Here’s the Gregor Samsa bookshop on the Oudburg in Ghent. It’s only six doors down from my apartment. And it’s closing – an “endangered species”.

(Sigh)

Harry Glockler created a miracle in the room beyond the lamp. About six concerts a month for over a year. All types of music – jazz, gypsy, folk, electronic … A haven for musicians and beholders. And a space adorned with classic books in English.

Gregor Samsa is a place for lovers of the good, true and beautiful. And there isn’t enough money for Harry to keep it going.

Yesterday evening was my last concert at Gregor Samsa. There will be three more – on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – but friends have invited me away for the weekend.

Merle and Rianto sang together for some songs and individually on others. I forgot to take photos but here are two commercial shots:

Such beauty of voice … blending two souls, making songs of love and life their own. It was precious to sit in the front row, to feel the books smiling, to gaze up at the dark wood ceiling resplendent with beams that aren’t quite parallel.

I walked out the door for the last time, feeling the immensity of sacred space.

And I thought of the phoenix.

“The ancient Greek world regards the phoenix as a magical bird that lives long, dies into flames, and is born again.”

***

O Gregor Samsa

Is there a future for you?

In order to rise from its ashes

A phoenix first must burn