The Sam I Am

from Songs For Samuel by Norah Vincent & Vern Woodhead

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lyrics

THE SAM I AM

Your name in Sanskrit
Means “joined,”
As in the carts of old Tibet
That yoked two yaks together—
as they should be—
And as this team of two,
Became
A driving force of one.

And so
Each mindful step along
The noble path
Of meditation
Begins on meeted terms,
With samyak or samyag—
Correct, perfected, right.

EXISTENCE IS
AND MANIFESTS ENTIRE
IN PARTS OF SPEECH
THE YOGI'S RITE
HAS UNITY BUILT INTO IT
ARISTOTLE'S HAPPINESS
ROOTS IN GOODNESS OF THE SOUL
AND "YES" IS AN OLD ENGLISH
VERSION OF "TO BE"
PHILOSOPHIES CONTAIN,
DISPLAY THEIR TERMS
AND THEIR DEFINITIONS HOLD
THE SIGNIFICANCE WE'RE SEEKING

Samu El in Hebrew
Means “Name of God,”
Your Bible’s namesake,
And the prophet
That you also were,
Served his calling God
Saying: “Here I am.”
The very words
That Moses heard on Sinai
When this God
And guiding voice
Of the Commandments
At last pronounced His name.
“I am that I am,”
The answer came
“I am.”

EXISTENCE IS
AND MANIFESTS ENTIRE
IN PARTS OF SPEECH
THE YOGI'S RITE
HAS UNITY BUILT INTO IT
ARISTOTLE'S HAPPINESS
ROOTS IN GOODNESS OF THE SOUL
AND "YES" IS AN OLD ENGLISH
VERSION OF "TO BE"
PHILOSOPHIES CONTAIN,
DISPLAY THEIR TERMS
AND THEIR DEFINITIONS HOLD
THE SIGNIFICANCE WE'RE SEEKING

credits

from Songs For Samuel, track released October 11, 2019
Words: Norah Vincent
Piano Arrangement: Vern Woodhead
Vocals: Vern Woodhead
Piano: Mariya Braun
Mix: Charles Burst

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Norah Vincent & Vern Woodhead New York, New York

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