Evita

"Don't cry for me Argentina
The truth is I never left you
All through my wild days
My mad existence
I kept my promise
Don't keep your distance"

I just came back after experiencing Evita.

The full moon shining in the night sky, the Sydney Opera House beaming in its gentle benevolent glow. The chilly nip of a spring night feeling glorious. My heart humming as I walk to the taxi stand. The rush of emotions as I relive Tina Arena's raw vulnerable rendition of a song I can't get out of my head...

My first experience of musical theatre was the Broadway-style production of Aladdin in Mumbai. It was a dreamy, magical journey. "A dazzling place I never knew", and coupled with the emotions of watching it with the love of my life while getting ready to say goodbye to a city I loved more than I thought I could, the experience is among the best of the best. Quite a lofty benchmark!

Tonight, on the other hand, was special in a different way: emotional, in the kind of way you don't expect to feel, but more powerful because of it.

I guess it all comes back to how much music moves me. It doesn't matter which corner of the world I'm in, if I'm with loved ones or by myself. It's the raw power of sounds woven into the beautiful fabric that makes emotions and for a moment makes me feel more alive and attuned to the universe than anything else.

Even if I forget everything else about my time in Sydney, may I never forget this moment, this night when I remembered why music is and always will be my first love.

"Have I said too much?
There's nothing more I can think of
To say to you
But all you have to do is look at me to know
That every word is true"

A Life Well Lived

When I crossed the Styx with you, I meant to keep you company
Could you hear the wails beyond, the ones weeping, desperate  to hold you back?
You must move on, hurry, go!
Your years must be measured
Forget the cries, hurry, go!

When I led you onwards, I meant to keep you company
The path behind will tug deeply, especially with the outpouring of love that follows death
You must resist, hurry, go!
The Realm is waiting, impatient
Forget the faces, hurry, go!

When I let your boat sink, I meant to keep you company
You were Kindness, you were Laughter, you were Faith, you were Hope
You must let it go now, hurry, go!
You cannot Sleep without this
Forget their sorrow, hurry, go!

I have seen thousands of deaths, you will know just one
One too many, you will think, and not without cause,
My world turned over - my family, oh!
How many years will they weep in their hearts while Time slowly dries the tears in their eyes?
Questions well past the Time left for you to wonder at.

We loved you, we loved you
We still love you
We will, always
We will remember...
Haunting voices echo amidst the stillness of this Realm.

When I broke the silence between us, I meant to keep you company
Your Soul has been measured, the years of growth do you  justice
They held glowing embers of love leaking into this Realm from the last
You needn’t worry, hush, sleep!
Let the lullaby soothe you
Forget the pain, hush, sleep.

I raised the boat, rowing back, to ferry more souls
Love, what a wondrous thing!
A warm glow while you’re living, a terrible ache when you’re not
Given so freely by a life well lived
The only thing to transform pain into acceptance.

Peace.
Goodbye.
Sleep well now.