Symphony

My lovely Dad died 6 months ago. And each month that passes - each 6th of the month - brings something new and different to ponder. 

Last month, I was thinking about the end of Dad's life and how it had been a gradual, steady slowing down. A "rallentando" in musical terms. Dad was a great musician and I like to think he would have enjoyed that notion.

So I wrote this a month ago and now, as another month has passed without him and we have somehow hit the half year mark, it feels good to share these words. 

Symphony

One tune - small, compact.
A few notes on the stave
The harmonies tight,
The chords close.

Then gradually the phrases grew.
Each crescendo bigger than the last. Each flourish greater than before.

The melody evolved.
The keys changed.
The chords grew.
Each new note adding
New tone, new colour.

The tune became a movement.
The movements became a symphony.

The themes and variations were full of
Colour and feeling -
Life’s rhythms of joy, sorrow, then joy again.

But the finale had to come.
The crescendoes became a gentle, unavoidable Diminuendo.

One great rallentando
Pulling slowly, inevitably to an
Ending.
A lessening.
A quietening.

Until that small, quiet melody played for the
Final time.
And the tune was finally still.

And in the coda was a sad kind of peace. The music is over.
But the symphony remains.
Joy, then sorrow, then joy again.

Bravo, maestro.
Bravo.

Fine.

Written by Abby Rhodes

6th October 2026

For Keith Arnold