SOSTENUTO
When I hear that pure note on a violin string
It’s a needle and thread pushed into my chest
Like a long thin nerve with a message to carry
Such that hope and anticipation might marry
A picture painted in soft hues, unlike the rest
As it connects me with the sadness it can bring
The vibrato clutches firmly at a sensitive heart
One that has already now been well prepared
As it begins to soar high into the stratosphere
Causing a distant smile and maybe even a tear
An image between lips pursed and teeth bared
An effect of the sound felt from the very start
The tone one can identify with rosin and bow
Even more so, when it plays a melody I know
earth sings and swings through space
blue pearl's nascent sostenuto
sun's rouge reveil blush dusts her face
space pings as new world rings
angels praise God's high hopes
Lind 68868 format designed by poet Robert Lindley.
(Thank you Robert, for your kind critique, and helping me to correct the syliable count!)
posted 7th November, 2019
Note: Job 38:4-7
Psalms 104:5
Ecclesiastes 1:4
(The sustainable earth)
Childhood Tree
(severe criticism is invited, welcomed, and urged)
He was supposed to be there still
when I returned in forty years.
But a boy's home town
is metamorph and tolerates
old maples patiently until
old homes come down; new ones rise.
I'm glad I wasn't there the day
he could no longer kiss
the sky, but fell and shuddered
on the earth, and bled in green.
Though not unique, this grandiose
old fellow was my first true friend;
I mourned him more than any human
that I knew, and though I hold
no faith in spirit trees, I was aware
when I came back, of his success
in taking part of me along.
It is forever I have lost
the sostenuto of his loyallty.
Forever that his thunder of lament
is still--in heaven's now, perhaps,
or in the glade of hell.
~
Echo is a horse on gravel
muted and resounding
like God stepped sostenuto
e una corda
Hooves bouncing off and on
like a baby in
the crib
that outlives him
rattle. Break.
Slowly rock your empty belly
asleep. A percussive mantra rings
echo. echo. hollow
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