Uvi Poznansky: You must now hold on to me

Sunday, July 24, 2016

You must now hold on to me

Now here, close to the Santa Monica Pier, is our spot. I spread open the woolen blanket for us. Sitting down, Natasha pulls the transistor radio out of my pocket and plays with the knob, turning it this way and that. Meanwhile I kneel down next to her and squint to watch the sunset.

All the while I see her in my mind, not the way she is now, but the way she was back then, riding the beast, coming towards me out of a cloud of smoke, debris swirling all around her. I remember her hand as she pulled me up to my feet, saving my life.

Whatever happens to Natasha, that’s the way I’ll bring her back, always.

“Oh! I found it, I found it!” she cries, gleefully now. “Music!”

I take the instrument from her hand and adjust the volume, so it may play for us alone.

You must now hold on to me

I must save the memory

Of our past, so we’ll be there

We’ll be there...

I’ll always believe in you

Cling to me, we’ll be strong anew

In days to come, we’ll be there

We’ll be there...

The song is hopeful and yet, so sad. It stirs something deep inside me, bringing to the surface so many thoughts, so many unanswered questions.

Lenny in Dancing with Air

At this moment in the story, the year is 1970, as reflected in the lyrics, which I composed to bring back the feel of the era. Lenny and Natasha have been married since the end of WWII, and it is in the face of a serious health challenge that he is reflecting back on the past. Most of the story, though, happens in 1944, and I have gone through meticulous research not only of the historical events in London of that time but also of hair styles, hat fashion, appliances, and of course--songs.