Sopolyrimu Volume 3: Songs Like Fallen Apples

By Marcus M Cornelius

This is the third volume of sopolyrimu (songs, poems, lyrics for music) to appear in print. They continue to be enthusiastically received internationally, and in August 2009 Marcus started moving around the world giving reading performances of the work, a process that hopefully will not stop. Seven volumes of sopolyrimu have been completed, with one hundred in each volume.

"If these has been released over the author's lifetime he would have become a national treasure by now. The work is distinguished not only by its fine feeling but also by its high level of craftsmanship. In many ways, the work has a serene devotional quality reminiscent of T. S. Eliot.

Harris Smart, teacher and writer, and author of The Yellow House, a multi-media exploration of the friendship between Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh.

Everyone would benefit from reading and hearing these songs. They are profound and unforgettable
M. Ridhwan Isharc, UK


Marcus M Cornelius writer, teacher, bookseller and one-time singer. He graduated from Exeter University (UK), was awarded a Creative Writing Scholarship at Syracuse University (USA) and for seven years was a professor at Hokuriku University (Japan). He is currently finishing the sixth volume of sopolyrimu (songs, poems & lyrics for music). Each volume contains one hundred songs, one hundred being chosen simply because it is a convenient round number. Apart from these volumes of sopolyrimu, more of his work has been published by I-Universe, including Out of Nowhere the musical life of Warne Marsh, and the first two books in the five-part work entitled Note for Note (Another pentateuch). i-Universe will eventually publish the three other books in the series. Three of his spoken word CDs are available on I-Tunes (for purchase) and Last.fm (for free listening). The third CD was one step closer to his dream of having original music written for the sopolyrimu; all but two of the tracks are accompanied by music, and three tracks by commissioned music. More CDs are planned. Marcus is working towards the accomplishment of the final goal with the songs, which is to see them performed accompanied by music and dance. Further details of his work and activity can be found at www.auroranovapublishing.net. Marcus now lives in Eymet, France.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jan 11, 2011
• ISBN: 9781450265973

Marcus M Cornelius

MARCUS M. CORNELIUS: graduated from Exeter University (UK), was awarded a Creative Writing Scholarship at Syracuse University (USA), and for seven years was a professor at Hokuriku University (Japan). His other occupations have included many years as a bookseller, and some time as a singer - music has always been the most reliable of friends - and freelance writing and arts management in Australia. i-Universe published his first book, Out of Nowhere - the musical life of Warne Marsh, as well as the first three of eight completed volumes of Sopolyrimu (songs, poems and lyrics for music) and the first four books of the five-part Note for Note (Another Pentateuch). Marcus is now working on a prose work to be called D-tours, the last hundred years, and a book of poetic prose to be called keepers takers. He now lives in Triana (Sevilla) where he feels very much at home. Further details of his work and responses to it can be found at www.marcusmcornelius.net.

Book preview

Copyright © 2011 Marcus Cornelius

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

iUniverse books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

iUniverse

1663 Liberty Drive

Bloomington, IN 47403

www.iuniverse.com

1-800-Authors (1-800-288-4677)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any Web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

ISBN: 978-1-4502-6599-7 (pbk)

ISBN: 978-1-4502-6597-3 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

iUniverse rev. date: 1/7/11

Dedicated, with thanks, to Kevin Monahan and Maria Jamieson for their encouragement over the years.

List of Contents

Prologue

not much to ask

another show begins

back up

almost neighbours

we keep the watch

but a little something

scale the heights

to climb aboard that waiting bus

up in the air & up for grabs

out in the open

three wise men

all said & done

never know for sure

in the presence

circles never closed

corridors of power

love come true

on the take

protection

moments of truth [for DEP]

cap in hand

it ’s what I do

even when you want to

when the wells run dry

name the day

do your best [for MG]

this had to happen

without you

through the heads

out of my hands

the bridge

down at the quay

falling back

lady at bay

do that & I’ll be gone

tough enough

what’s so bad

I really do not know

codding town blues

walking round the world

I want to go back

of an unsound frame of mind

tears can taste too sweet

mud on my boots, blood on my hands

it is what it is

fall apart at the seams

can’t say goodbye

off darling street [for BC]

