Music: Brit Pop: U2 performs "Gloria"

Hat Tip to Hesed Jack Dosejo Alvarez, Philippines

U2 performs "Gloria" (1982)

— Musikos, refWrite Backpage music newspotter, analyst, columnist

Poem by Jack Alvarez inspired by U2's song

GLORIA

Gloria...
I try to sing this song
I, I try to stand up
But I can't find my feet
I try, I try to speak up
But only in you I'm complete
Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Gloria...Gloria
Oh Lord, loosen my lips

I try to sing this song
I, I try to get in
But I can't find the door
The door is open
You're standing there
You let me in

Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Oh Lord, if I had anything
Anything at all
I'd give it to you
I'd give it to you


YouTube (Jan11,2k13)

Poem: “Descending Theology: Christ Human” Mary Karr, Poetry Magazine, December 2001: via Alissa Wilkinson (Dec23,2k12) and The reformational Daily (Dec25,2k12)

“

   Such a short voyage for a god

and you arrived in animal form so as not
   
  to scorch us with your glory

Your mask was an infant’s head on a limp stalk,
   
  sticky eyes smeared blind,

limbs rendered useless in swaddle.
   
  You came among beasts

as one, came into our care or its lack, came crying
   
  as we all do, because the human frame

is a crucifix, each skeleton borne a lifetime.
   
  Any wanting soul lain

prostrate on a floor to receive the poured sunlight
   
  might — if still enough,

feel your cross buried in the flesh.
   
  One has only to surrender,

you preached, open both arms to the inner,
   
  the ever-present embrace,

which props one up, out-reaches every grasp.
   
  It’s in the form imbedded,

love adamant as bone. The miracle’s not just
   
  that you became us, but also

those breathed-in instants allotted to us each
   
  (even poor Brother Judas),

when one relinquishes self and will and want.
   
  Then you’re laid bare in us,

and for some briefly gentle eyeblink
   
we bloom and are you. 

”

Music: Song: Classical Handel for oratorio Semele, based on poem by William Congreve

-------------------------------
YouTubeServices at refWrite's partner channel for videos, yUT2ube.

Where e'er you walk, cool gales shall fan the glade ....

We used to sing this piece by George Frederic Handel (1685-1759) for our music teacher, Harry Banks -- also an organist of great repute and an experimental virtuoso on the instrument in the chapel of Girard College, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (circa 1948-1955). The poem is by William Congreve (1670-1729), British, English I presume.  Congreve also wrote "some of the most popular English plays of the Restoration period





Hat Tip to Lucas Freire Grassi, University of Exeter, Brasileriro and English gentleman.


-- Music Man