there are fields is inspired by the beautiful poem of the same name, which was written by a dear friend, Meghan Long. We sang together in the Whitworth Choir, and were both living in New Zealand when I discovered this poem on her poetry blog. I asked her permission to write a choral piece using the text, and this work is the result of our collaboration.

Meghan’s poem conveys a profound longing for both internal and external peace—freedom from fear and anxiety, and a life intentionally lived with authentic joy and tranquility. The poem is charged with hope, suggesting the importance of seeking growth in the present rather than merely dreaming of a better future. I am continually struck by the parenthetical and offset “(today)” which concludes the poem. It reads in many ways: that the present is an afterthought of lesser importance; that the speaker has urgently begun the journey of growth before finishing writing; or that the set-aside-ness of “(today)” indicates its significance above and beyond any of the rest of the poem. This ambiguous construction is part of the genius of the poem. So much meaning is left for the reader to decide, and that gives Meghan’s words all the more power to resonate us.

This piece was premiered and subsequently recorded by Kansa City’s KC VITAs under the direction of Jackson Thomas in August 2024. The recording featured on this page was taken at the premiere performance.

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