Boundless

By: Deeba Mehr

They say that to compose music is to write a wordless poem,

a novel of abstract emotions.

I thought it was the sea.

Impressive, and immersive.

Easily lost in and overwhelming.

To tackle a task that to you, does not come naturally,

is to take a rowboat onto the waves

hoping that you end up on dry land

sailing smoothly.

Making do with what you have.

To make decisions that dictate the abstract,

is to choose intuitively.

You may never know from where it comes,

or where you will wash up.

But you trust and take the plunge.

I tried all of that.

I selected each instrument painstakingly,

hoping they would match the style.

I do not naturally think in harmonies.

A chromatic attempt sounds only wrong.

But I rode it out.

I swam in the sea that swirled around me,

the expanses of open possibility

eventually formed paths

and I rose.

To compose is to dive into a complete unknown,

where you can go anywhere.

Where freedom and possibility intimidate.

Where control is boundless

yet bound in your hand and your head and your heart.