Songs

White Wings at Dawn

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs , , , , , , , , ,

A LinkedIn contact who lives in Gaza posted this a few days ago about her nephew, Ahmed, who was killed by the IOF. The night before stealing him from the world, he was playing with my nieces and nephews, his laughter echoing through the room despite the relentless bombing outside. Ahmed, my nephew, didn’t know … Continue reading White Wings at Dawn

Holy Sonnets: Death, Be Not Proud

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs ,

The Dawn of the Defeated King (Source: Gemini) I usually create songs with AI assistance whenever the spirit moves me. Such is the case with this musical interpretation of this famous fourteen-line poem by English poet John Donne (1572-1631), whose wife Anne More is a paternal cousin. Death Be Not Proud (1609) is often referred … Continue reading Holy Sonnets: Death, Be Not Proud

Preface in Prose: Benjamin Fondane Speaks to Us from the Grave

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs , , , , , , , ,

Grégoire Michonze (Michonznic) (1902-1982), Portrait of the Poet Benjamin Fondane (1898, Jassy-1944, Auschwitz-Birkenau), Paris, c.1943 Remember only that I was innocentand that, like all of you, mortals of this day,I had, I too had a face markedby rage, by pity and joy,an ordinary human face! Those are animals, they have no right to exist. I’m … Continue reading Preface in Prose: Benjamin Fondane Speaks to Us from the Grave

Remember Hind Rajab

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary, Songs , , , , , , ,

Here are two versions of a song I created with AI assistance and human input about Hind Rajab (2018-2024): Butterfly in the Dust - A Song for Hind Rajab. There are links to some related articles in the description. Below is an Arabic translation. We will never forget. Peace & Justice, MAA Version 1 https://youtu.be/IrMwsMDlYj0?si=mCfjkjN28ar7XSIJ … Continue reading Remember Hind Rajab

National development is a collective responsibility

Mark A. Ashwill Articles, Commentary, Songs , , ,

ChatGPT created this image based on the lyrics to the song I created. The image is called Unity in Vietnam's vibrant landscapes. Both versions of the song are linked below. Here's an article I wrote for the Hanoi Times. It was originally scheduled to be published around the time of the 80th anniversary independence celebrations … Continue reading National development is a collective responsibility

Gangster State Blues

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs , , , ,

ChatGPT created this image based on the lyrics and called it Voices of resistance in chaos. Nations that stomp around the globe like King Kong infect themselves with a fatal virus. This is a song I created that was inspired by Chris Hedges' latest essay America is a Gangster State. Here are some other articles … Continue reading Gangster State Blues

Not a Riot—A Reckoning

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs , , , , , , , ,

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 6: Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (photo by Brent Stirton/Getty Images) This song was inspired by … Continue reading Not a Riot—A Reckoning

Turning Battlefields to Peace: A Musical Tribute to Chuck Searcy (Project RENEW)

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs, video , , , , , , ,

Chuck and I after a recent lunch at our favorite Indian restaurant in Hanoi. I was delighted to see this music video on the first day of 2026, honoring the life's work of my friend Chuck Searcy, who has lived in Vietnam for 30 years. Below are the descriptions in English and Vietnamese, followed by … Continue reading Turning Battlefields to Peace: A Musical Tribute to Chuck Searcy (Project RENEW)

Breath by Breath, I Remember

Mark A. Ashwill Commentary, Songs , , , ,

ChatGPT created this image based on the lyrics. I was inspired to create these songs based on the Buddha's Five Remembrances. If you know nothing about Buddhism, this is a great place to start. Whether you follow a religion or are a secular humanist, read them from time to time and take them to heart. … Continue reading Breath by Breath, I Remember