The Calling

I loved music more than anything
And thought that I could be
A singer, thinking that it was
My calling, destiny.
But no matter how I tried to sing,
My voice could never find
The notes that I so longed to reach
That echoed in my mind.
I tried to make my passion burn
So brightly there could be
No other outcome but success,
But what was burned was me.
And then one day, I heard a whisper
Deep inside my heart
Telling me the truth that I had
Failed to set apart:
You weren’t meant to be a singer;
You were meant to be the song,
Not the melody but lyrics
Were calling all along.

113 thoughts on “The Calling

  1. You could do dubstep music like Skrillex too! lol I have had the same problem though, I can’t sing. Being a lyric writer/poet has the bonus effect of having time to be able to put out new material more often though. Musicians tend to be limited in what record labels will publish, both in number of songs and which songs, where as lyricists can sell as many songs to as many musicians as they want as long as they find buyers, and poets can write and share new material every day without having to spend the extra time of writing good music to go with it, which I think is harder, happens less often/succesfuly and takes much more time than writing legit lyrics/poetry like “your calling” takes. In the end, after thinking about it, I found I preferred being a poet/lyricist over the idea of finding the fame I might with having a good singing voice.

    1. I was using the singing/lyrics more in a metaphorical sense as I have almost always known my singing voice is barely mediocre, but you make very good points about the differences between lyricists and musicians. I believe that when we have a strong passion for something we can find an outlet for it in some way that is compatible with our own talents. Translating it into a viable career can be, however, very challenging.

  2. “I tried to make my passion burn
    So brightly there could be
    No other outcome but success,
    But what was burned was me,”

    is such a funny stanza… xD

    I love this! The resolution is perfecto. Yes, dear Sonya: you were meant to be the song. ❤

    1. Well, that’s actually my last name, so I was already born as a “Song”. And I can’t sing a whit. This was metaphorical. 🙂

      1. Well, that’s a real smart line, M(r)s Sonya Song… xD

  3. You work magic with your word. Lovely song, Cubby.

    1. I know you asked me a question about your blog earlier, but I can’t find the comment anywhere for the life of me so I will reply to it here. Fortunately, I remember the question, and it is when your blog is loading that my browser freezes.

      1. I figured it might be the Gifs. And if you’re experiencing it, I’m assuming others are. I know Baldy has an older computer that might run into problems. If it’s still causing your browser to crash/freeze, let me know. I’ve already learned that my blog is loading slower than it should be by testing loading times. I’d like to be able to make it load as quickly as possible, so I’ll need to narrow down just what the issue is.

        Thank you, Cubby. 🙂

    1. Thank you so much. I am so happy you thought so. 🙂

  4. Wow. Gives me inspiration to write what I always wished to…you are awesome cubby.

    1. I can only hope to inspire others with my writing. 🙂

  5. Double-edged inspiration: accepting limitations and looking at the bright side. 🙂

    1. Working within the realm of our passion in a way that aligns with our talents. 🙂

  6. The sentiment is very profound in this.

  7. Sounds just like me haha. I still sing, tho, much to the disspleasure of the listeners 😀

    1. They can always cover their ears. I always lip sing whenever possible. I actually never wanted to be a singer, per se. 🙂

  8. I liked this because it resonates on so many levels.I love drama but i’m a lousy actor, I think, but I found my niche as a director, so even like in your case you are still connected to music, me to drama, I wanted to be in a band but that never happened either. Its true what you say that one day you wake up and do hear a voice telling you that some of your dreams will stay just that, because you have a different calling.Great that your work connected so well for me.

    1. I’m so glad this connected for you as I was using it to portray that there are possibilities within one’s passion that one can pursue that may be better suited to one’s talents. Being hung up on the idea of being something specific, like a singer, can make a person blind to other venues for their passion. I am so happy to hear that you found a niche that connected you with your passion. 🙂

  9. I have a fine singing voice. Unfortunately only peacocks and flatulent seagulls ever appreciate it.

    1. I would target the peacocks more as they seem like a better audience. 😛

  10. I absolutely LOVE this!!! And, though I just sing for my own pleasure, I’d always wanted to write actual songs….but I can’t play an instrument or read music. Words, well, lyrics if you like, I can do. 🙂 Judging from the comments you hit a responsive chord!

