by Marcus Speh
In the cities, the people don't age, they become stones instead. They don't turn into any old stones, but into stones that sit on top of other stones transcending everything that man is capable of building. Some of these city people, before they turn to stone, are musical instruments that play themselves. Each instrument sounds very different from any other instrument. However, their sound is unique only when they play. Scientists who try to prove this uniqueness by recording the sound are disappointed: the recordings don't sound special at all. Their uniqueness can only be perceived by human ears in the moment of creation. These people, who turn into musical instruments that play themselves, do not turn into ordinary stones after their death: they become singing stones. Touching one of these special stones will bring out your own unique song. These stones are exceptional also because they carry forth the history of sounds that move us, into a distant future.
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Written for my friend and Fictionaut member who passed away on 12/29/2011. My collection of short fiction "Thank You For Your Sperm", published in 2013 by MadHat Press, which Carol founded, is also dedicated to her.
"...all around gnat, writer and publisher of mad hatters' review, founder/pres non-profit MadHat Arts, curator."
There's an audio version as well. I've also recorded one of Carol's singing stories, "A Tourist In Siberia" from her book "Giraffes in Hiding".
Carol Novack (1948-2011)
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A very beautiful idea. We don't die - we are of a type - we are recycled - we are eternal.
A beautiful tribute to Carol. Thanks for this. Larissa
Wonderful.
Thank you, Marcus. *
Oh, Marcus! I didn't know. This is so beautiful and I am so sad. Carol is a brave, intelligent woman. What a tragedy. What a lovely tribute.*
What an unbearably sad situation prompts this delicate and praiseworthy piece.
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This is beautiful and not knowing Carol at all, I've learned so much about her.
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Musical, mystical, and marvelous: the tribute, the reading, and Carol Novack.
Oh, my. The beauty here.
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Marcus--I wanted to share this with you and those who love your beautiful words for Carol:
"Flowers are a good metaphor for life. Life withers; it fades like a flower. As Isaiah says, "All flesh is grass, and all its beauty like the flower of the field; grass withers and flowers fade" (Isaiah 40:6-7). For that reason, flowers are an apt symbol of passing.
But the memory is supposed to be lasting. While flowers may be a good metaphor for the brevity of life, stones seem better suited to the permanence of memory. Stones do not die."
"These people, who turn into musical instruments that play themselves, do not turn into ordinary stones after their death: they become singing stones."
Strong piece, Marcus.
Moving and beautiful.
Eloquent and worthy of Carol and her work, Marcus.
Marcus, this is beautiful and perhaps you realize how suited to Carol it is, with her life under her musicologist father's wing, and her love of music in writing. *
short. sweet. heartbreak. brilliant.
Pure brilliance and sublime, Marcus!!! Thank you for this tribute and I'm thinking of Carol!!! ******
I read your tribute to Carol, and then I listened to it, and listened to you read her work, "A Tourist in Siberia." Feel like I have touched two singing stones tonight.
Lovely and moving.
"Touching one of these special stones will bring out your own unique song."
Love the idea that, through our writing and creativity, we form a never-ending chain, touching one another and passing the vibrations along.
This image will stay with me.
Beautiful string of sentences, Marcus. thoughts and prayers with Carol.
Haunting, moving, beautiful.
How wonderful .. Singing stones with an energetic vibration to touch our souls. Superb piece Marcus and a beautiful tribute to Carol.
Brilliant.
Lovely tribute, Marcus, and for those who haven't go read Carol's "Minnows," here on Fictionaut--for the sound of her own singing...
Crying, Marcus, thank you. Beautiful.
This is a beautiful piece for a unique person, Marcus. Carol had kind things to say about a piece I wrote last year; that meant a lot to me.
Beautiful. "Touching one of these special stones will bring out your own unique song." *
Beautiful and sad and dear.
Wonderful, wonderful piece for an amazing and unique person, Marcus!
Profoundly moving piece.
So sorry to hear about Carol. This is a beautiful dedication to her.
lovely tribute.
A beautiful tribute.
Sorry to hear about your friend. This is a deeply touching tribute piece full of wonder, vibration and depth. Beautiful.
beautiful.
I wish I would have known her better, we only spoke once and had a mutual friend, Hugh Fox. But I can't help feeling I missed out on something fine, not knowing her well enough.
Thanks, Marcus. This piece will appear shortly on MHR blog.
Lovely, lovely work, Marcus! Carol's passing is very sad, but your words are so beautiful...thank you.
Oh, my. Didn't hear about this until just now.
A fitting memorial, to be sure.
Re-reading this tonight, and thinking about Carol, make me feel very sad. Life is way short, we need to all love each other. There's not much else.
wonderful *
wise and true--
just seeing this now--
thank you
carol was always good to me...she is missed