story behind the name

"I will make this world of my devising" is a line from one of my favorite poems.  I was first introduced to this poem in college when our chorale sang a beautiful piece set to these words.  I fell in love.  I was drawn in by how wonderful and dark it was all at the same time.  Here is the poem by Sara Teasdale:

There will be rest, and sure stars shining
     Over the roof-tops crowned with snow,
A reign of rest, serene forgetting,
     The music of stillness holy and low.

I will make this world of my devising
     Out of a dream in my lonely mind.
I shall find the crystal of peace, – above me
     Stars I shall find.

Together, music and poetry are so powerful.  There are many songs that are responsible for deepening my love for choral music and beginning my love for poetry.  This is one of them. 

I searched and searched for a performance of this song that had all my favorite parts just as I imagine them in my head ... didn't happen.  But, here is the best one I found:



(This isn't a just-listen-to-30-seconds-and-get-the-idea-of-it kind of song.  Listen to all of it.)

Because of my love for this piece, my mom and I decided to have our Chamber Choir sing it while we taught in Yukon.  They did a beautiful job.  It's a tough piece but our students were up to the challenge.  Not only did they sing it correctly, but they sang it musically.  They really conveyed the message.

I've been wanting to change to mydevising.com for a while and I finally decided to do it.  (It may take a few days for it to switch over completely.)  Why "my devising?"  This world and our lives are what we make them to be.  I will make this world out of a dream. 

Sara was a lonely person, wanting relief from this world.  Eventually, she took her own life.  I think she hoped to achieve the peace and rest she'd been longing for.  Fortunately, my reason for loving this poem is because of the hope I see in it. 

So, new address, same stuff.  This blog is just little parts of my life ... ideas, thoughts, dreams, and stories.  I just wanted to give a little insight behind it all.  Thanks for reading.