There's the little girl
whose shoes are shorter than my hands;
who stands on tiptoe to see through the windowed door;
whose fingers on the keys sound confident and strong;
whose mother cups the back of her daughter's head protectively;
or is she just keeping warm from that tiny spring of energy?
There's the tall teenage girl with short, short hair
whose footfall is softer than snow on the carpet;
who seems to bend into walls like a cast shadow;
who nods hello but her voice is inaudible
and her smile seems to repeat "sorry. i'm so sorry" over and over again.
She vanishes into a room, like mist into the sky
and I lose her from my mind without meaning to.
What instrument does she play?
There's the family of four who troop in like soldiers
each armed with the right sized violin
and the right sized school uniform
and the right sized smile.
I hear them soon, their tuneful sawing
and imagine them practising all in their rooms
but the sound leaking out to Mum cooking dinner
the beginnings of an orchestra - fledgeling and sweet.
There's a girl with long hair who shrugs deeply into her tracksuit
her hands disappearing like her eyes behind her fringe.
And yet she looks graceful and her violin becomes her
and her smile is as fresh as new coloured pencils.
She chats to somebody's mother; uncomfortable but polite;
her eyes often seeking out the cracks between the ceiling tiles
And there's the drums - crashing through the double thickness door
and wall insulation and loving their own racket in wholesome dispute.
"That's my son!" I smile to myself. He's finding his thunder already.
And I think of his grin as he makes the whole house dance
with his epic vibrations and the irrepressible rhythm in his soul.
It's nice to sit here with nothing to do but wait for my children
and yet ... and yet I'm just itching to sit down at a piano.
This is just brilliant! Well done. I really enjoyed it. It is an early contender for my favourite three posts of 2021 which I intend to post at the end of the year.
One of my sons learned the guitar, the other the drums. Boy, those drums could shake your teeth loose!
Thank you! I am honoured. It really is in an early heat though so I will try not to hold my breath. 🤞😉. Yes, drums are pretty dominating. I do envy my son’s easy relationship with them though.
actually I’d go along with Hobbo: this is really first grade material with too many good lines to quote; it’s clever, unhurried, penetrating and compassionate. I’m going to have a few more reads —
THanks so much. I don’t mind admitting that I’m surprised by this enthusiastic response. I enjoyed writing it. And I enjoyed the people watching. But I wasn’t sure the poem had anything to say.
This is just brilliant! Well done. I really enjoyed it. It is an early contender for my favourite three posts of 2021 which I intend to post at the end of the year.
One of my sons learned the guitar, the other the drums. Boy, those drums could shake your teeth loose!
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Thank you! I am honoured. It really is in an early heat though so I will try not to hold my breath. 🤞😉. Yes, drums are pretty dominating. I do envy my son’s easy relationship with them though.
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Whether you win or not, it is a brilliant poem. It took my breath away!
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Thank you. Very much indeed!
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You’re welcome. Thanks for the read!
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I was there 🙂 🙂
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🙂
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I love this one…felt swept away into it.
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actually I’d go along with Hobbo: this is really first grade material with too many good lines to quote; it’s clever, unhurried, penetrating and compassionate. I’m going to have a few more reads —
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THanks so much. I don’t mind admitting that I’m surprised by this enthusiastic response. I enjoyed writing it. And I enjoyed the people watching. But I wasn’t sure the poem had anything to say.
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Brilliantly written!!!
A real gem this one! 👍🖤
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Beautiful! So vivid especially your description of you daughter. You captured her moods and body language so well. I also love “tuneful sawing” 🤣
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This is from before I ‘knew’ you. Reading your work has been a joyous adventure. I look forward to next year, and reading more.
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Thanks, Misky. I so enjoyed re-reading the Soliloquy Hobbo had noted. That last stanza. Just makes me smile and smile.
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Absolutely stunning poem, Worms. Your poetry take my breath away, and each time is like opening a little present. Cheers to you.
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Oh that’s so lovely. You’ve made my day. Your poetry is so strong and striking!
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