    1. I’m glad people can relate to it as it was meant to be interpreted in a broader sense than just singing/song writing as I really can’t do either and never wanted to. Words, however, are definitely doable. 🙂

  11. Standing ovation and much applause. Fabulous…truly fabulous.

    1. *stands awkwardly on hind legs and tries to bow* *trips and does a belly flop* *decides to take a nap*

  12. You ARE the song! I believe that. I love your Work/play❤️

    1. I’m so glad you enjoy it. 🙂

  13. Intensely lyrical… You’re talent is worth singing about 😉

    1. Haha by cats and dogs maybe. 😉

      1. aww.. u are far too self-deprecating 😉

        1. And you don’t give cats and dogs enough credit. 😛

          1. LOL!!! So true! 😉

  14. Songs outlast the Singers…

    1. Wise words indeed. Unless you’re Elvis, who seems to still pop up in odd places.

    1. Aw, thank you kindly. I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂

  15. Just beautiful, Cubby! This is one of my favorites so far. I’m so happy you realized your calling!

    1. Well, my calling definitely wasn’t in singing, and never would I have dreamed that it would be. It took me awhile to realize what my calling was, but I believe I am currently pursuing it. So glad you enjoyed this. 🙂

  16. Ah…how wise our inner voice, if we just listen…your voice may not find the notes you want, but you have a beautiful writing voice Cubby Kitty, I love it!

    1. This was just one example. Some people love movies and want to be an actor but realize that they would make better directors. We must all try to pursue our passion in a way that utilizes the talents that we have. 🙂

      1. I agree…I always thought I would be a reader…but recently all i get to do is write! 😉

  17. I very much relate like you I started out trying to sing, I used to practice and practice to no avail (by myself not with a proper teacher or anything). It took me awhile a good long while before I realized it was the lyrics lol

    1. It is a wonderful thing when one realizes what it is that they can do with their passion. 🙂

  18. You ARE singing– just not with your voice. I always wanted to be a dancer and still, 40 years later, try to work out steps from videos and fail. So I try to dance with words.

    1. Dancing with words is such a delightful thing to do. And you also paint, which is another form of dancing. All of the ways that you express yourself are beautiful. 🙂

  19. Beautiful….absolutely beautiful! (purrs)!


      1. Trills!! Tunas and sunpuddles to you!

  20. I heard a really simple yet deep saying the other day: You can’t be what you aren’t. Yet you can become really good at what you are.

    1. Sometimes the simplest truths are the most profound ones. Thank you for sharing. 🙂

  21. Beauteous. Wonderful perspective shift. Thank you.

  22. I sing. But other people’s words. I write but could not put them to a tune. This is so apt for so many of us who need to find the perfect outlet. One of my favourites. Beautiful. As always.x

    1. Yeah, I am so clueless when it comes to melodies and harmonies and whatnots and donuts. Mmm donuts… So happy you enjoyed this! 🙂

      1. What kind of doughnuts? Chocolate, by any chance? Share.x

  23. Hey there! you´re throwing too many roses at yourself.(wink)
    Nice poem, Stay Frosty, you are the lyrics, and I´m the eye that is privileged to read them.

    1. I catch them all with my teeth, which is no easy feat considering all the whiskers. I felt like I should retitle the poem “Fishing” once I saw the comments. I try to stay warm, not frosty, although I do like frosty treats. Mmmm frosty treats… *drools*

      1. Stay Frosty…it´s a name that I coined from a guy in the U.S Marines. From Seargent. Brad Colbert, I read the book Generation Kill, before I enlisted in the army or during, can´t remember.
        Two powerful words meaning: stay cool,be alert,have all your senses working at their peek and perform your job at your maximum ability as you have been trained for.
        It translates to the civilian world though. Plus I like the sound of it really, that´s why I use it.

        1. It does have a silver ring to it. Thanks for explaining its origin to me. 🙂

  24. I found this poem especially beautiful. I was never encouraged to sing — had ballet lessons instead — while my brother was “the musician” I was eventually pushed into art — which I was happy about — but I always wrote poems and nobody stopped me there.

    1. I’m glad you were pushed in a direction that you could be happy with. If anyone did try to stop you from writing poems, I would ask that person to cut off their hands and see what it feels like. I greatly appreciate your comment and am so glad you liked this. 🙂

  25. I LOVE this! It is truly beautiful and touching. Thank you!

    1. Aw, thank you so much for your kind words. 🙂

  26. That inner voice is usually right -.what you love doing is normally what you should be doing. it’s taken me years to find this out. A lovely poem and very inspiring.

