Veterans Song Cycle Project: Songs of Orpheus, No. 2 by LA Opera

Connect to the stories and lives of local veteran’s through the Veterans Song Cycle Project. The personal stories and poetry of members of the Mindful Veteran Project have been set to music by Brooke deRosa.

Songs of Orpheus, No. 2
Oh the joy of seeing the light again
After feeling the despair of darkness
Not daring to dream of a second chance
In the depths
The smothering weight
Makes taking a breath an effort
Pointless, really
And almost painful
Prolonging the suffering.
But what choice?
When the pain has no apparent end
And the darkness stretches into infinity
Yet the breath sneaks in
And on it goes

And then
A visitor
A possibility
Light and life can again be mine?

An offer
A gift
Follow me out into the Land of the Living

Dare I trust?
Could I bear dashed hopes?
The breath insists I try
Life’s relentless champion

-lyrics by Anonymous, Mindful Veteran Project
-music by Brooke deRosa
-sung by soprano Brooke de Rosa