The Pleasures of Unconsciousness

You enjoy too much I think
The pleasures of unconsciousness
But someone very near will bear
The price that you won’t pay

You rejoice too long I think
In the palace of penumbra
And in the planes between the worlds
What tunes you love to play.

I have stood too long I think
By a door without dimension

‘Lazarus dome forth my dear
The dazzling world is nigh!
The smell is very bad it’s true,
But I have hopes aplenty’

But nothing much is moving
Now the shroud is thrust aside.

Orpheus and Eurydice,
They had the same encounter
As Orpheus stepped from the underworld
He turned to face his bride

But turning from the light
He transgressed a solemn promise

His arms grasped the receding air
As falling back she cried
‘Not one small kiss before the abyss?’

Her shadowy form diminished.
Eternally disappointed,
Their relationship was finished.

‘Orpheus, Orpheus what have you done?
Think of the prize you almost won!
Orpheus why did you have to see
Could you not have trusted me?’

You enjoy too much I think
The pleasures of unconsciousness
But someone very near will bear
The price that you won’t pay.

You rejoice too long I think
In the palace of penumbra
And in the planes between the worlds
What tunes you love to play.

Sarah de Nordwall 2001

Today I’ve started recording my second album in Hammad’s studio! We’ve just finished recording this very poem and I was thrilled when I asked for a flute theme to go with the Orpheus story and he’s written a gorgeous ‘raga’ for it.

It’s such a joy to work with an inventive musician who also knows recording. All I have to say is, ‘I’d like a greek flute vibe with a bit of underworld and ancient lament…’ and he’s already creating it. Fab. It’s like that, poem after poem.

I’m so looking forward to turning it all into the travelling show and taking it on the road.