A song hums before the flooded womb, beyond the darkling grave
thrumming through our every dream's night and in each shining shadowed day.
Moments, when the cool breeze of autumn floats through the open window,
I think that I can make out a melody from far away leading me on
until my sad restlessness comes and I find there are things I could do
that needn't be done but I do and the sound I thought I heard dissolves into loss.

Then the moon, almost forgotten, rising on the face of evening's tender blush,
takes up the song and I hear it again, faint, from beyond the edge of night,
or, it sings within the soft lights of dawn or dusk, in shadows or the still of silence.
Perpetual and persistent though it is, I stop to listen only by chance and surprise.
What would my life be if I were to sit longer with that patient melody -
let it enter me as much as the air, as much as my own beating heart?
Might I know of eternity and heaven, of grace transfiguring all and all that is? 

Such thoughts in the night - follies of imagination! Except, 
others have intimated as much and more and who am I to say
that their engagement with the sublimity of surrendered souls
are only the ravings of lunatics gone mad from too frequent forays into darkness?
The night is getting on and I am ready to sleep
drowsing in the soft cool darkness that is this September eve.
The birds have retired to their nests, the squirrels to theirs
and the melodies of the night are reserved to a distant rumble
on roads and rails out beyond the silver streetlights.
Still, I will sit quiet for a while and listen that I might hear that faint murmur
telling of what was before I was born and what will be when I have passed away. 
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Portland, Oregon - September 26, 2021

The poetic phrase, "...mystic chords of memory" was used at the end of Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address.  He, indeed, was a poet, using words as artfully as any politician, or anyone for that matter.  Thus, I steal the phrase from him but at least here give him proper attribution.  My use of the phrase is not in any way intended to mimic the context or philosophy that prompted his original use.