Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Music


“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”—Plato
Source

               Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Music




“Whenever I feel afraid, I hold my head erect
And whistle a happy tune, so no one will suspect I’m afraid…
And every single time,
the happiness in the tune convinces me that I’m not afraid.”
                 


This is how Rodgers and Hammerstein lyrics illustrate wonders of Music.


What is this life with no rhythm, melodies or harmonies?



Music itself is a universal language connecting all and Music is everywhere. We only need to lend our ears to SEE music!



Music is our motif today. You might also focus on any musical instrument, any special song or composer.



Music Swims Back To Me
By Anne Sexton


Wait Mister. Which way is home? 
They turned the light out
and the dark is moving in the corner.
There are no sign posts in this room,
 
four ladies, over eighty,
 
in diapers every one of them.
La la la, Oh music swims back to me
and I can feel the tune they played
the night they left me
in this private institution on a hill.

Imagine it. A radio playing
and everyone here was crazy.
I liked it and danced in a circle.
Music pours over the sense
and in a funny way
music sees more than I.
I mean it remembers better;
 
remembers the first night here.
It was the strangled cold of November;
 
even the stars were strapped in the sky
and that moon too bright
forking through the bars to stick me
with a singing in the head.
I have forgotten all the rest.

They lock me in this chair at eight a.m.
and there are no signs to tell the way,
 
just the radio beating to itself
and the song that remembers
more than I. Oh, la la la,
 
this music swims back to me.
The night I came I danced a circle
and was not afraid.
Mister?
 



I Know The Music
By Wilfred Owen


All sounds have been as music to my listening:
Pacific lamentations of slow bells,
The crunch of boots on blue snow rosy-glistening,
Shuffle of autumn leaves; and all farewells:

Bugles that sadden all the evening air,
And country bells clamouring their last appeals
Before [the] music of the evening prayer;
Bridges, sonorous under carriage wheels.

Gurgle of sluicing surge through hollow rocks,
The gluttonous lapping of the waves on weeds,
Whisper of grass; the myriad-tinkling flocks,
The warbling drawl of flutes and shepherds' reeds.

The orchestral noises of October nights
Blowing ( ) symphonetic storms
Of startled clarions ( )
Drums, rumbling and rolling thunderous and ( ).

Thrilling of throstles in the keen blue dawn,
Bees fumbling and fuming over sainfoin-fields.
 




 Music When Soft Voices Die
 By P. B. Shelley


Music, when soft voices die,
Vibrates in the memory;
Odours, when sweet violets sicken,
Live within the sense they quicken.

Rose leaves, when the rose is dead,
Are heaped for the beloved's bed;
And so thy thoughts, when thou art gone,
Love itself shall slumber on. 




Music
By Rainer Maria Rilke


Take me by the hand;
it's so easy for you, Angel,
for you are the road
even while being immobile.

You see, I'm scared no one
here will look for me again;
I couldn't make use of
whatever was given,

so they abandoned me.
At first the solitude
charmed me like a prelude,
but so much music wounded me.


(Translated by A. Poulin) 




Please share your new poem using Mr. Linky below and visit others in the spirit of the community—
               ( Susan’s Midweek Motif on 01/04/2017 will be ~ Vision)
             


14 comments:

  1. I'm looking forward to "hearing" lots of glorious music today as I read your poems.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wonderful choice of poems Sumana, particularly the Sexton.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for the midweek song - apologies we are quiet on the trail.. thank you for all your hard work and another year at Poets United.. wishing a peaceful break to all

    ReplyDelete
  4. loving the musical notes today...thank you friends :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Looking forward to reading the musical poems!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Merry Christmas, Seasons Greetings and Happy Holidays to all ! See you next year !

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hey everyone,

    Hope you guys are having an amazing day so far❤️ sharing my poem "Feel the Music" thank you Sumana for the lovely opportunity; this ones for you❤️


    Lots of love,
    Sanaa

    ReplyDelete
  8. May the music of the season, liven our steps in Joy

    much love...

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love what Gillena said. I too wish you joy. Thank you for this prompt. I didn't respond too joyfully though. But it's just that so much of the world is grieving.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I got heavy again, no surprise. But truly, I am hopeful. I am beginning to feel the spirit of the season. And I love Music. I've been making time lately to HEAR lyrics and harmonies and hum and hum what others sing. This is my favorite prompt, Sumana, and I expect to return to it over and over in different moods and times. Now, out on the trail to enjoy the poems!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Now you are speaking my language. I teeter on the line between composer and writer. Today's prompt brings me balance. I also have added a music player to my page with some of my works in progress for people to sample. Have a musical day, all.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Happy Wednesday, dear poets. I, too, especially liked the Sexton poem. I have seen so many elderly, strapped into their chairs, barely enduring, come alive, when old songs reminded them of happiness, when they were young.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Greetings, Friends. A bit late this week...but here I am. Hope you are having a good week. Thanks, Sumana, for the prompt.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Happy Holidays! I haven't written much poetry since the end of last summer. Nothing bad happening, just lot's to do. I'm happy to be back for Midweek Motif with "The Dance." I hope this finds everyone having nice holidays despite this crazy world we find ourselves in. It'll be good to catch up and read some poetry amongst friends again.

    Love, Bekkie

    ReplyDelete

This community is not meant to be used in a negative manner. We ask that you be respectful of all the people on this site as each individual writer is entitled to their own opinion, style, and path to creativity.

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Blog Archive

Followers