peccadillos, premonitions & mementos

clean slate

somewhat tragic, perhaps

did it anyway

wedding of a rarer kind

still to look for, yet to lose

nobody’s hands [for AK]

done nothing

conductor & the doctor

test of faith [for GH]

hubcap & trim

no longer here

bruised not beaten

by your own hand

tell me

river in egypt

star has exploded

harlequin jumpsuit [for FM]

gaze into the inner eye

vultures of the power lines

sleep well tonight

what you make of it

who are you really

do you remember me like this

ranger rick

heaven only knows

vines are pruned

everyone must suffer

how about that

dogs on a leash

vibrations broke the glass [for MSS]

clear cut if not cleanly

hunted high & low

no strings attached

take your time

must I apologise again

I know I know

switching off & turning up

lonely as hell, peaceful as heaven

wriggling from the wreckage

stigmata

mt jackson

slipstreaming

reclaimed common ground

you told me you would

zero gravity

while you were out [for the ‘disappeared’]

that says it all

the parting’s gift

undetected treasures

when are you going

comparing notes

Prologue

At the time of writing I have completed the seventh volume of sopolyrimu, and when that is done I will have written down 700 songs, poems & lyrics for music, or sopolyrimu. This has taken four and a half quite remarkable years. The daily productivity shows no signs of abating, for which I am extremely grateful as it feels to me like the fruition of my life as a writer. On the other hand, as the process deepens and broadens, I am increasingly aware that all I do in fact is write down as faithfully as I can what I hear in the air, so to speak, and often make only minimal changes to what I first heard. This brings with it a wonderful freedom, in that in no way do I feel attached to what I have written down: each song feels like a gift, and to receive such a gift every day or so is a very rich way to live.

By the middle of 2009, it was being made plain to me by an increasing number of people - some who know me and some who do not - that I needed to make an effort to perform the sopolyrimu to as many people as I could reach. For one who had decided to spend the rest of his days (hopefully a long rest of days) as a contented and nomadic recluse, such urging came as a rather unwelcome agitation. However, the sincerity with which the encouragement was given finally led me to the decision to do what I could to start the process of ‘reaching as many people as I could’, given my very limited financial resources. I left Sydney (Australia) on August 18 2009, bound for London (England) and after that to wherever the intention to reach as many people as I could would take me. On two occasions in London I performed a selection of sopolyrimu, accompanied by Mardyah Tucker on improvised violin, both performances given at the Amadeus Centre in Little Venice, Maida Vale. One of those performances was video recorded by Ken Barnes, film maker and former teaching colleague in Japan. On other occasions I read selections to small private groups, and also gave one performance in Paris, accompanied by dance.

Just before leaving Australia I had finished recording a third CD, Love’s Victory. This was a landmark event for me because all but two of the tracks were performed with music, three pieces being original compositions. All these events saw at least a start being made to what I had always felt was meant to happen, namely performing the sopolyrimu to music and dance. The goal now is to find out how this can happen and also to create a fourth CD with an ensemble of musicians.

I hope you find some nourishment and even inspiration in reading this present volume. And should you be interested, details of my work and current activity are on my web pages, www.auroranovapublishing.net

Marcus M Cornelius

Eymet, France

October 2010

not much to ask

eight hours of sleep

a house that’s safe

not much to ask -

a book to read

young friends alive

no broken glass -

a mother’s breast

a daughter’s hair

a son full grown -

a warm hello

a calm goodnight

a father home

such simple needs

we’re making such

a fuss about -

we all have needs

but have no need

to shoot & shout -

blow up a bus

blow up a school

blow off a limb -

what kind of fool

thinks he can blow

love’s candle out

no man on earth

can claim he owns

the way to truth -

since only fools

espouse these rules

that lead to hate -

the truth it is

the substance of

the love we give -

love needs no mosque

or synagogue

or lofty spires

the holiness

is in the heart

that never tires -

& moves around

free as the wind

that blows the seed -

of love unbound

by name or place

from you to me -

& that is truth

& all the truth

we’ll ever know

& all love needs

for us to do

this simple task -

eight hours of sleep

a house that’s safe

not much to ask

[22.10.07]

