Songs of Peace

The text for this music was assembled by William Berry from poetry, images, and concepts written and contributed by:

Songs of Peace

MEMORY
Hope was a child we buried today.
One more unmarked grave
In a field of thousands.
None to mark his passing
But a forlorn dove
With a watchful eye.
Memory is often an enemy to peace;
Hope is the first casualty of war.

Is a red river worth the solemnity of the world?
The flood will surely wash over all those who hold fast,
Who do not heed the signs in the wind, in the sky,
Who believe the only path to golden fields beyond
Journeys across a grim, sun-scorched
Countryside of conflict.

Hope for the children wandering,
Searching for peaceful crystalline light,
Will be seen shining in the far distance above
Where a fluttering dove flies among ice blue stars.

A flock rises triumphant
From the silent grave.
Silver wings against the grey
Bringing hope life;
Bringing life hope
To the souls of those
Who have remembered to forget. 

SOLILOQUY
Is life not an eternal summer
And the universe my companion?
In one bright shout of joy, can I sing
‘I am invincible!’?

I am still here.
Although summer has died into autumn,
Friendships lost are but memories and
Passing life has been shattered
By the things I held most dear,
I am still here.

May I live beyond life,
Dancing in the elements and
Whirling through space?
In the dazzle of sunlight,
May I dance my dream into the truth:
‘I am eternal!’?

Even in the last dark whisper,
I am still here.
I will remain
Through oceans and fireshowers
While deserts walk across the sun.
And though the words may change,
I will remain.

Can we listen while we are talking?
Even if we whisper?
Need I mouth the words,
‘Understanding comes from silence.’?

Understand my reason’s unbending:
I will remain
Sequestered in bolted caverns
Guarding gold fresh-forged
Of a solitary mind.
Youth only squanders such treasure.

Must I etch on something permanent
Like water or moonbeams:
‘Is there anything to fear?
Or hate?’
Looking back,
A few simple things are all I can hope for.
The rest of the world is beyond my grasp.
Comfort me with a moment of peace
While I am still here.

When peace illuminates every shadowed corner,
What darkness remains to be guarded?
How can it be wrong to proclaim,
‘I am peace!’?

I am still here.
Finally, I am at peace with this day,
For the wrongs I cannot write,
And for the time I could not stretch.
In the end, the child was right
And all else fades into memory.
The child was always right. 

LULLABY
My hope for you when the rain falls in cooling showers
And a fresh, fragile yellow world is fledged anew -
That you discover an unbounded love for blessed life
In its proliferous heaven-kissed splendor the moment
Celestial light becomes you.

My hope for you when the light falls in radiant beams
And a deep green warmth dances across the fertile land -
That love finds you as you share your life‘s energy
Freely through every task while heaven’s
Fire emanates from you.

My hope for you when the leaves fall in peaceful swirls
As they whirl in golden umber purple sunset cartwheels -
That the light in the trees leads you to that wondrous place
Where peace and fellowship join trusting hands and
Color shines most through you.

My hope for you when the snow falls with mystic calm
And a silver hush blankets the waiting earth in silence -
That the crystal gaze of God shall not find you wanting
When the bright blue curtain of heaven is drawn back
And there are no shadows to hide you.

My hope for you when your life turns and turns again
When life turns again and turns again and turns and turns again,
When problems upon problems pile upon your mind
Which once was unaltered, so blissful, divine -
That sleep washes over you and sweet dreams arise
Stirring thoughts of the unknown filled with surprise.
When your life turns again -
That you may sleep in angelic stillness
And at peace with the world
When the world comes to rest. 

ALLELUIA
An overwhelming jolt
Fills me with unlimited color
And the light which shines into me
Shines through me
Shines from the core of my being
Shines to color all the dark corners of this wide various world
Which is alleluia the color of alleluia’s light if shining alleluia has a color.

And I am startled into joy.

Joy . . . I have heard that is its name [alleluia]
I sought the source <of the light> but could not did not ever find it
For it is never seen [with wondering waking eyes]
It is too powerful, true and invisible
For earthly designation or name. [alleluia]

At this time of evening,
As these mangled noises wander their way to a place called art,
Even the tiniest pebbles make long shadows [on the street],
And the colors have gotten louder before the day quiets.
I had wondered where the light [faded] had gone to
And thought I had looked [and looked] everywhere
[Else but it was not anywhere else]
Only to find the light within myself.

If I send this my light forth into the world [alleluia]
Eventually <by this light> it will cease to be [only] red;
The world will turn colors
Colors I have never seen [with wondering waking eyes]
It will become a most spangled illuminated brilliance
The color of joy.