Sam Kauffman Poet Free verse

Music

MUSIC IN THE LISTENING LAB
 
Notes!  Notes of music
Bouncing 	
Off of walls – off of chairs
Off of ceilings and off the floors
Running down the hall in half steps
	Flooding every inch of space
	In atonal tangos - rhythms searching for their time.

Notes!  Notes of music
Bumping
	Up against each other
	Up against the lines of scores
Vibrating tension pushing hard
	Against a measured tempo -
	Shrilling to be heard - only now to lose their pitch.

Notes!  Notes of music
Crawling over one another
	Trying to find harmony
	Trying to discard the dissonance
Jamming in, losing sight of their rest,
	They squeeze into the space -
	With no resolution, unseen voices in a crowd.

Notes! Notes of music
	Tripping over downbeats
	Tripping over cadence
Falling flat upon their sharps	
	Phrasing key notes rise again
	In soaring sound tracks arranged in one accord.

N/A 3/21/20

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Greg Gaul June 18, 2020 at 6:44 AM Sam, such an interesting personification of notes. Yes, they are like clowns and demons and children too. Rolling and jumping all around. I know you personally have a very strong musical interest and talent. So, this poem must have great meaning for you. Such an ambitious and creative departure formwise for you too. I think it's a milestone. Strikes a high note for me!

Michelle Faulkner June 17, 2020 at 10:56 PM Sam, this sings to me, especially 'atonal tangos' and 'trying to discard the dissonance' - makes me want to grab my dancing shoes! Congratulations on your placement (in my opinion, it should have placed higher)

John Hamilton June 17, 2020 at 12:08 PM Yes I play trumpet but that was so many years ago, I do read music but I'm used to transposing from c to b flat, that makes it hard to compose, but I do write songs, many of my poems are song lyrics and I have about 7 songs recorded as of today, 2 hopefully on the radio soon. Sam Kauffman June 17, 2020 at 3:59 PM As a friend of mine said - that is way cool - and sharp! I have also used some of my lyrics as poems. Do you sing? So exciting to have songs on radio. Do you know about Jango - an international website for songwriters and musicians several of my songs are on that site. Let me know when your songs will be released for radio airplay. All the best.

John Hamilton June 17, 2020 at 10:23 AM This caught my attention as a musician I could relate, congrats on a fine placement! Sam Kauffman June 17, 2020 at 12:01 PM Hi John, Once again, thank you for your placement. Had fun with this one. There are so many "phrases" and words in music that are poetic. Have discovered several other musicians on PS. Do you play an instrument or sing or teach? So much fun to find another "souper" of "note." Stay well!

John Watt March 14, 2020 at 1:10 PM Sam, your love of music sings out in this ode to Notes! Bouncing, bumping, crawling, tripping, in the end getting corralled together in an assonance of harmony. This really speaks to my heart. "In atonal tangos / Rhythms searching for their time."

Line Gauthier August 20, 2019 at 8:26 PM Delightful, Sam. Your presentation adds much to giving your piece a charming tempo. Sam Kauffman August 23, 2019 at 5:33 PM Thank you so much Line! I wanted to put this poem into a little different form - like experimenting with musical forms. Your feedback is so encouraging!

Darlene De Beaulieu June 29, 2019 at 6:05 PM Hello Sam Kauffman, so nice to meet you. Music is good for the soul. i love music. All types of music. Like classical music relaxes me. i like other music as well.. have a nice evening my friend. Sam Kauffman October 16, 2019 at 4:37 PM Thank you Darlene - music is so cool!