hope, and inspiration. I know you created this because you had the music in you, but I’m definitely hearing this song and needed for someone to play it. THANK YOU! You bring the awesomeness with Jimi, Kurt, Vince. Such a creative mind to bring these three together in an amazing story that’s worthy of vinyl, canvas, or paper. Merry Christmas!!! I hope you had a GREAT holiday with tasty food and good company. Big hugs. Sunshine and waves.

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    • Cali!

      I was wondering where you had gotten to. I hope everything is okay on your coast.

      Glad you like the song. And look, it’s from your neck of the woods at that! 😉

      Gracias for that. Yeah, the idea of bringing those three together just came to me. I tried subbing them out for others, but these three made sense from the get.

      Merry Christmas!!

      I hope you had one as well, and I hope everything is good on your end.

      Big hugs girl.

      Sunshine, waves, peace and love.

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  11. I am back amigo.
    I like that even without knowing the three characters (your trinity) a reader still has much to take away.
    I read Vonnegut in 89 and have seen his stuff here and there – so I was not sure how much I would get with his part of this dialogue – but as noted – you wrote in a way that let us feel these characters – and I know enough about each to appreciate so many little things –
    And too takeaway:
    “why dressing up in suits and dresses stood for piety. To me, it was the moments nobody was looking at or preaching on that provided me with the proof of His existence.”
    And for me As a child, and later as young adult, I was wondering
    “Why people in the church had to be mean and bitchy. Why churches become little country clubs and why the nicest people – kind and loving – are yogis and firefighters and Not necessarily Christians” I know the church is made with humans – but the “American” version of the Christian church might have some flaws – just wanted to add that.
    Anyhow – hope your weekend is going well

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    • Thank you for this comment, Prior.

      And yes, I always wondered about church growing up. Not about the process but rather, some of the people who attended. Even back then, I could TELL the people who were getting the right stuff out of it and the ones who were attending yet another networking club.

      Happy weekend to you

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      • at one point we went to this very small church – for about two years – had a woman pastor – Sister Edwards = and under 50 people – maybe more – but the story to share is that “Brother Fisher” – (this was the kind of church where everyone was brother this and sister that – lol)
        anyhow, he was a tall, thin old man with long black coat, suit, and formal hat – and he was always complaining that my brothers would shoot spit balls at him – hahah – oh the poor man was likely hassled from the six kids in our family.

        that church experience also reminds me of Rush – the pastors’ children loved Rush music (70s) and played it loud from their little import car that was yellow.
        ahhhh – memory lane

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