The Symphony Poem by R.H. Peppers

A disciple of who chose a Guru
Due to the Guru’s agelessness and wisdom
Thought one day to ask..
..’Teacher.. how may I take steps to lengthen my days
That I may one day be as you are ageless and wise? ’

The Guru in turn looked upon his pupil with a coy smile
Before leaning toward one of his many wives..
Whispering in his wife’s ear the Guru spoke a few words
Instantly making the two of them giggle out loud..

The student was puzzled at his teacher’s action and asked..
..’Teacher. is there something wrong with my asking such a question? ’

The Guru again smiled then said..
..’no. nothing wrong my dear boy..
First allow me to ask you a question of my own..
Why does the length and wisdom of your life concern you? ’..

The student thought long and hard
Knowing the teacher’s question had to be another of his many tests..
..’I am concerned with aging well..
Preserving myself and gaining wisdom
That I may be a benefit to others such as yourself’..

The Guru could see the determination in his pupil’s eyes
And thought well of the young man’s ambition..
..’to be aged as I is not due to plan
Can neither be written on page nor molded into castle with sand..

..to preserve one’s self is also a futile attempt
To bottle that which cannot be held..
Be it in flask. glass or deeply dug trench..

..wisdom is but a word for that of which cannot truly be named..
Life is..! ! CLAP! !
And of this action made sound
What can be preserved. predicted or said? ’..

The student was all the confused..
..’dear Teacher I shudder to understand..
The clapping of your hands produces such a sound
In truth I have no word that may convey..
..please do explain’..

The teacher then said..
..’my dear boy..
That is the point! ..
There truly are no words to adequately explain life..
For it is only the living of such that one flavors the water of time..

The student still struggling to piece his teacher’s words together..
Of which to him were making no sense at all..
..’Teacher I beg of you to simplify this matter
In order that I may follow along’..

The teacher agreed..
‘Let us set aside such an issue bouts the insufficiency of words
And speak more to your wanting length of age and influence..
So to trouble you no more with fancy ways of speech
I shall speak to you in terms of music’..

The student quickly grew spirited..
..’Teacher that will do me well..
For I am proficient in the art of music’..

The Guru smiled and said very well..
..’you expressed your desire to live so long a life
That you may grow old and wise influencing others to do the like..

First let us understand that we are but each a single note
In an extraordinary Symphony
So sincere and unique is the tone of each..
That if one attempts to be what one is not

It may in its short time of existence miss the sweetness of melody..

The student felt comfortable that he could follow..
..’Teacher. is it not then good to show each that you can
The right way of keeping pace with said melody? ’..

The Guru stated how good it was a question.. then laughed..
..’true to being a lover of music
Would you not agree a single note produced is not bound by walls of rhythm..
But indeed by its cause is the purest of symptom? ’..

The student responded..
..’yes I would agree.’..

The Guru continued..
..’Indifferent are sections of drum. string and brass..
Each holding notes of which vary in pitch and length of time each pass..
..The drum note beats quick. hard and steady as the heart
..The string strums and hold that of short and lengthy undertone..
..The brass scream with blurts that are of varied lengths and sharp.’..

The student concurred..
..’this is true. Teacher.’..

The Guru then smiled..
..’And there my dear boy lie the beauty of it all.’..

The student then asked..
..’Teacher.. I think that I follow but I must admit
Still I wonder what does this have to do with length of one’s life
And the seeking of wordless wisdom? ’..

The Guru turned toward his wife then shrugged his shoulders and laughed..
..’see my sweet darling I told you.’..

The teacher’s wife covered her insatiable smile
then in a soothing voice spoke words to her Husband’s student..
..’in as plain a language I am able to speak..
The length of one’s life is merely its time spent in the Symphony
Fierce winds blow and raging waters rise..
Neither of which can be predicted as the same with war and disease
Is impromptu that of ways One may die..

..this is as it concerns to the length of One’s life..

..wisdom is to life as melody is to music
The Brass need not to teach String that of strum
String need not teach Drum to drum..

..the beauty that my Husband speaks is of the uniqueness of them all..
Harmony is the savory unbalance giving Life it’s prominent rise
And it’s much needed fall..

Hence the Symphony of Life may carry itself on and on.’..

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

And so goes the tale of the Extraordinary Symphony..

Sincerely..

TheJester