This song, from Loreena McKennitt's album "Book of Secrets" is one that I really like...She writes in the CD-booklet:
"December 18, 1995, Trans-Siberian Railway:
Dante's The Divine Comedy keeps running through my mind as I gaze out at the landscape passing before me, thinking of the people who inhabit it and how they share this human condition... Are we helping or hurting each other?... How has the West come to this place of transition? Honourably? What are we bringing them? What are their expectations? Are our lives really what they imagine? We always want to believe there is a place better than our own..."
Dante's Prayer
When the dark wood fell before me
And all the paths were overgrown
When the priests of pride say there is no other way
I tilled the sorrows of stone
I did not believe because I could not see
Though you came to me in the night
When the dawn seemed forever lost
You showed me your love in the light of the stars
Cast your eyes on the ocean
Cast your soul to the sea
When the dark night seems endless
Please remember me
Then the mountain rose before me
By the deep well of desire
From the fountain of forgiveness
Beyond the ice and the fire
Though we share this humble path, alone
How fragile is the heart
Oh give these clay feet wings to fly
To touch the face of the stars
Breathe life into this feeble heart
Lift this mortal veil of fear
Take these crumbled hopes, etched with tears
We'll rise above these earthly cares
Please remember me ...
Loreena McKennitt
Pictures: Jennifer Strange's paintings inpired by Dante's Divine Comedy.
1 comment:
I too love Loreena McKinnet's song.
Dante himself hoped to be remembered. One of Dante's most powerful passages comes from Paradio Canto 33.072. Nearing the final moments of his journey, as he gathers in the glories of heaven and Grace of all that he sees, he prays, ‘give to my tongue eloquence enough to capture just one spark of all Your glory that I may leave for future generations.’ (Musa, pg. 582)
I believe his prayers were answered.
My blog: Inspired by Dante is at http://inspiredbydante.blogspot.com/
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