I wrote a new song called “Small Wonder” for the Community Arts Challenge, an annual exhibit sponsored by Cortland Arts Connect (formally the Cultural Council of Cortland County) and The Center for the Arts of Homer. This year’s theme was “wonder.”

To find wonder in a world marked by war, poverty, and the existential threat of global warming is, I suppose, possible. But my lyric takes the opposite approach, directly confronting the sense of angst pervading a world wracked by crisis. “Small wonder,” I write, “it’s taking a toll.”

Small Wonder
Words & music © 2026 Jonathan Ochshorn

1. Small wonder that you can see
The state of the world is upsetting
Will we end up regretting
Or merely forgetting the things that might have been done differently

2. Small wonder that you can hear
The sound of people complaining
While so little time is remaining
Yet nothing’s constraining the same things from happening year after year

Chorus:
We’ve all seen this movie before — small wonder it’s frightening
We’ve heard that this storm threatens more than just thunder and lightning
And we think we know what’s waiting in store: but
the window we’re under is tightening and out of control
Small wonder it’s taking a toll

3. Small wonder that you can see
The risks we’re facing are clearer
They seem to be getting much nearer
Maybe they’re already here and we’re closing our eyes to that reality [Chorus]

4. Small wonder that you might think
They’re offering us a rebranding
When these times are demanding
Something radically new as we find ourselves standing right at the brink [Chorus]

I recorded the song using Logic Pro and edited my iPhone video using Final Cut Pro. I played all instruments live using my MIDI keyboard and Logic’s software instruments (piano, trumpet, drums, bass) and sang all vocals and background vocals. No AI was used.

Find more of my music here.