My name is Theodore A Henning II. I’m an aging soul now, and if you can believe it, my heart still aches and my eyes well up with tears at the passing of my Mother and Father, almost twenty years ago, and our young son, 44 years ago. Those who nurture us, comfort us, and my parents, taught us love, not hate. The Good Book says that love is the greatest, not joy, or even peace. Yet it seems there are so many issues in human existence that tend to bring about the opposite, hate-filled actions.

Who can ever forget hearing of the carnage of November 13, 2015 when terrorists coordinated savage attacks in and around Paris. One spot, the Bataclan Concert Hall saw hundreds gathered to hear the American rock group, Eagles of Death Metal, Band, when all at once, Hell itself appeared peppering the crowd with gunfire. As soon as lucidity reigned once more, the world stunned to learn the attacks took 130 souls by a gruesome and untimely death, and scores more lay injured needing medical attention. Later it was confirmed that some injured were tortured, too.

 A young mother, accompanied by her mother and small son were amongst those who had come for a night concert of metal music. Instead, the retort sound produced by metal rifles punctured the atmosphere as the whizzing metal bullets tore through soft human flesh. In a desparate act of heroism, 35 year old Elsa Delplace fell upon her son Louis to shield him from the terror. That night he lost his mother, his grandmother, and most certainly, the love they only could shield him with. How many other young mothers or mothers-to-be likewise perished ?

 I was moved at the time to write a song for young Louis. Here it is October, 2016, the anniversary just around the corner, and numerous other terrorist attacks have transpired since. Perhaps my CHANSON DE LA MÈRE will be sung by mothers comforting their child in these troublesome times. I don’t see the future as bright for them as it has been for some of us in the past.

Song lyrics & music by Theodore A Henning II (© 2016) The song can be heard in its entirety at Youtube.com, simply go there, search my full name, choose the tune.

http://cdbaby.com/artist/theodoreahenningii

À la mémoire de Elsa Delplace

 CHANSON DE LA MÈRE

When the dew drop on the flower, Misty fog above the meadow,

When the rays of dawn come crawling at the night

When the neither here nor there, just before your eyelids open,

When the in between world fades from dreamy sight

Then know my love, now and for always The unknown brings us joy,

gives us sorrow.

Then know my love In the moment stay, Today won’t come again tomorrow.

When the tears of falling rain Mottle glassy window pane,

When the earth refreshed begins anew to thrive.

When the trees lift branches green, Flowers yawn in expectation,

When the air is filled with winged birds in flight

Then know my love, now and for always The unknown brings us joy,

gives us sorrow.

Then know my love In the moment stay, Today won’t come again tomorrow

Bridge : When you nurture at my breast, With these arms I will protect.

Banish trolls and dragons all away.

When I lay you back to rest, These lungs I’ll fill with breath,

Sing you lullabies Triumph si tu plais.

When the stary sky protends, Fairies dance above the fen,

When the moon is but a sliver that we see.

When the swirling that you feel, As you enter worlds surreal,

When the visage carried with you is of me

Then know my love, now and for always The unknown brings us joy,

gives us sorrow.

Then know my love In the moment stay, Today won’t come again tomorrow

Bridge : When you nurture at my breast, With these arms I will protect.

Banish trolls and dragons all away.

When I lay you back to rest, These lungs I’ll fill with breath,

Sing you lullabies Triumph si tu plais.

When the dew drop on the flower, Misty fog above the meadow,

When the rays of dawn come crawling at the night…

[puis connaître mon amour]