Aurora Borealis

It was a well planned exit, a respite for a pair of weary ears and writers block almost every lyricist finds themselves unable to escape from. It was decided some time away from the usual digs was in order. Warmer weather and a drastic change of scenery. Who could have predicted how drastic the difference in scenery would be.

Arriving on the Caribbean island after a short flight from Miami. David arrived at his villa rental and plopped his bags down beside the large king-sized bed overlooking an infinity pool and the ocean beyond.  He lit a cone shaped infused cigar and puffed it until a large cloud of skunk smelling smoke completely obscured his head from view, inhaling and exhaling, then coughing followed by more coughing.

In between coughs he caught himself humming a tune that had emerged from the last time he picked up his acoustic guitar…something was trying to come out.  A recurring melody, a riff, a chorus, but something was missing, and trying to come out.  He took another large toke, exhaling and coughing as another massive cloud escaped his lungs. He started to remove his clothes and stepped into the private infinity pool naked, sitting on a submerged bench ledge with his arms outstretched resting on either side. His gaze fixed upon a distant point in the glittering vastness of sun splashed ocean, a tiny outcrop of an island. “I think this will work nicely,” speaking to himself. 

After spending several days unwinding in the tropical paradise sipping rum drinks and soaking up some much needed vitamin D. He was awakened very early, with the smell of jasmine and the nearby ocean, and coffee brewing on the desk across from his bed. He suddenly remembered why he was up so early. Today was the day he was scheduled for a deep sea diving excursion. A dive novice, he was looking forward to exploring the ocean coral reefs that surround the islands. Packing his gear quickly, with coffee in hand, he darted quickly along the route for the charter boat dock.

Arriving early, he found an empty bench nearby where he could wait until boarding. A curious people watcher, making stories up in his head, dreaming up all sorts of wild occupations. presumed life goals for the strangers as they arrived. Information gathered from accents, clothing, the way they carry themselves and overheard discussions. 

The first people began to arrive, speaking in french, a couple in their mid 30’s. He could make out some of their conversation as they draw closer to their destination, but can’t tell if they are Canadian French or European French. Once they arrived at the gangway entrance, the french woman peppered one of the deck hands all sorts of varied questions about the days activities, the details of which were impossible to clearly hear from where he was sitting. Time passes, more people join, and then a large group of people walking together arrive and move towards the gangway leading to the boat.

The new group varies in age but everyone is wearing large sunglasses and bright tropical clothing, the smell of freshly applied sunscreen permeating the air like a ‘coconut beach’. Once everyone is on the boat a loud chatter begins among the passengers. the air is filled with the excitement unfurling in front of them. Seeing his time to join the expedition, David stands and slowly walks towards the boat joining the frenzied excitement.

Sitting quietly in the back of the vessel, he listens to all of the different conversations ranging from an old couple wondering if they will see dolphins out at sea to a young couple lost in each others eyes, talking about how wonderful the day before was during their romantic dinner at sunset at the resort. Left only to his thoughts these conversations offer a limited glimpse of similar souls in fevered passionate banter hypothesizing of various underwater encounters possible of the adventure ahead. None of which could come close to what laid ahead for David.

Once onboard, the crew tossed their lines attaching the boat to the dock up onto the gangway and the Captain steered the vessel away from the piers and out of the harbor towards the open Carribean sea. With everyone chattering away, David staired out the back of the boat, mesmerized by the white cresting waves of the wake as it expanded into the distance as the island behind them, grews smaller and smaller in the distance.

Soon enough the Captain rang a bell to alert the deck hands they were nearing the first dive location. As the charter came around an island with an extended key the engine slowed and the deck hands set the boats anchor. The captain over the loudspeaker alerts the group to prepare for the first dive of the morning.

The group begins to suit up, some just snorkeling needing only flippers, snorkel and mask, a few other others like David in full-diving gear. Soon, they were ready and the dive instructor jumps crystal clear translucent turquoise blue water.

“One by one now,” the instructor called each person to move to the back of the boat to the dive platform to enter the water. Each taking their turn, as they edge from the diving platform and into the water. The last to be called, David, walking awkwardly in flippers to the rear of the boating to sit on the diving platform himself. grabbing his nose, leaning back… the KERPLASH!

An explosion of bubbles surrounds his head as he feels his body sinking down to the ocean floor. He turns himself around to look down to see where he might be landing about twenty five feet down he estimated below the surface he would find the reef.

In the distance underwater, as his eyes adjusted, he began to make out the large reef they were there to observe. Moving closer, with an assortment of colorful fish swimming in and out of the coral below.

To his far left, the rest of the group off in the distance. With still twenty feet to descend, and with the eagerness of a young man, he began to kick his flippers to go in a different direction, deeper, following the dance of a school of angel fish and then a large parrot fish that caught his attention, continuing further down, he explores.

