I spent October inside, until fall had fled
Stresses proliferated, and a hospital bed
I missed the foliage on the Adirondacks high
Yellow, orange and red against the blue sky
I remembered where I had seen colors before
Just 40 miles from my cottage door.
An old Dutch Church, built in 1697
And the graveyard behind, a waystation to heaven.
I made my way south and walked up the hill
Between mausoleums were trees and the color would spill
copper and red and orange and gold.
I let it sink in, and peace took hold.
A stone path opened up a Hudson River scene
I was the only one there, it felt so serene
Then a cloud drifted west, colors lost hue
Like a muted repainting of that grave-framed view.
I've seen death before, and one thing I knew
The saddest words in life were "nothing more we can do"
I wondered if those words were sometimes incorrect
and I thought just coming for colors might show disrespect.
But many come to see the place, most for history
to see the resting place of Irving, Celtic cross of Carnegie.
And we all join the ranks; we all pay life's cost.
There's no going back, once the river is crossed.
To make money do what you may
And let no rules come in your way,
Capitalism blares
As laissez-faire declares
Wild ways to thievery,
Packaged nigh cleverly
For robber barons of today,
Who should look in mirror
To reflect on error
And ponder, made they are of clay.
____________________
Happenings |19.11.2024|money, business, mirror
Poet’s note: US, who has charged an Adani company of financial misdeeds, needs to look into its own history of capitalism. The first two lines of this ditty talk of what laissez-faire was and still largely is. A list compiled in 1934 named 26 robber barons (a German term for knights who charged illegal tolls from travellers along with other forms of thuggery). The list includes Andrew Carnegie, JP Morgan, and John D Rockefeller-- who later turned philanthropists and promoters of art to earn rubber stamp of public approval. The country reminds us of a cat on a pilgrimage:
Upon killing hundreds of mice,
A cat is out to wash her vice,
On holy pilgrimage
To pop up her image,
Poor mice paying her laundry price.
Book:How to enjoy your life and job. Author:Dale Carnegie. Do well for others, you will be welcomed wherever in the worldwide
I hail from the “City of Bridges” –
Where "la belle riviere" is born,
Where th’Allegheny and “Mon”,
Come together as one
And the proud black and gold are worn.
I hail from the “City of Champions” –
Home of Pirate and Penguin and more,
Of th’oft Super Bowlers,
Our “Terrible Tow’lers”
The Steelers that we all adore.
I hail from the city of metal –
Where iron was made into steel,
Where blue collar muscle
And hard-working hustle
Helped th’American dream become real.
I hail from the city of Pittsburgh –
Of the Incline, Heinz Field, and the Strip,
Kennywood and Carnegie,
Of Clark bars and “hoagies”,
Yinz guys should come – take a trip!
Come to the hill named Flagstaff
Climb to the top and glimpse the emerald expanse
In summer when kites are flying and students laugh
Or the crystalline mounds in winter when tobogganers prance
From here we'll stroll past the Carnegie Library toward the Cathedral of Learning
Where we will embark on another ascent before we proceed
To devour pierogis in the Strip, kayak along the Ohio, and go tunneling
Through the Fort Pitt and emerge at high speed
Into this land of golden bridges and charming neighborhoods
The Steel City will not disappoint
For adventures await amid Appalachian backwoods
Where a dazzling skyline encases a capitalized Point
She never entered a ghetto.
She perfected a high-pitched falsetto.
At the Carnegie Hall
she could both enthrall and appall
as she shredded every libretto.
She's up there with her heavenly peers,
Where many angels must now plug their ears
The music teacher was thrilled to see the squirrel in the window.
Listening to Beethoven’s 5th, he was conducting high and low.
His little paws were moving in a way that showed he knew what to do.
He ended nside the house, living in a tiny house painted blue.
She took her protégé’ to concerts, festivals, and seminars galore.
Many other people wanted their own squirrels, like her pet, Samore.
He ended up conducting seventeen orchestras at Carnegie Hall.
With each production, his tail grew a little bit more tall.
There is a squat/stout duffer in a windbreaker and a Mets cap on the outskirts of the park
playing a rickety 5 string and hoot'in and holler'in.
I have no idea what he is singing.
There is no discernible melody.
Every now and then he stops/ freezes/ puts his forefinger in the air
to take some sort of measure
before plunging back into his flailing guitar.
