Dawnings
A blackbird reminds
By Nicholas Hooper
A blackbird reminds me as it sings in the dawn
Its patterns always changing, beautiful, unpredictable
Can I too be that blackbird as I make sounds on my huge piano?
This deft, light, dark bird carries so little weight,
but its music is prolonged and detailed
as it wings and sings in the early morn
I will play my heavy piano with a light heart,
and with gentle fingers bring out the sounds
that come from nowhere, for no reason,
except to express a longing for, and a loving of, life
just like the blackbird outside my window.
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About Dawnings:
“Every morning at around 5am I get up and go down to my studio. After a short meditation I write down whatever is in my head, giving myself fifteen minutes to do so. Then moving over to the piano (or a more portable instrument like my Ukulele when I'm away), I improvise and record a piece of music inspired by whatever words I just wrote. It is a great way of keeping both my writing and my composing going and I call these small creations Dawnings. They are mostly unedited, like sketches, so that they keep that fresh feeling of an early morning discovery.”
— Nick Hooper