Here are two of Michael's favorite poems. A woman who worked with MJ for nearly 2 decades and who received several personal items of him every year to be sold for her charity project posted the poems on flickr.
I hope you enjoy reading them and to discuss their meaning and depth.
THE INEVITABLE
By Sarah Knowles Bolton
I LIKE the man who faces what he must
With step triumphant and a heart of cheer;
Who fights the daily battle without fear;
Sees his hopes fail, yet keeps unfaltering trust
That God is God,—that somehow, true and just
His plans work out for mortals; not a tear
Is shed when fortune, which the world holds dear,
Falls from his grasp—better, with love, a crust
Than living in dishonor; envies not,
Nor loses faith in man; but does his best,
Nor ever murmurs at his humbler lot;
But, with a smile and words of hope, gives zest
To every toiler. He alone is great
Who by a life heroic conquers fate.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
COURAGE
By Thomas F. Porter
What if the morn no joy to you shall bring,
No gleam of sunbeam shine across your way;
What if no bird one joyous note shall sing
Into your listening ear through all the day!
What if no word of comfort you shall hear
As through the hours long you toil and strive;
What if to you no vision bright appear
To keep your hungry heart and soul alive!
What if the blest companionship men crave
Come not to you through all the day’s long length,
But bound and fettered even as a slave,
Within yourself you have to find your strength!
And if, when you have toiled and wrought alone,
The sweet reward you sought you do not gain,
And find the hoped-for bread is but stone,
In that sad hour for grief, should you complain?
Ah no! It matters not if shade or sun,
Or good or ill, your efforts shall attend;
In doing you have but your duty done
As best you knew ~ and should do to the end.
This is a new series of irregular blog entries that focus on the depth of Michael's lyrics. As much as they speak for themselves they deserve thorough attention everytime you listen.
Michael shared his wisdom in his lyrics and in combination with the music and his voice, a song becomes a universe.
My song of today is "On The Line". It is written by MJ (unlike stated in the "Ghosts" single*) and produced by Babyface and opened Spike Lee’s 1996 movie "Get on the Bus" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWmvleHLIaM). It was left off of the official soundtrack because of a label dispute, but you can buy the song on MJ's Ultimate Collection, which was released in 2004.
"On The Line" to me is part of Michael's many "affirmative" songs. His main message is encouragement. The kind of encouragement that we all need in our lives. It reaches you exactly at the point where you stand. Michael has this uncomparable ability to lift your spirits but includes a reminder that nothing comes for free. Whatever it is, it might not be easy and you might have to try harder. But the price is endless.
"Hard times just don't go away." How many of us have had this thought? Complaining and wallowing in self-pity is sucking you into a vicious circle of negativity ("that chip on your shoulder").
"It's time you open up, Have some faith" indicates change. Change of mind, change of thought. Collecting strength from believing.
"Don't you think it's time you go for a change?" Well, yeah. We want the negativity to go away. We want to like what we see in the mirror. Thank you Michael for reminding us, that the (wo)man in the mirror is the only one that can make a change to their very own situation! No more complaining, no more blaming situations, others... Me? YES!
"Gotta put your heart on the line, If you wanna make it right. You've got to reach out and try!" Ok, I hear you. The change needs my own input. And my energy, it isn't for free. But I am in the driver's seat.
"If you wanna do it now, You gotta learn to try. You can make it right somehow!" Ok, trial. There might be error but trying is a requirement for change. And "YES, you can!". Can I?
"Let love come free and that's just so easy now." So easy? Really Michael? It didn't seem that easy while I was busy complaining. But I forgot about the love... oh.
"You gotta go for what you want, You gotta do what you got to do" Oh dear, YES!!! I want! I want a change. I want to make it right! So, why waiting? Hesitation? Compromise? No! Go for what you want!
"Don't waste your time on the past, no, no It's time you look to the future It's all right there if you ask This time if you try much harder You'll be the best that you can be!"
YES, I will. Thank you Michael for guiding me through!!!
