Blog 2849 – 08.17.2023
Nursery Rhymes
There is an expression “Without Rhyme or Reason” that describes an action or situation that just does not seem to make sense. Rhymes are a way we teach children to begin to make sense of the world. Nursery rhymes, poetry, song lyrics, and rap all are examples of rhymes that help us make sense of the things, the events, and the people in our lives.
I have found over the years that some of my best reasoning I have found in rhymes. I quote song lyrics more often than I quote the Bible for I find them equally holy and inspired. One of my favorite songs is Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. One line I find especially appealing says:
“There’s a blaze of light in every word
It doesn’t matter which you heard
The holy or the broken Hallelujah.”
The dictionary defines hallelujah as:
The third definition “shout of joy, praise, or gratitude” in the case of a broken hallelujah might also include “surrender, resignation, and acceptance.”
I include three verses to the song not included in the recording below. And confess I first heard them in the animated movie Shrek.
These holy and broken hallelujah’s help us all, young and old, to find some rhyme and reason to life. To that end I say hallelujah and amen.
Your friend and fellow traveler,
David White
https://drive.google.com/file/d/19D15ipUdXUi_ONdQcWpxdn68F78mFmhi/view?usp=drivesdk
Nursery Rhymes
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah (1984)
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