By The Landlord
“Simple pleasures are the last healthy refuge in a complex world.” – Oscar Wilde
“Simplicity is the final achievement. After one has played a vast quantity of notes and more notes, it is simplicity that emerges as the crowning reward of art.” – Frederic Chopin
“Pop music is all about memorability and simplicity and positive messages and a little dash of joy.” – Feist
“Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art.” – Frank Lloyd Wright
“The tactile feel of flipping through a stack of vinyl remains one of life's simple pleasures.” – Billy Gibbons
“Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough.” – Charles Dudley Warner
“Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” – John F. Kennedy
“You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need.” – Vernon Howard
To becalm post-sleep mental noise,
and lead the brain towards slight poise,
slow my machine to thoughts serene,
my early morning tea routine
includes a stroll to local river,
canal mists of silver sliver,
where, at 8, with steaming mug,
with passing greyhound, duck and pug,
I always greet, with silent nod,
old man on bike, who, on his tod,
arrives with crinkled air-filled craft,
a rucksack kayak, fore and aft.
Pump breathes life in, gently, slowly,
like an ancient ceremony.
With eye and hand he inspects,
filled to full shape, he perfects.
Sits, loads bag and paddled oar,
nothing less, nothing more.
Dark and smooth, like creamy porter,
he slowly floats off on the water.
Silently, through fog and steam,
he disappears into his dream.
———
This theme involves some slowing
to get the music ideas flowing.
Paring down to nitty-gritty
to pleasures of simplicity.
Lyrics with the joy of detail
whatever they entail.
Little things for peace internal.
Beauty of a seed or kernel.
Stripping back all life's hassle
to a cup-and-flag sandcastle.
Less scanning and scrolling,
more ambling and strolling.
Moments when a tight neck crick
or stiff back, just goes click.
Moments when, without pretence,
with a glimpse, it all makes sense.
Aeon hand meets second hand
for a brief, contented land.
Clear, gunk-free lens vision.
Making just the right decision.
Chance words calming a feud.
Blissful moments in solitude.
When mood meets occasion,
and occasion matches mood.
Sitting in sunshine, shade under willow.
Cool underside of turned-over pillow.
Sleeping just right, no chuffing or snoring.
Tinkling of tea cup, plop of hot pouring.
Stopping the symptoms of oncoming flu.
Liking someone when they like you.
Stretched out limbs with that rippling ache.
Laughing with friends. Always more cake.
When, in the mirror, you smile at your face.
When time seems to run at a perfect pace.
Sound of that first clean pop of the cork.
Delicious moment - mouth approached by fork.
When exercise feels good, a sort of gain,
Pain joins pleasure, and pleasure joins pain.
Recalling names instantly, full working memory.
Found lost tenner, extra mystery salary.
Finding great shortcuts, a traffic-free route.
Your choice of cheese, chocolate, nuts or fruit.
Matching aims with all of your fears.
Putting in harmony brain hemispheres.
Glimpsing cycles in nature's complex rings.
Feeling huge meaning in tiniest things.
Hunger for adventure, talents in balance,
Being the right temperature, especially in your pants.
Whatever's the source – guitar, piano, pen,
songs about moments, simple and zen,
in lyrics or music, in moments of note,
share examples that just float your boat.
So then, please place your simple pleasure moments songs in comments below for deadline on Monday 11pm. Our zen-filled guest writer, the brilliant barbryn, will pick out the prime candidates for playlists published next week.
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