Is harmony shaped like the yin and yang’s curve,

Or a line that marks where our paths diverge?

Do we seek out harmony, or does it seek us,

A construct of minds, or so elusive it hushes?

Within, says the wise, lies answer’s seed,

Through introspection, we find the balance we need.

So much to uncover, in the depths of our being,

Where angels and demons in our psyche convene.

In solitude’s conflict, a question is born,

Heart or mind’s logic? In the quiet, we’re torn.

Not merely black or white, nor just yes or no,

In the shades of grey, harmony’s true colours show.

Life’s dance is a sway, a gentle bend,

In search of a melody that heals and blends.

But what is harmony’s truest form?

It begins with ‘me,’ to calm the storm.

In the quiet of the night, harmony resonates fiercely,

Eager to burst into the world with clarity.

By Carolyn Khor (June 25, 2024)

*****

Author’s Note:

Harmony (2024) was written as a contrapuntal reflection to my essay It’s a Laundromat, Not a Coffee Shop, published in Nutmag 8 in the same year. While the essay resonates with the rhythms of daily life — cycles of noise, motion, and community — the poem amplifies the whispers from within, tracing the search for balance in solitude. Together, they form a dialogue between the outer and inner worlds. Harmony is not the absence of sound, but the combination of different tones, overlaid as a triad.

Nutmag 8 can be purchased from Google Play.

The cover of the book was designed based on my essay:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Alif_Zamri_NutMag_8_Harmony?id=GesoEQAAQBAJ]