You know your youth

Above is a picture of me and my little cousins, singing 'You Are My Sunshine' together. Their little bodies are just humming with endless amounts of energy that I could feel, with them sitting right up close to me, on my lap, at my shoulder, at my back. They have that wonderful little-kid thing where when their attention to something is complete and whole, it certainly won't last very long but while it does, it is the most undiluted, pure thing in the world. Curiosity, is such a beautiful thing! 


As my hands moved knowingly around the notes their little noses nearly touched my fingers, as if the secret of making a piano make music would be revealed if only they could look closer. Eyes wide with wonderful questions as I pointed to the music, telling them about the language of notes. I watched quietly from the other room as one of them explored the piano like I used to do at her age; slowly walking up and down the notes, laying my whole arm across and just playing for the sake of sound, not even in that show-off little kid way...I can't wait to show them the most beautiful sounds ever created; Chopin, Debussy, and later, when they need to be taught about feelings, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young...! (I see these music education sessions flawlessly soft-focus in my head, with their little stockinged legs swinging off the side of the piano stool, bookending me in while I play Moonlight Sonata.) 


I could just cry! I started teaching piano and voice lessons this year and it has certainly melted my poor ancient heart in ways I did not expect. Do you realise how malleable little brains are? I didn't. They learn so fast, they really are just little sponges! 

In other news, we finished a new song today with the band, here is a lyrical preview. Can't wait to share it with you at our single launch on the 18th of August (sneaky plug sorry please carry on). 

light lines like veins, like a crown around your face. (light lines like veins.) 

i place my fingers in the spaces between your ribs. they fan out as you breathe in. 

(oh) darling you're just a pile of bones

(oh) but i still love you so. 


i'm lying on your bed, on cotton sheets, in roses red. (blood rushing to my head).


i'm not frightened this time, as both your hands just swallow mine. (i'm not frightened this time.)

Oh wait one more plug um my velvety man and some lovely cats from uni play in this cool band and man they're really cooking with gas. They're launching their album on Saturday and you should get down for mad dancing funk funs.