VOGEL'S JOURNAL

"Journal is your best friend." Matthias Vogel

MATTHIAS VOGEL

Ezra’s shanties always teach me something about him, I’ve learned it’s important to write these down. After yesterday, I think these are important somehow. Good thing Penny was here.

I stopped working today to listen. Ezra was only humming at first, this morning but then the words took shape. I don’t believe he meant to sing it out loud, but it came out anyway. “Miss Penny’s Hands” is the first shanty I’ve heard from him where the emotional arc resolves from fear to safety. He acknowledges what frightened him, but the final line gives it peace. That is new. That is healing. I suspect Miss Penny doesn’t realize the full depth of what she gave him that night. I will show her this, in time.

Later in the morning, he sang another about Pascal. It seems his spirits are as high as they usually are. Time to go back to work.

Miss Penny’s Hands
Bread was broke and heart went tight,
Shadows came and stole the light.
But Miss Penny’s hands were near,
Held me close and made it clear.
One hand soft, one hand strong,
Told me where my heart belongs.
Folded bread and folded fears,
She fixed it all and dried my tears.

Pascal the Pirate Cat 
Pascal the pirate cat sails the floor,
Chasing the mice from drawer to drawer.
Paws like thunder, tail held high,
Captain of crumbs and king of pie!