After the Tempest (Finding Family)

William Blake, "The Meeting of a Family" 

This short poem builds on a personal reflection on the nature of enduring relationship during a time characterised by the prevalence of divided households.

The poem carries an acknowledgement of the tensions and the difficulties that inevitably arise within the context of marriage while also giving voice to the deeper treasures that can emerge in the living of a sustained commitment to another.

The music that accompanies Finding Family was composed and performed by Nico Di Stefano.




Finding Family can be streamed using the media player above. A CD quality mp3 audio file is available for download here.

 

The Poem

Finding Family

Let us now look beyond the obvious

And tend to the subtle and the silent

This world too full of empty noise and useless purpose

I call out to your generations

I know these shades well

Perhaps the point too strong

The light too bright

Too soon to dive so deep

Better then to wait again and turn aside

Until the tide more gently turns

This pearl is safe

Until the divers come

Flooding tears wailing walls

Streams of unmet longing gush and rush around

No sorry word can compass this

Our fields and currents sundered through

But still I call in silent breath

And whirl in loving storm around you

This time now opens once again

As you and I conjoined become

The loving daughter, loving son

Brother strong and sister true

Born of love and me and you