Facing the “Monarch, Fear's Dominion”with Song
Facing the “Monarch, Fear's Dominion”With Song
Much of the literature I used to teach featured the hero's dealing with real or imagined fears. Poe, from whom I stole my title, was a master at creating horrifying misadventures. Read “The Mask of the Red Death” which has real parallels with today's invasion of the virus catchers. And the bard‘s famous “Tragedy of Macbeth” presents perhaps the quintessential horror show of all time. Macbeth conquered his fear by “wading” into it until he had “almost forgot the taste of fear”. So, knowing what a devastating havoc cowering in fear can create, I‘d like to offer up a few cures for the disease of fear which I have extracted from songs I used to hear when I was growing up back in the “old” days: Walt Disney gave us “Whenever I feel afraid! I lift my head erect! And whistle a happy tune! So no one will suspect I'm afraid.” I am trying to recall, was it Jiminy Cricket or Johnny Apple Seed or a line from “The King and I?” I also think of Rosemary Clooney's, (George's aunt) remedy for fear: “When I'm worried! And I can't sleep! I count my blessings! Instead of sheep! And I fall asleep! Counting my blessings.” Or how about, “Get Your hat and get your coat! Leave your worries on the door-step! Just direct your feet! To the Sunny Side of the Street. Thanks "Satchmo" Armstrong. And then there's “Powder your face with sunshine! Put on a great big smile! Wake up the world with laughter! Folks will be laughing with you, In a little while. Powder your face with sunshine? Gloom never was in style! The futures brighter! When things are lighter! So Smile, Smile, Smile!” (You must remember the great Al Jolson!) all his stuff is so up beat!
And, if you feel like traveling; There's also, from way back there: “When you're smiling! O' When you're smiling! The whole world smiles with you! When you're laughing! when you're laughing! The sun comes shining through! “Cause when you're frowning,’ You bring on the rain! So keep on smiling! Be happy again! So, keep on smiling, “Cause when you're smiling, The Whole world smiles with you.” (except; perhaps, at Walmart-- ) “Who was that masked man? I wanted to thank him.” As long as we're keeping our distance, we may as well smile. These days only one out of ten smiles back. Fear is getting almost tangible in some places. And that means; the demonic “spirit of fear” is winning the battle. There's a beautiful scripture in the KJV Bible that offers real HOPE (a confident expectation of good.) “Perfect Love casts out fear.” Many a loving mother has made the attacker run defending the child she loves. And since “God is love,” Calling on Him when your back is against the wall brings amazing “help in time of need.” You see, as scripture tells us: “We have not been given a spirit of fear, but of Love and Power and of a sound mind.” Paul and Silas, in prison and faced with almost certain death, started singing about, and praising Jesus, the prison doors blew off and all the prisoners and even the guards were saved. So, the advice above is not just wistful nostalgia. Happy songs are a real escape from today's terror attack . We can help by praying for, not attacking the people in charge who are trying to lead us out of the trouble. “The Accuser," Satan revels in seeing us magnify the problem by talking fear. Talk Faith, and Hope and Love. Then the clouds will depart and, as Little Orphan Annie sings; “The sun (Son) will come out - tomorrow.” Thomas Hardy described perfectly those who live in doubt and “unhope,” in his poem “Wessex Heights:” “They sit about at places! And say harsh heavy things! Men with a wintery sneer! And women with tart disparagings.” None of us want to join that crowd - they sound too much like a lot of the bitchy scribes whose columns I usually skip. You know the ones: They usually feature a picture of a guy with a suspicious glower pasted on his face, which seems to tacitly say, “I've been watching you, and I know every dastardly sin you've ever perpetrated. ” That's usually followed by a parade of cliche'd talking points, floating in a swamp of name calling, unsupported accusations, red herrings, and insinuations. Just the sort of tripe that many politicians love to wallow in. They tend to agree upon one thing, if we can't debate the message, let's at least assassinate the character.
But as I was going to say; “when
truth broke in with all it's matter-of-factness”
about politicians: Some of that “old time” and bluegrass music isn‘t always “high and lonesome” They did a lot of joyful clogging too. Still love ya, Bill Monroe. Gene Pinkney - 5/27/20 uploaded 09/09/2020 |