Michael Jackson - On The Line
No sense pretending its over Hard times just don't go away You gotta take that chip off your shoulder It's time you open up Have some faith
Nothing good ever comes easy All good things come in due time Yes it does You gotta have something to believe in I'm telling you to open your mind
Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right You've got to reach out and try Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right Gotta put it all on the line
You see yourself in the mirror And you don't like what you see And things aren't getting much clearer Don't you think it's time you go for a change
Don't waste your time on the past, no, no It's time you look to the future It's all right there if you ask This time if you try much harder You'll be the best that you can be
Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right You've got to reach out and try Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right
If you wanna do it now You gotta learn to try You can make it right somehow Let love come free And that's just so easy now You gotta go for what you want You gotta do what you got to do
Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right You've got to reach out and try Gotta put your heart on the line If you wanna make it right
I am and always have been a firm believer in Random Acts of Kindness. I believe that stopping to help someone even if it's only for a second, or smiling at someone as you pass them by things like that can leave a lasting impression on the person. You may never know how much you helped that person but maybe that small act of kindness set in motion a change in their life. I once read this story, two young boys were walking home from school, not together, the one boy was ahead of the other that boy tripped and fell over a crack in the sidewalk spilling everything he had in his hands and in his backpack. The other boy came up to him helped him pick up the stuff & helped him carry it to his house. Along the way they became friends and from then on they were life long friends. One day many years later, when they were years older they were sitting around talking. The one friend confessed to the other that that day that he had tripped that he had been on the way home to take his own life. He had felt as if no one in the world cared he was alive & he told the friend if it wasn't for him he wouldn't be here today & he thanked him because on that day his life was changed by one random act of kindness. I wanted to write about this because I saw a few examples recently & I wanted to share with the rest of you. A couple weekends ago now, my aunt was in the hospital in the emergency room. I was out there with her but I am in no way a fan of hospitals between the germophobia i have and the fear in general of them I usually get fidgety and end up roaming the halls while I wait. As I was walking around I turned down this one hallway, at the end of it I could hear someone coughing in one of the rooms. I then saw a woman who was a bit in front of me and from the looks of her she was very pressed for time and looked like she was in quite a hurry but she also heard this person coughing in the room and she stopped what she was doing backed up & walked in the room by the time I got up to that room i peered into see she had filled up the patients water jug she had poured some into a cup for her and was sitting there waiting patiently until the lady felt better. This woman was not family nor was she a nurse she was just a regular person who was there for something or someone herself who took maybe 10 mins out of her day to help this patient who was in need. It made me feel great to see that. I've said this in another blog I wrote called "Where is the L.O.V.E." sometimes I feel like people have become to involved in themselves they look out for number one to the point where they end up being cold to others in need & while I know there are people out there like me, like all of you that read this sometimes I have to remind myself of that when I see cruelty. Right after I left from the hospital I saw yet another act of kindness. I had stopped by the grocery store to pick up some items & there were two pre-teen or teenage boys hanging by a car most likely waiting for a parent to come out of the store. An older woman came out of the grocery & was pushing a cart that was very full and by the looks of it almost too heavy for her to push without strain. I saw these two young boys come up to her & help her. They pushed her cart to her car, they unloaded the groceries and they even held the door open for her to get in once she unlocked her car. That really made my day just because of the age of the boys. I do not in any way want to stereotype here but it seems that todays youth can be somewhat rude & I've seen instances of them mocking or picking on the person rather then helping so to see those two boys do that again lifted my spirit and made me feel like there is kindness out there. There is love. & I feel more and more people are seeing through tragedies like Haiti, the volcano that exploded that we need to take care of each other we need to help each other. To continue to be cold and cruel to one another can only end badly & I'm thinking more and more people are realizing this. Thank you all for reading this & letting me share this with you :) L.O.V.E. to you all! :)
Photo credit: Ólafur Eggertsson (icelandic farmer). Click to enlarge.
An Icelandic volcano, dormant for 200 years, has erupted, ripping a 1km-long fissure in a field of ice. The last volcanic eruption in the Eyjafjallajoekull area occurred in 1821.
This news remained a bit unnoticed at first because Iceland is "an island far away in the North"... So why should WE care?
Now, 2 days later the entire flight traffic in Northern Europe is stopped because the volcano ashes all over the continent are extremly dangerous for flight engines.
NOW, we do care! But what do we care about? We ask: Will I get returns for my ticket? How do I get to the place I wanted to travel? Who pays me for it?
Well, you will get returns because the flights got cancelled by MAJOR FORCE!
Ok, now start thinking. MAJOR FORCE? What is it? WHO is it?
We all know that air travel is a part of a major problem we have with global warming. But we "need to fly" around the world all the time. Because we're all so busy...
