A Quest For Expression Essay Research Paper

A Quest forExpressionBy Vera ChernomordikThe Gods GiftBook 1 So long it has been since my first teaching to be a minstrel. The 7 days flew into months, and the months, swiftly as an eagle in Flight on the wind, turned into years. And now, in a fortnight time, I am to have my greatest concert in front of the kings Of Brook s Line and the gods; and the winds shall blow in harmony for my glory. How tedious the journey has been. Many a time I had vouched to quit for all the restOf my days. Many a time had considered a better profession at hand. But as the gods may will me to breath and sleep, they also willed me to play on those grand black and white keys. How frustrating it has been, when all my family has only understood the song and rhyme, and did not imagine the passion I had.When I heard the great Bach play in chords that perplexed the ear, my Dear mother only cringed, while I, smiled with the comprehension ofThe enigma set for the minds hearing. I had only begun when my fire for running fingers began, and wished only that I would someday be able to fly over those keys, barely touching, a feather caressing a child s cheek, and let the beautiful fast tones flow. That day would not come soon enough, so I tripped over myself rushing to that masterful stage and the winds blew in disarray, sour and unwanted. All that kept my love alive was Ludemila, the teacher with the gift of music for the soul, and the healing voice she used when I was a scared land-bound mouse that wanted to swim like a mermaid. She would walk in the door with the grace of an Emperor Penguin. And there would start my teaching of how to live life, and read The language of chanting stars. Sweet bliss of BeginningsBook 2 Ludemila the Empress Penguin said, Sit, play, and spare my ears of the horrid mess you did not fix from the time before, and time before that! How I love you child, how you humor me with un-kept promises; try your hardest now, show that you love me as well as the music you requested. I stared at her, wide eyed, and dry mouthed, dumbfounded withHer understanding, sickened with my knowledge that I had not the Ability to play adequately enough to please Ludemila with my efforts. I was Ashamed, and Ludemila was ashamed, but she forgave, and I tried harder. The Penguin-Ludemila said And how was your day? I was stopped mid-measure, my hands cradled in her thin short fingers, pressured slightly with her cupped hands to leave them there. Smiling relief, blushing embarrassment, I then continued to complain of my un-understanding dame And strict sire and she pitied me. With this we went on with our happy medium of music and melodrama, smiling; genuinely happy.For we enjoyed each other s company as much as the music that brought us together. Awakening from a DreamBook 3I sit down, with a sigh to accompany my reminisce, to repeat my repetior; my baby grand, a shining fortress holding within It the essence of both Ludemila s and my soul. The windows are open and the nourishing wind is willing me to play the D minor chords soft and strong. I begin to play, eyes closed, heart open, and my skin covered with goose bumps, every strand of my hair reaching out to That Which Watched pleading to feel what I hear. I begin to stroke the keysAnd the strings hum with excitement, and I hum with the energy flowing within me to give birth to another child of the night sky s serenade. The wind sang with me, and the birds listened and learned the Notes, whistling with care not to disrupt the harmony That was being created. The sun hid; for fear that it would be drawn Too close with the alluring sound, to the earth. The clouds gathered over my pavilion to absorb the music; so that when it came time to let the raindrops plummet to the ground, they would hit the roof tops with the hollowed notes of my creation. All this I saw and felt, with my closed eyes, and open heart. And then, suddenly the real world came crashing down on me as the string of serenity of nature and myself was broken with the

Impatient bark of the canine that chose to live in my house. Fedya, always with enough energy to bring the house down, was rushing to take his long awaited walk. He eyed me cockily, and sneezed a laugh I Knew meant to taunt me. I always knew he was jealous that his Clumsy, padded paws were not able to make the keys sing as I did. But my awkward padded fingers did their share of work to lead up to the level that was now where I stood, so I went on playing, proving to the dog that one can accomplish much when set in harmony with nature and yourself. But then, I was not always in harmony with myself, and that did me no good. I shook my head and thanked the redwood trees that gave themselves to build my baby grand. Without them I would not have my equal part, and the completion of my being. The next day was coming soon, and after a tiring Run-through of what I would share with the world publicly in soon To be 6 days, I readied my self for bed. The elation of the music still with me, and will be through my amusing and joyous dreams of Stars and moons singing a chorus for my love [music]. The Gathering of accomplishmentsBook 4 The morning was upon me all too soon,And routinely I readied myself for the day ahead. What my mind did not need to remember anymore was that Ludemila was coming, my inner self told me that by itselfBy this time. There was electricity in the wind, and it howled through The walls in anticipation. Ludemila waddled in the door, greeting the laughing Fedya, and smiling an old smile, long imbedded in my mind. The penguin striped her black tuxedo coat and walked with steady Aim towards her home, the Redwood Arctic, humming its Greeting for the one who will always live inside him, as I do. Today our goal is not to busy our hands with music Already imprinted in their memory, but to discuss our great day,My present to her, and her show of her accomplishments. It is to be A proud day, like the mother bird s first glimpse of her Chicks soaring with ease in the sky. Ludemila looked at me, sly, and grinning, she hears the wind too, the gods bless both of us with that. The Penguin says to me You hear the music, you hear yourself, you hear the wind, you hear your soul, you heal mine. With that she commands with one glimpse of the keys for me to play. Play what you love, play what needs to be heard, and listen, the sun will sing and not run and hide, no more clouds shall shadow you, soon our your day will come! With that our lesson proceeded into a slur of closed eyes And nodding heads. If I was to look at us through a window, I would see two trees swaying in the field, but they would be swaying to their own complex pattern, one that they entwine together. And then I would realize that I too hear the wind from inside that window. That is what the minstrel is to do, to open a shaded window to the people, and let them hear the howling wind. Shadows, FarewellBook 5 The morning of the great concert came as swiftly as The years. The child in me grew weary of waiting for this day, And all that is now left is someone that had grown up. How I had waited, and worked, becoming the woodpecker tediously building his home with each peck of its tired beak. And now,I have built my home around my life and myself. And on this glorious day, it will become real when it is shown to the world like a trophy well deserved! How the penguin has worked; she was the architect, I the mere worker! This will be her shelter (as she will always be a welcome guest) her greatest accomplishment; and she will live in me and my redwood dream till the day my kin is gone, or the music s fire is smothered in ash. So today I will step into the fire, and it will not Burn me, but warm me, and give me energy and meaning for Life from now till eternity.Today I will step over and suddenly be looking down at my past; I will be on a new level, and no more clouds shall gather Around to absorb my music, for it shall be mine and No one else s to take. The Sun will instead reflect the sounds and shine them across the world, because today I am declaring myself. Today I will be one with the gods, and today I will soar with the wind.

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