- Non-Erotic Poetry
- Rhapsody in Muse
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Click hereDaddy played opera.
La Boheme or Joan Sutherland
mezzo'd through blonde wood hi fi,
ringing above that vinyl scratch.
Bellini would be proud of her,
Handel kvelling at La Stupenda
singing Roma to its knees.
I crossed mine, shut up
my ears or rode my Schwinn
away from that owl talk.
True, Brahms was cool, dig
Stravinsky's bones, dinosaurs
beaten in some other key,
trudging to extinction past
the dining room table, slower
more stately than grandparents.
Then one day a raucous howl,
a shriek hoots wide rhapsodic
piano rolls out big as cities,
my city, the blinding avenues,
the drill foot bustle sidewalks.
Oh Gershwin!
Play Manhattan skyscrapers straight up,
play avenues of symphony,
paint notes bright as streetlamps,
as faces full of weary wonder, nodding,
winking wisdom, heartbeats drumming blue,
contained like me, edging sidewise
through alleys, traffic until sometimes
broken free, dancing taps of midnight,
jazzy joy.
- COMMENTS
goddessadoreralmost 20 years agoAs a music-lover, this was one of the best poems on Literotica. I love Gershwin's music, but, even more, I encourage Angeline to explore the very American music of other composers -- Virgil Thomson, Charles Ives, Harry Partch (a friend of mine who wrote microtonal music), Roy Harris, John Adams (probably our greatest living American composer), Douglas Moore (whose opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" has the greatest ending of any opera -- all based on historical fact -- Colorado mining history)...we can be proud of our American musical heritage. Another favorite of mine is the eccentric British composer Havergal Brian who, though neglected by the snobbish Brit musical establishment, continued to compose -- 32 symphonies, 20 of which were written after the age of 80 (he lived to 96!). More poems about music, please, Angeline. I've been planning to write a story involving opera -- if I ever find time.
Sappholoversalmost 20 years agoOsip Mandelstam said that when he was writing a poem, he would keep revising it in his head until the "buzzing turned to music." Well, this poem has the music in it....as subject and style. This was really cool--a beautiful tribute to "jazzy joy" of Gershwin.
Anonymousabout 20 years ago....fiver. You can just HEAR a Gershwin melody behind the words.
Tathagataabout 20 years agoI never liked Gershwin
lol
But the words you use and the images you create make me want to perhaps give him another try.
Wonderful movement and energy in this poem
Once again I read it and came back and let it sink in.
It was worth a 2nd and 3rd read
Thank you
Kundalinguiniabout 20 years agoA completely remarkable poem, Ange. YDD flagged the clincher: "Oh Gershwin! Play Manhattan skyscrapers straight up". This so completely evokes the spirit of the music the poem would almost rate a 5 for it alone. Stunning.
YDDabout 20 years agoWhat a wonderful muse you have!
Excellent, a must read!
Pure, straight and solid 5
Syndra Lynnabout 20 years agothe last stanza. It is poetry perfection. Were you watching Fantasia when you wrote this? Lovely. Thanks.
jthserraabout 20 years agojust thinking of the music sends chills all through me. This poem is the chill. I hear the piano here, somehow so sweet and true. wow...
jim : )
