| Antje Duvekot – Anna Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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Two corrections please: 1. (largest paragraph second line) "events as the unfolded," should be corrected to, "events as they unfolded," and 2. (further into same paragraph, seventh line) "and the fog of battle, before she met my Grandmother." should be corrected to, "and the fog of battle, before he met my Grandmother. |
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| Antje Duvekot – Anna Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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My mother died last year. Her name was Fay. I cared for her, during her remaining years, upon her explicit wish, when after a series of heart attacks, she gradually reentered into the annals of her childhood memory, having lost by degrees, connection with her middle years, suffering the mental capacity diminishing condition, known as vascular dementia. She too, faded "like a fallen leaf" at the grand old age of 88, born in 1924. I learned much about the child I was never able to see otherwise, during my lifetime. She had given me her Diary of 1940 to 1945; a young woman describing vividly her surrounds and relationships, events as the unfolded, both national and personal including her very organized Mum, her affectionate and deeply respected Daddy, his beautiful garden, looking after Evacuees from a blitzed, war torn London, watching her country's planes fall out of the sky during the Battle of Britain, and her growing self awareness into womanhood. She loved her Daddy especially - a genuinely kind man, a hero, mutilated in Gaza 1917 in the line of duty and the fog of battle, before she met my Grandmother. He was very lucky to survive. He loved beauty, sat evenings in his garden, drinking in the sweet fragrances of all his flowers and shrubs, much loved by my mother. So much more to tell, but I fear I may digress from the task in hand. I listened to Antje Duvekot, a whole lot, while caring for my mother, having discovered her upon a Tennessee facebook friend's recommendation. Bought all of her work available online, and still hoping for more. Along with this particular song, "Anna". Pictures brought in to help Anna remember a happy time in her childhood, the "strangers" more likely family, as by now before death, facial recognition fails, but the beauty of the child's inner heart remains. Anna was 85 when she died, no doubt amongst other things, of dementia.. I wept when I realized what this song was really about - one of life's rare experiences straight from Antje's heart I suspect. But that is the Antje I've come to know through her work, empathetic and curious, intelligent and perceptive, a wonderful way with words, carving out the common truth as she observes; kind and caring; a precious gift in every respect. Maybe one day, I'll get to see Antje in live concert, now, a top priority on my bucket list of things to do. A big thank you Antje for helping me through some really tough times. Your words gave me the strength, to see them through. |
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