    1. Thank you Nigel. That darn inner voice needs to speak louder. Or maybe we just need to shut up and listen hehe. 🙂

  27. there’s always a writer behind that song you just can’t get out of your head, wow you are the one

    1. Yes, there is always a writer hoping his/her words will reach an audience that can appreciate their words. 🙂

  28. Wonderful you are brilliant

    1. *fluffs fur* you make my face puffy 🙂

      1. hahahaha you do a great job

  29. LOL! You can’t imagine how many people have been disappointed by the fact that I can’t sing a whit. Not being the singer doesn’t mean we don’t have the rhythm and the words that make a song worth singing. There is a line in a Roger Water’s song (It’s a Miracle) about what happens to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s fingers… he wrote Cats… you could do it a thousand times better 😉

    1. I assume you mean because I am a cat that I could write about cats better as it makes no sense to me in any other context. My version would have a lot of cats lazing around catching sunbeams and grooming themselves. There would be very little singing involved. 😛

      1. Exactly! Your version is infinitely more relaxing.

  30. Cubby, you are the song! Your talent is writing words that we love to read. I love this one!!! It is “cute”! 🙂

    1. Lol I’m glad you think I have a talent for writing. 🙂

  31. You were meant to be the song,
    Not the melody but lyrics
    Were calling all along.

    I love this poem! It makes me think about my own future and what part I am meant to play in it.

    1. For someone with many passions, there is usually a common thread tying them altogether. The trick is to figure out what that thread is and figure out what you can do with it. 🙂

      1. Mmmm…very good advice

  32. Reblogged this on Harmony Cocktails™ by Kelly Haslam and commented:
    I am reblogging this beautiful poem that uses the subject of music to illustrate the intertwining of passion and talents. Thank you Sonya Song (Cubby)!

  33. I love this Cubby! I reblogged at Many thanks for the sweet inspiration ❤

    1. I am so glad you found this inspiring and reblog-worthy. 🙂

  34. Love it, love it, love it! You say it so well, Cubby!! I scribbled away at my breaks and listen to my colleague sing his masterpieces and wish I could have his talent but it is his practising every breaktime that inspired me to start writing. I sing in the car and lipsing always on my walks… 😉

    1. I’m too embarrassed to even sing in my car when I’m by myself. The most I’ll ever do is hum very softly. 🙂

      1. Well, you MUST vacuum with your Ipod or Mp3 and ear buds and sing then…I even use props from the vacuum and pretend I’m Alicia Keys! 😉

  35. Good gracious – took me an hour to get to the bottom of this comments feed! LOL -Quite the following you have. I see why! This Poem was “chills and pouty lip” moving. Beautiful!

    1. Hmm, usually “chills and pouty lips” for me means that someone ate my dessert, and I am giving that person the cold shoulder. Hard for me to interpret that any other way, but I’ll take it as a good thing…I ate your dessert! Just wish I could remember what it tasted like. 😉

      1. Take my dessert and don’t even appreciate it enough to remember?! Heehee. I jumped in and it made me feel… Good but in an emotional loss while gaining kind of way… Make sense?

        1. Um, like eating dessert, finishing it, and then realizing you could have had something even yummier?

          1. LOL- go eat something sweet! Stat!

  36. That was me you wrote about! 😉

  37. Hello 🙂 I love this post. Are you a singer ?

    1. Lol not at all. This was used in a metaphorical sense. Glad you enjoyed this. 🙂

  38. You are indeed the song
    have been all along
    🙂 Love the metaphor!

  39. you are a sweet sweet song…. have you ever tried to get your lyrics/peoms to any artists?? you really should, some actually sing as I read them!!! 🙂

    1. Haha I’m flattered but I think they are inundated with people sending them lyrics. If my poems can sing on their own, that makes me very happy. 🙂

  40. Sometimes Fate guides us into some of the strangest predicaments. Some: worthwhile; others: not so much.

  41. “You were meant to be the song!” I love that.

  42. This is beautiful lyrics in itself, Cubby. Well done!

    1. Aw, I’m so glad you think so. Many kind thanks. 🙂

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