How Music and Poetry Sustain My Well-Being

What would your life be like without music?

A mistake. Now, that is not to say that my life is a hit (with music).

Of course, you are completely entitled to dislike music—although I have yet to meet someone who actively does.

As you read my poems here, you might not realize just how deeply passionate I am about music—more than poetry, even. I’m drawn to many other forms of art, of course. As I often say, “art still thrills me.”

However, producing music demands a significant investment, and I refuse to take the easy, artificial route. It’s more accessible and affordable than ever to create average and artificial music these days. But poetry? Poetry has always been far more accessible (and affordable) than music. And relying on AI for it feels even less justifiable than for music. Of course, one can use AI just as we use writing prompts, for instance. AI can assist, but it should never replace authentic creative expression.

The process of writing poetry is more immediate, whereas music involves a more layered approach, with multiple stages such as composing, recording, mixing, and mastering.

Writing poetry keeps me sane while I navigate the financial limits that prevent me from producing music the way I envision. With poetry, I can express my soul freely—”pen and paper” are all I need, a medium that has always been affordable, and always will be.

I can express myself more fully through music than through poetry, although I strive to master poetry with the same dedication as I do music. It just so happens that music is my ultimate passion, offering a freedom of expression that feels more universal than poetry.

I plan to explore music more on this blog in the near future, mostly by sharing song lyrics, but also occasional performances and finished works. Let’s see what the future holds.

The Power of Inspiration: Acting as a Catalyst and a Conduit through Writing

What positive emotion do you feel most often?

Inspiration.

How powerful is an emotion when you want others to feel it as deeply as you do?


Write to inspire… to write to inspire.

The Poetic Because

What is a word you feel that too many people use?

The word is what I call “the poetic for”, because… Nah, I don’t know what for. Ba dum tss.

I haven’t read a modern or contemporary poem with the word “because” (a subordinating conjunction) in quite a while. Instead, the somewhat dated “for” (meaning because) doesn’t go out of style, be it for the sake of prosody, the old-fashioned feel, a play on words… the use cases are many, and the word “for” is very versatile as it stands. That said, I don’t condemn the modern or contemporary poet for abusing the word “for” in literary-creative contexts — but I miss “the poetic because”. We might start building its way.


I might use the word “for” in the described context, even in prose, but for a parodic effect (sometimes a deliberate “formal feel”).

Fine, Start the Teasing Already, There Come Those ‘Silly’ Rhymes

What’s the story behind your nickname?

Cool that you ask. I am Cealtiel (seh.al.chie.EL); y’all can call me Tiel, for short. Highfive. You would hardly recall my actual name  — correctly at the least. If you could I would love you right away.

My name (from hebrew שלתיאל) means something like “I have asked God”; if I ever did associate myself with that meaning, I don’t anymore.

The nickname… It’s pronounced ʈʃɪɛɭ’ (chie.EL). People like to create silly rhymes out of it, right after they get to know it. It has as much as story as I do have myself, I wouldn’t know where to start from. Like born with it (nearly).

That’s it.

From life to inquiry: 10 certainties I embrace

List 10 things you know to be absolutely certain.

I certainly live
I will certainly die
I certainly read
I will certainly write
I certainly believe in dreams
I will certainly deny a lie
I certainly feel the breeze
I will certainly try it
I certainly know a thing
I will certainly, for more, inquire