Now this MAJOR FORCE fights back and leaves us grounded without exceptions. Not for presidents, not for CEOs, no one.
Did you ever stop to notice?
What happens? Nothing. The earth doesn't stop because you can't fly. Because you don't have to.
I see this incident as a kind of "Earth Hour" forced by Planet Earth. She leaves us grounded with time to think... Think about our very own relationship we have with her. Think about the "importance" of our being. Think about our modern mobile life.
If we're not doing it by ourselves, she's doing it for us. Reminding us of our equality, belittling our constant rush.
We have got to slow down. We have got to listen.
Another interesting fact. Volcano eruptions are cooling down our global climate because the ashes absorb a bit of the sunlight. It's global and measurable.
Did you ever stop to notice?
I have been to Iceland and wanted to return this year because in my eyes it is the most beautiful country in the world that is so full of nature and contrast that it keeps leaving you speechless by the beauty of God's creation. This is the country where you can see the evolution of our planet like it was everywhere millions of years ago.
I remember the Icelandic people being very aware of that and living with the forces of nature totally different from us. They know from their daily experience that MAJOR FORCES rule their lives more than their own urgencies. After being strongly affected by the consequences of the financial crisis they have returned to their roots. MAJOR FORCE.
So I had to smile about Hjördis Gudmundsdóttir, the head of Iceland's flight authority ISAVIA when asked about duration of the eruption (hello?): „Maybe the weather gods can tell us? We don't know if it will stop tomorrow or after a year or what. Nobody can answer that question."
It lasted more than two years the last time it erupted...
Take your time, slow down. Join "Earth Year", feel the MAJOR FORCE.
Did you ever stop to notice? This crying earth, these weeping shores?
He truly believed in the power of communication - and he didn't needed words for that.
His work is always a reminder of the simple most powerful things - love, smile, kindness. He created a world in which word are obsolete and deceiving. Emotions through body movement is the main attraction and the true expression of the soul.
He dedicated his life to entertaining. He was an innovator. He was a person always looking to better himself as a professional and a person.
And he believed in his art fully.
After the premiere of "City Lights" released in 1931, two years after the sound films took conquered Hollywood, in the enthusiastic applause of the public he allegedly whispered to himself "I won".
It was the triumph of a spirit that would change the world with a smile.
“To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it!”
Charlie Chaplin
His life time work addressed social and political issues.
He was acclaimed and blasphemed. He was embraced only to be later in his life banished and the returned as a hero.
But ....
"I remain just one thing, and one thing only - and that is a clown.
It places me on a far higher plane than any politician."
Charlie Chaplin
I'm not gonna insist on his merits and accomplishments. They are countless.
I discovered Charlie Chaplin as a child through his movies. Later on I found his autobiography. It's a text that follows his life and career offering a look inside his world as it appeared from a far - energetic, emotional, with the struggles and the successes lived at high intensity, honest and unapologetic.
This is probably the hardest piece of writing I ever did - it's been almost a year since i started writing it and it's still unfinished. I don't think it will ever be.
I'll take a turn here and say this - I think we tend to underestimate by a huge margin the quality of being human and humanity. I think "being human" has become an excuse for our failures rather then our nature. And when remarkable people come along, individuals determined to fulfill their mission we tend to take them out of the reign of human and use it again as an excuse that only the chosen ones are able to have the quality.
But we all have it. We just need to embrace it.
... Getting back to my original thoughts I wanted to share with you .....
Michael Jackson is not the only source of inspiration in my life but he is a very important one.
So i'll say this - before I knew about racism and war, about hunger and despair, about poverty and nations' struggle, I knew about love.
My childhood during the 80's was spent under the Iron curtain my country, Romania, experiencing a regime of fear and non-information. At the age of nine as my country was taking the first dizzy steps into a post-communist era, I began to open my eyes to the reality of the world. And I wanted to learn. All. And lucky for me I found MUSIC.
I guess music was always part of my life since I've been tormented my family with my guitar ever since I was 4 or 5. But during 1990 music became a lot more than just a presence.
I still remember the first time my childhood friend brought these tapes and said "hey - have a listen - this guy is great" and so we did - I was immediately hooked.
And I remember when our neighbor rang at our door and told me to turn on MTV to see the premiere of "Remember The Time" - my family and his watched in amazement.
