Active Serenity

Lyrics

[Intro]

[Verse 1]
In the quiet room at University of Massachusetts Medical School,
soft beige walls holding the dawn light of 6:30 AM,
I find you, small brass bell, waiting on the hardwood floor.
Your curve, polished by hands since 1979,
Jon Kabat-Zinn's fingers perhaps brushing yours in that first session.
You sit beside the deep blue cushion, worn from years of knees pressing in.

[Chorus]
Ring for me now, at 440 Hz,
cut through this morning air at 18 degrees Celsius.
Awaken active serenity, that purposeful attention,
on the breath, the present, non-judgmental.
You chime, and I address you, old friend,
grounding me like sandalwood smoke lingering.

[Verse 2]
Remember the raisin exercise, that small strange fact,
eating one for five minutes, texture unfolding like neural paths.
You signal the start, the end, in Jon's voice from 1944-born wisdom.
Full Catastrophe Living in your tone,
mindfulness arising, stress dissolving in the resonance.
The window open slightly, cool draft carrying your sound.

[Chorus]
Ring for me now, at 440 Hz,
cut through this morning air at 18 degrees Celsius.
Awaken active serenity, that purposeful attention,
on the breath, the present, non-judgmental.
You chime, and I address you, old friend,
grounding me like sandalwood smoke lingering.

[Bridge]
In the prefrontal cortex, your vibration settles,
like oatmeal warm at 50 degrees, eaten mindfully.
No catastrophe too full, with you marking the moments.
Tang and Hölzel's research echoes in your bell curve,
neuroscience of calm in every strike.

[Verse 3]
Those unnamed participants from 1979,
their breaths syncing to your chime,
stories unrecorded but felt in the air.
You hold their missing voices, in the quiet after the ring.
Born 1944, Jon's quote lives here: awareness through paying attention.

[Outro]
Ring once more, small brass bell,
for active serenity in this gilded synapse.