another show begins

the show begins

needles & pins

the kids come out to play

they look & learn

dissect the worm

write down what teachers say

then knuckle down

suss out the town

stride keenly down the road

first in best dressed

& best is less

beware the undertow

some show & tell

goes down so well

a little taste & see

some give & take

then make or break

then do not bother me

sow’s ear silk purse

karma or curse

you read your lesson well

the first things first

& have to learn

the silver lining’s spell

the leaps & bounds

the lost & found

life’s game of hide go seek

give as you get

forgive forget

to turn the other cheek

you had it made

but then delayed

& you’re a sitting duck

it’s do or die

but worth the try

until time pulls the plug

gave as you got

forgave forgot

to turn the other cheek

you made your call

you gave it all

& he who dares he wins

was do or die

but worth the try

until time pulled the plug

your session up

they wash your cup

another show begins

[23.10.07]

back up

I’m the miner down the mine shaft

my eyes accustomed to the dark

nowhere to go, I sit around & wait

I cannot see but I can hear

& things are just as they appear

if help’s to come it may be coming late -

can’t explain the way this happened

& all that I have fathomed is

the cage of my delusions fell away

didn’t know the rope was fraying

don’t know how long I’ll be staying

or if my truth will live to see the light of day

& heaven only knows how far

I’ve fallen down from where you are

I’ve nothing left to measure distance by

light never did enlighten me

& darkness does not frighten me

to see the dark I simply close my eyes -

& how quickly we lose contact

& hear silence make its impact

for all I know you could be down here too

first the shake up then the shake down

then the break up and the break down

could be the self-same thing is happening to you

my friend, the company we keep

is on the fringes

I’m as lost to you as you concealed from me

creature comfort in the creak

of beams and hinges

& kindness keeps our blindness company

they look & see us walking round

when really we’re far underground

trapped in the caverns of our privacy

feelings we can barely mention

can’t bend words in truth’s direction

& feel like the translator doing sign -

I am my own ventriloquist

perform the gestures of the gist

will take my life my silence to perfect

& when the ship is sinking I

hold the snapped rope of my thinking

& from this fallen state of lies I must defect

at table & out on the street

the little nod, the smile & greet

you know as well as me we’re out of sight

& consigned to this unknowing

interaction’s all that’s showing

of isolation underground at night -

we’re tapping on the walls & pipes

imagine search teams flashing lights

know being hauled back up’s not on the cards

know we’re caught between the surface

of the light & what’s in darkness

& by & by we grow accustomed to the dark

my friend, the company we keep

is on the fringes

I’m as lost to you as you concealed from me

creature comfort in the creak

of beams and hinges

& kindness keeps our blindness company

[26.10.07]

almost neighbours

our songs like fallen apples are released

by the spirit’s master key

vibrations all along the richter scale

& echoes back to me -

I plunge into the blue blue somewhere

watch my life & death embrace

& oblivious to any tribulation

see aspects of your face -

all that is is home & welcomes me

presence of my soul’s abode

boulevards of infinity in my backyard

& flowers that nature chose

to feel secure some must possess the land

shifting life a fixed address

& pride in zip codes turns the wheels of war

& jealousy’s unrest -

down the street live folk I’ve never seen

new age closed community

at the shops I’m asked my zip code if you please

which is 2-9-0-3 -

friendly man says ‘that’s the same as me

which makes us almost neighbours’

down through byzantium, the bronx & golders green

people almost neighbours

always chances here on offer

we accept or we decline

step from the edge of our perdition

or cross the borderline -

always on the brink of something new

door closed can open wide

almost neighbours is not good enough

to close the great divide

the dialects, the twangs, the brogues mutate

from the east coast to the west

from north to south we live in almost sovereign states

people almost neighbours -

states cheek by jowl with states on friendly terms

or strained intense relations

& border skirmishes break out with truce by turns

families of nations -

we draw the line, withdraw the diplomats

deadlock before backing down

well-armed temper tantrums & escalating spats

& continents cross town

scrap metal merchants of our small backyard

of universal labours

drivers of hard bargains & bargains driven hard

we’re almost neighbours -

sisters of mercy, brothers of the dawn

with hearts of no fixed address

who stop the rot, defuse the panic & alarm

neighbours not more nor less -

most beautiful the world has ever seen

love without fear or favours

down through byzantium, the bronx & golders green

live as good