Growing up in a society with no direction Michael Jackson was one of my strong guiding lights. His strive to be the best and better himself through learning was my model at a time when almost everybody around me was trying to blend in and hide in the crowd hoping that the change and better living will come just like that from their non-action.
Listening to Michael's music, much as it was adolescent exaltation in the beginning, became to me escapism and love, delight for the sense and mind, always soothing my soul.
Starting from Michael work I've discovered music and more. I slowly went backwards on his steps to find out the background for his artistic expression and where from he got his inspiration. I started to look around to learn about th context in which he created his music and looked at the artists he inspired to learn about the impact he has ( yes, i used the present tense on purpose).
And this search has enriched my life beyond expectations.
I learned about and experienced music, I learned about people and places.
For me being a Michael Jackson fan was a source of personal growth, excitement, and joy.
I am proud and feel blessed that I am a Michael Jackson fan. For the music, the magic, the wonder, the lessons and the worldwide family that took shape from the love he shared with the world. And most of all for my wonderful friends, from all across the world and part of this blog, who have given me unconditional love and support.
On June 26th, 2009 on my way to work I got a phone call from my mom giving me the news that Michael has passed away. The one thing i can say about what i felt is that it felt very personal.
And as you can see from all the ideas mixed up in this post that is because Michael is part of my life much like my family and friends. His work, how he conducted his life, his love for knowledge, his love and dedication to children and constantly pointing out that a better future for human kind is only possible if we take better care of them, all of these facts have helped shaped who I am today.
His energy and dedication inspired me.
Michael Jackson to me is an extraordinary experience of joy and love.
Thank you for listening.
After the news that Michael Jackson passed away countless tributes - either songs, newspapers and magazines articles and special issues, fans gatherings, vigils and so on - came to confirm what tabloid media tried to cover up. Michael's message of love and his lifetime work have reached and inspired tens of millions around the world.
A friend of mine told me that the pain and sorrow I feel is proportional to the joy I experienced. The joy and energy Michael shared with the world.
The Michael Jackson fan community has long become a family. A world wide family bond by a strong positive message of making a change, taking action so that this world will become a better place for all mankind.
We are also bond by our will to honor and preserve Michael's artistic legacy, acknowledge and continue his life long efforts to help and bring relief to children around the world.
Having said that, the love blog team would like to present to you a tribute project.
The Michael Jackson Tribute Portrait offers the opportunity for millions of fans to come together and help create the largest Michael Jackson tribute in the world
Behind each dot you see in the portrait below, there is a real person – a fan –somewhere in the world who came here, like you, to be part of Michael's legacy.
A dot is not drawn on the canvas by Artist David Ilan until someone signs up for it.
The drawing represents multiple moments in Michael's life, from his younger years to more recent times. There will be more than one image of Michael in this drawing.
Look for the rainbow in the sky I believe you and I Could never really say goodbye
Wherever you may be I'll look up and see Someone in the dark for me
Wherever you may be I'll look up and see Someone in the dark for me
Someone In The Dark
All alone wishing on stars Waiting for you to find me One sweet night I knew I would see A stranger who'd be my friend
When someone in the dark reaches out to you And touches off a spark that comes shining through It tells you never be afraid Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow Like it was written in the stars I knew My friend, my someone in the dark was you
Promise me we'll always be Walking the world together Hand in hand where dreams never end My star secret friend and me
When someone in the dark reaches out to you And touches off a spark that comes shining through It tells you never be afraid Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow Look for the rainbow in the sky I believe you and I Could never really say goodbye Wherever you may be I'll look up and see Someone in the dark for me Wherever you may be I'll look up and see Someone in the dark for me
Though you're gone star far away Each time I see a rainbow I'll remember being with you Smiles coming through my tears
When someone in the dark reaches out for you And touches off a spark that comes shining through It tells you never be afraid Then somewhere in your heart you can feel the glow A light to keep you warm when the night winds blow Look for the rainbow in the sky I believe you and I Could never really say goodbye Wherever you may be I'll look up and see Someone in the dark for me Wherever you may be I'll look up and see Someone in the dark for me!
"It takes both rain & sunshine to make a rainbow." – Ancient Proverb
We miss you Michael!
You were the sun...