Reaching the reef, he realizes he is alone and sees many fish swimming around on their daily errands in there curious fish existence. He watched a family of clown fish poking their heads through holes in the reef as if they were going saying hello to onlookers. This sight snaps David back to reality as he was off daydreaming about what the clown fish might be thinking. He decides to try to be like the fish and poke around. That is when he began to hear this music… 

At a distance of perhaps another twenty feet below, what looked like a cave-like opening in the coral came into view. The opening seemingly covered in bright ribbons of prism-like colors shimmering translucently in the water, perhaps created by water and sunlight above, David deduces as the most likely source of the glorious visage. He swims toward the light the colorful opening in the coral also the same direction the music seemingly originating from, a melody he is perplexed by familiarity.

Descending further, using flippers, propelling him to the opening as if hypnotized by the swaying lights and beautiful sounds. Swimming closer, the lights now becoming more colorful, less opaque, like a prismatic wave of colors undulating in the water current.

At about 10 feet away this aurora borealis of color surrounds him and the music which at first sounded like what your would expect sound to sound like under water had now become filled with the clarity of a concert hall.

Calmed by a sense of familiarity, not just as if he had been there before but that he was meant to be there in this moment. DejaVu? Within feet of the coral opening, the light enveloped him, even more vibrant and colorful, his vision, once clouded by the movement of the ocean suddenly becoming even more clear. From the center of the blossoming portal he sees what looks like an expanding membrane layer as the shape of a female mermaid emerges out of the undulating prismatic colors.

She is the most beautiful creature that he has ever laid his eyes upon. Their eyes connect and she swims up before him and removes his breathing apparatus, and covers his mouth with hers in a kiss. Suddenly, now outfitted in steampunk deep sea diving apparatus, David closes his eyes.

The music gets louder and louder, lost in the kiss David loses consciousness.

(To be continued in the next post.)

Digging Deeper-The story behind the post.

Synopsis: David meets Myrtle (the Princess Peacock Mermaid from the Under Ocean Realm of Diamentia) for the first time and sets into to motion the amazing adventure of David Art Flood & The Incredible Underwater Orchestra. This part of the story occurs in the first act of David Art Flood and The Incredible Underwater Orchestra.

Music: a “snippet” from the musical piece Aurora Borealis a prominent song in the beginning of the Rock Opera version of David Art Flood & The Incredible Underwater Orchestra but you can only listen to the full version live (after the band plays the perfect song for the first time at the end of the Rock Opera as a sing along). The lyrics are a map to get to Diamentia from ZingWhammy. This instrumental version in the post was recorded lakeside in East Otis Massachusetts as a demo. With the lyrics below you can sing along to the music, just follow the melody in the song with the lyrics. Imagine what this song will be like with an orchestra!

The guitar used on the recording is known as “The Dump Guitar” and was acquired in North Carolina this past year. David - “Just dropped off some cardboard boxes from our move down and I saw this lying in one of their containers. I asked the worker if I could save it and bring it to a home where it could be loved and he said yes. After a little TLC she’s playing and sounding great!”

This is it today.

Aurora Borealis (find the way)

To find the realm under the sea, locate eleven anchors freed, solve their riddles, and turn the tide, watch for kraken, swim, hide or die. To find the realm under the sea, pass eleven anchors freed, solve the riddles, they are your guide, play the notes to tame their minds.

If you see them you will see, sharp white fangs, with gnashing teeth, tentacles out stretched from the deeps of the trench of the apocalypse.

To find the realm under the sea, locate eleven anchors freed, solve their riddles, and turn the tide, watch for kraken, swim, hide or die. To find the realm under the sea, pass eleven anchors freed, solve the riddles, they are your guide, play the notes to tame their minds.

When you pass an anchor post, raise a glass and make a toast, to those you lost along the way, especially the ones you miss the most. When you pass an anchor post raise a glass and make a toast, to those you lost along the way, to happy souls and hopeful ghosts.

You will see their lights, they will lead the way. The journey never ends, you will find the way.

Find the way, Find the way, Find the way, Find the way.

Aurora Borealis (Find the way) ©copyright 2024 David Art Flood All rights reserved. Music and Lyrics by David Art Flood. Published by Flood Funnel Marketing, LLC, Eurekepiphany Records. Recorded lakeside in East Otis, Massachusetts.

Lyrics

To find the realm under the sea, pass eleven anchors freed, solve the riddles and turn the tide, and make the kraken run and hide. x2

If you see them, you will see, their scary fangs, arms outreached. Clinging to the days of old when things were simple, young not old.

To find the realm under the sea, pass eleven anchors freed, solve the riddles to turn the tide, and make those kraken run and hide. x2

When you reach an anchor post, sing this song and raise a toast, to those you lost along the road, especially the ones that you miss the most. When you reach an anchor post, sing this song and raise a toast, the souls of your journey.

You will see the lights, that lead you on your way, the journey never ends, with this you’ll find the way.

find the way, find the way, find the way, find the way.