After another stuttering burst he will stop/
then let loose with an elongated cry to the sky/
punk operatic/ style
nobody seems to stop/and listen/he does not have a container for contributions and probably would not get much trade/
he is playing/for his own/self/and that is / enough
It's/utterly senseless/ wholly out of key.
Beyond the realm of anything/
resembling cohesive musicality
/rambunctiously obtuse
yet imbued with an innocence that casts proficient excellence into a pallid light.
His songs/ performance/ like life/ a messy and inconclusive/ thing/
You can have/ your polished practice and Carnegie aspirations/
and make of that an evening/ with class
but I like the way this codger lets her rip/
this ragged chanteur/
airs it out/ no class/ no talent/ but lotsa / style
I really often love to cross country
here in Scotland, that's not very far
Dunfermline is a place I'm fond of
home of Carnegie, it's brightest star
Carnegie gave the town a park
it's so large, lovely and green
full of birds of many different types
but there was a special one I seen
These were lovely grey squirrels
so often loved to have a walk
round this beautiful green park
looked as if they wanted to talk
They acted as if they knew you
looking for a feed of a nut or two
trees were their favourite climb
amazing watching them so in time
Such a delight watching them
scampering around all over the place
this is nature at its most appealing
seeing all its creatures at their pace
Tempted to madness these sounds are pounding
Gently now, Gently theses skins are tender
Irreconcilable and conflicting I feel your stick
Once just once stop pounding me
Gently Now Gently I ask nicely
Gently soften your voice as a violin
Let this symphony's melody come together in harmony
I see it clearly written in your eyes on this recorded label of love
Cast your eyes back at me and see these notes written
Gently Now, Gently I ask nicely
Gently soften your voice as a violin
I feel your trombone deep within my soul
Your trumpet so loud it has placed me on a cloud
This symphony of love is applauding in my soul
Gently now Gently hold me
Gently now soften your voice
Reading this music soft and tenderly
Keeping our tickets as our memory of a Wallace
Exiting the door of Carnegie Hall with looks of pleasure
Wanting to return for another concert
Gently Now, Gently kiss me goodnight
Let us both dream of tomorrow
As you Gently hold me tight
Contest: Pick a Title Volume 22 Lyric 2
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh
Date Created: 08/23/2020
Title: Divine Rhapsody
The sound of a beat intrigues
Motion moves our feet
Music is our heart beat
Each beat of the heart
Creates silent sounds
Moving the body in many directions
Not one sound is the same
Which brings many a song
Some sour some sweet
It’s not a preference
It’s the heart beat
Some in tune others are out
Music belongs to all
Not just Carnegie Hall
It’s a love for sound we have
The movement of minds
Together
Unspoken only seen within but I know this message written
Your glittering eyes tells me your thoughts clear as glass
Your smile never fades away bright as a summer noon day
Your lips pull mine to yours like a magnet bonds to metal
Clear thoughts sent to me as if we were twins speaking in harmony
Your voice like a symphony at Carnegie Hall perfect pitch and tone
As you walk you sway like a beautiful tree in a soft wind
From the very first our hearts playing the same tune
This silent message all seen within you
Remember long ago Decembers?
When first you saw Tchaikovsky's 'Nutcracker Suite?'
Sitting motionless, spellbound, at the dancers' feats.
Remember long ago Decembers?
When first you saw Van Cliburn or Yitzchak Perlman compete?
Carnegie Hall SRO, hushed, marveling at musical mastery so sweet.
Remember long ago Decembers?
When you saw your first Disney animation?
Cinderella ... Snow White ... or Pinocchio perchance?
When you left the cinema, you just wanted to up and dance.
For isn't it true?
When you wish upon a star
Won't your heart's desire always come to you?
Once I was gorgeous
Queen of the Nile
Ruler and conquer
Always in style
Once I was peaceful
Nature’s harmony
Musical notes flowed like Carnegie
Always bliss melodies
Once I was loved
Pure like Doves
Put up like the stars above.
Or, was it all a dream
Or, was your mouth just playing tricks on me.
Was it all a dream
Was I deceived...
As one walks along life's highway
many thoughts cross your mind
big mountains come to face us
where solutions we need to find
There was one mountain mover supreme
think of him today as visit his birthplace
Andrew Carnegie overcame much adversity
achieving fame and fortune above his race
But we all can move our own barriers
things that seem like mountains so high
when we face up to them head on
believing that indeed we can fly
Remember God himself in person of his son
Jesus Christ said believe upon me
and you'll be able to move mountains
this reality your eyes will see!
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