Joy And Pain - Maze feat. Frankie Beverley
Remember when you first found love how you felt so good Kind that last forever more so you thought it would Suddenly the things you see got you hurt so bad How come the things that make us happy make us sad Well it seems to me that
Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain
Love can be bitter love can be sweet Sometimes devotion and sometimes deceit The ones that you care for give you so much pain Oh but it's alright there both one in the same
Don't it seem we go through life going up and down Seems the things that turn you on turn you around Always hurting eachother if it ain't one thing its another But when the world is down on you love's somewhere around Well it seems to me that
Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain
Over and over you can be sure There will be sorrow but you will endure Where there's a flower there's the sun and the rain Oh and it's wonderful there both one in the same
Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain Joy and pain are like sunshine and rain
"When you are born, you cry and the world rejoices. Live so that when you die, you rejoice, and the world cries."
Tibetan Buddhist saying
For the Easter weekend I took a trip to Munchen to meet with two wonderful friend, both part of the blog team and see the Michael Jackson Memorial set up in front of the hotel "Bayerischer Hof" at the Orlando Di Lasso statue.
With whatever thoughts and feelings I went to Munchen (and they were all very positive) what I found there exceeded all my expectations.
On a personal level I found LOVE in a friendship that went beyond countries and continents. Full. Wonderful. Unrestricted.
As for the Michael Jackson Memorial ....
I don't think Michael was a God but God like, I don't think he should be regarded as a supra human being or someone from another world. I don't think he should be remembered but for what he was - man, a wonderful human with a huge heart, having the courage to follow his talent and share it with the world, having the courage to follow his mission and never giving up.
A wonderful person. A man.
His humanity is the one aspect that changed the world and got us all together.
And that is what i found in Munchen.
The Michael Jackson Memorial is the place where people of all ages, races, sexes, beliefs and so on come together. Fans or not they all gather there.
It's a place of reflection and of remembrance. A place where all the noise of the surroundings and of the media craziness falls silent. And all is left is the feeling of communion, of being together in honoring a MAN.
"If you enter this world knowing you are loved and you leave this world knowing the same, then everything that happens in between can be dealt with."
Michael Jackson
Denkmal für Michael Jackson in München
A private memorial for Michael Jackson in Munich
The blog team would like to thank the fans making sure the memorial stays organized and beautiful so that the City of Munchen won't oppose it and we want to state our support for their petition for a permanent official memorial honoring Michael Jackson.
Please show support by signing the petition. For further informations please check their web site and their Facebook page, listed below.
Friends, the foundation of all human knowledge, the beginning of human consciousness, must be that each and every one of us is an object of love. Before you know if you have red hair or brown, before you know if you are black or white, before you know of what religion you are a part, you have to know that you are loved.- oxford speech
But I remember once when I was about four years old, there was a little carnival and he picked me up and put me on a pony. It was a tiny gesture, probably something he forgot five minutes later. But because of that moment I have this special place in my heart for him. Because that's how kids are, the little things mean so much to them and for me, that one moment meant everything. I only experienced it that one time, but it made me feel really good, about him and the world. -oxford speech
The greatest education in the world is watching the masters at work
in the end, the most important thing is to be true to yourself and those you love and work hard. Work like there’s no tomorrow. Train. Strive. Really train and cultivate your talent to the highest degree. Be the best at what you do. Get to know more about your field than anybody alive. Use the tools of your trade, if it’s books or a floor to dance on or a body of water to swim in. Whatever it is, it’s yours. That’s what I’ve always tried to remember.
If you could for one moment know This spark of creation, this exquisite glow You would come and dance with me Kindle this fire so we could see All the children of the Earth Wave their magic and give new birth To a world of freedom with no pain A world of joy, much more sane Deep inside, you know it’s true Just find that child, it’s hiding in you.-Magical Child
People ask me how I make music. I tell them I just step into it. It's like stepping into a river and joining the flow. Every moment in the river has its song. So I stay in the moment and listen.
But the night before the taping, I still had no idea what I was going to do with my solo number. So I went down to the kitchen of our house and played “Billie Jean.” Loud. I was in there by myself, the night before the show, and I pretty much stood there and let the song tell me what to do. I kind of let the dance create itself. I really let it talk to me; I heard the beat come in, and I took this spy’s hat and started to pose and step, letting the “Billie Jean” rhythm create the movements. I felt almost compelled to let it create itself. I couldn’t help it. And that – being able to “step back” and let the dance come through – was a lot of fun. -from Moonwalk talking about Motown 25
