I too thank you again Fish and Martin. On the subject of faith all I will say is that at heart I am a pessimism stricken atheist filled with mortal dread about things who after many exploits and many nights of blind prayer to something I didn't believe existed, I now call claim to be an agnostic. Merely as as sign of humility and in rememberence of the feeling of weakness and need for prayer. Though my faith to the divine hasn't been strengthened, my faith in mankind and humanity has been reassured significantly. Call me crazy...
Thank you ?
Mae

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thanks Martin and Fish. Martin, yes there is hope, there's always hope, because without it we are finished, I'm glad that you see that in it.
Fish, also right, we all have faith in something and whatever that thing is, is down to each individual to work out. If I was asked I'd say on balance, I'm an atheist, but I'm also aware that it would be the greatest conceited arrogance to say that just because I can't understand something that it can't possibly exist, and that's the point of the poem really, it's just a very long question.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Jason - feel compelled just to flag up something. Everybody has faith.
We all believe - something - even atheists. The crucial thing about faith (any faith) is who/what is our faith in? -Where- are we placing our trust?
I believe and thank the one who says, 'My yoke is easy, my burden is light.'
Again thanks for the poem,
><>

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

That certainly is a full and complete account of where the poem came from and that last line, is as you say Jason, the one that wraps it up. Yet I detect a scrap of hope as well as love lost and am reminded of that song by U2
'I still haven't found what I am looking for'
Well done again too both of you. It is truly a beautiful piece beautifully read.
Nice one

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

And the brilliance unfolds! I urge you all to read that interpretation in depth. It's extraordinary. ?
Mae

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Right, I know this will be a long comment but I wanted to give an idea of what Mae had to work with in interpreting this poem, she asked me for a brief overview and this is what I sent her, I think for me it demonstrates what a great job she did of it:

"It's supposed to be an examination of faith and the denial of faith. I write it from the perspective of an atheist. The idea is that the narrator is a person who has carried a heavy emotional weight for so long that everything around them is tarnished by it, they can't find the words to express the beauty of a lazy sunny afternoon, they feel like the the heavy clay of regret hangs off their feet like lead weights, they have no idea what's theirs and not theirs anymore and although they can see it all it feels like none of it relates to them because of their burden, hence the sense of past tense in everything they see. They feel blindly driven on by the weight of the thing they carry as if on an instinctive pilgrimage. Eventually they realise where they must go to be rid of the terrible burden, so toes grip the loam and forge on. Whilst they begin to come to terms with the alter they must travel to they find some comfort in memories of a time before they carried their burden. Then they realise that where they are going is to lay down the millstone they've been carrying around their neck because, firstly they can't stand it anymore and secondly once they lay it down, (confess/share their story) it might actually be useful to others, (Set it back to grinding corn), and in doing so they are forced to question their disbelief and sort of begrudgingly accept themselves as the corn and God as the miller, which is why the last line is, "And even though I don't believe I know that I'll thank God."

It's an exploration of belief/non-belief and the logic of one verses the comfort of the other. In the end it's also a look at how some people find faith through adversity."

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Beautiful poem Jason and beautiful reading Mae. See, I go away for just a brief spell to attend to the business end of life and almost miss all these happenings.

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Don't be modest Mae, having the ability to bring a piece of writing to life is a gift. Your beautiful rich voice and depth of understanding mean that even though I wrote it, it now means something different, something better to me. I am really grateful for that and always will be.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Wow, where have I been all this time!

Thank you so much Martin, three "wow's"! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Jokes aside it is such a staggering piece, I merely read it, the brain that wrote it... that's deserving the three wow's!

Devon thank you, your opinion matters a lot to me, I'm really glad you liked my recital. Jason 's poem is so profound that when started working on it, I was shaking and in my first take my voice actually broke. True.

KJ, Thank you so much! I tried my best to do justice by Jason's brilliant work. I only hope I did it.

Thank you again my dear friend Jason! ?
Mae

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thanks Kevin, I'm really pleased that you like Mae's recital, I remembered you saying that you liked this one before, so I'm pleased that Mae reciting it has improved it for you, I love it and it's definitely improved it for me, but then I've heard Mae recite a few things now and she has such a rich voice, it's really worth checking out her recitals.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

I always liked this one (it's one I keep going back to). But I like it even more now having heard this collaboration. Let's have more of the same.
Cheers Kevin

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thanks Devon, I really do love Mae's recitals so it was a rare treat that she agreed to do this one. Glad you liked it.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Jason and Mae,

I have been waiting for a moment alone to listen to the recitation of this beautiful poem. And, I must tell you both, it bowed my head in reverence to a journey that we all must take.

Thank you both,

D

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thanks Martin. I really appreciate the comments, I love the interpretation Mae put on this, it adds a whole different level on for me, so I'm glad that others feel the same. I'm sure I speak for both of us when I say thank you so much.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

WOW WOW AND WOW
Mind totally blown. I am so glad that I did not miss this wonderful poem with its beautiful delivery.
Jason this is fabulous just as a poem that lends itself lyrically to almost any interpretation.
but Mae you just take it to another level
well done both
Fabulous

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thanks for liking Vautaw, I'm really pleased with Mae's recital, so very pleased that others like it too.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Oh no my friend, it's definitely rich and chocolatey.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

I've always been a tad self conscious for having kind of a husky voice for a girl but "chocolatey" makes up for a lifetime of "Hello son, It's Mr. Whatshisname from Whereverton, could you pass your mother on the phone please?"
Thank you Jason ?
Mae

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

And I'd just like this opportunity to thank Mae so much. I've always loved the beautiful rich chocolatey tones of your voice Mae, and I was the one who felt a bit cheeky for asking if you'd do it. Thanks again my friend, I absolutely love your recital.

And thanks Rob and Fish for your kind analysis and comments.

J. x

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Thank you so much dear Jason for the honor of trusting your poem with me!
Thank you Robert, it is such a beautiful poem one or Jason's best! It was a great honor to recite it and I'm glad you like it!
And thank you Fish, I tried my best! I'm relatively new at this and I always try to improve but mostly I hope to do justice by the poet's work. I hope I did.
Thank you all, but mostly Jason!?
Mae

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Yes Jason - well written, thought provoking. Well read Mae, right pace and rhythm for the piece.
Go well
><>

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss

Jason - this is a beautifully written piece, made more so by Mae's sultry tones. There are so many outstanding lines throughout that I don't know which are my favourites. It somehow reads differently to Mae's rendition, but to me, this only makes it twice as good. Congratulations on the writing Jason and thank you Mae for adding another dimension.
Rob

Comment is about A Stone For The Miller (Collaboration Feat Mae Foreman) (blog)

Original item by Jason Bayliss