Songs for Our Journey - 2

This song is based on a poem by Izumi Shikibu, a 10th century Buddhist Japanese woman.  I found the poem in a wonderful book called Women In  Praise of the Sacred: 43 Centuries of Spiritual Poetry by Women, edited by Jane Hirshfield.  The book was a revelation to me when I first saw it in the mid 90's.  It is full of poetry by women mystics whose existence, up until that point, I had absolutely no knowledge of.  The moon in this poem represents Consciousness, Oneness, the genderless unity underlying everything. I am full of gratitude to Jane for publishing this book, thereby helping to free me from stereotypes I had about who could or could not realize their true spiritual nature.  


There is also a circle dance that can be done while singing this song.  
I've attached a file of the sheet music and dance instructions down below the lyrics.  I've danced it all alone in my front yard at midnight, on a beach in the moonlight with friends, and with 150 people at MotorCo in Durham.   Please feel free to teach it, sing it and dance it anywhere, with anyone, anytime. 
  
No Part Left Out
melody © K Hannan
words based on Jane Hirshfield's translation of Izumi Shikibu's poem
a recording of this song with harmonies, flute, guitar, bass and crickets
is on my CD Seen & Unseen; Songs from the Light of Midlife

Watching the moon at midnight
Alone in the middle of the sky
I saw myself completely
I saw myself completely
I knew myself completely
Whole, no part left out      

no_part_left_out_rev_2010.pdf
File Size:	44 kb
File Type:	pdf

Download File

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