I Keyboard Position
(For HH & JDH)
I went to hear a singer sing his due
Recital and to learn to love his voice,
Yet on the instant knew I had no choice
But watch th’ accompanist and think of you,
For when they came onstage a dream began
As German art-songs sung up from a deep
Chasm of voice that ought to haunt my sleep,
My heart was drawn instead to that tall man
Curled over the piano in that soft,
Sprung posture that in you I used to know,
When you assumed it, meant that you would go
Anon, and play your listeners aloft
To dazzling heights of ecstasy and free-
Fall back with us to depths of bronze despair
Because your fluid playing pulled us there,
And art, remembered now, that let me see
That this man taught those notes to you, each one,
And from his posture, know you were his son.
II Nocturne
(For JDH)
You always play the Evensong or toll
The close of Compline on that rank of keys
That lets the darkness in at night and sees
No morning come again where dawn should roll
Its banner out, because your day is past,
Untimely so, and others left behind
Whose love for you through music was refined,
And evening services to hold us fast
Within your arms; now elders play the songs
As you’d have done if time had let you play
A lifetime–even just another day–
With melody to right the thousand wrongs
That took you from our midst, that stopped the tune,
Left only other hands to tend the notes,
And threw you like a star among the motes
Before you could play in another June.
Now summers come no more, nor daylight’s dawn,
Though through the night your music lingers on.
Art-Colored Glasses 
I will come back and read your second poem later today because this first one is so beautiful that i do not want to lose its taste! Such evocative words.. c
You remind me of one of my favorite words: ruminate! Appropriate from a lady who knows some very fine ruminants intimately. 🙂
Very true.. I do tend to chew on my words and move them around my mouth and then chew on them some more! c
I just realized what people are talking about when they tell me to stop mumbling and Spit It Out! 😉
Haunting…will you share more about your inspiration? They must be special people, as well as talented musicians.
Yes, I shall try to tell more of the tale. It might require another post to do so . . . let me think about how to share enough to illuminate and still, hopefully, not *too* much.
The first poem really struck me. In our family art seems to pass from generation to generation. Sonja, our oldest daughter, likes to tell our grandchildren that they’ve got the art gene. But what a beautiful gift it is as you look at echoes and hear or see the beauty rising from those echoes. A wonderful thought behind a poem I really liked. The photo is great too. The second poem is just beautiful and describes perfectly how the art experience can affect us when it is powerful.
Thank you so very much. I am fortunate indeed that my work held some meaning for you. I do believe that artistry can be passed down from one to another–both in families and through those connexions between mentor and student, between friends.
And from his posture, know you were his son
That one caught me off guard I didn’t see it coming ..beautiful poem
Thank you, Sawsan; your response to that line is just perfect for me, because in fact that was precisely my response to the moment of having the recognition about which I wrote the poem! (If that makes any sense.) 🙂
Two beautiful poems to wake – up reading this morning with my cup of coffee! Thank you for the inspiration!
Thank *you*, as usual, for reading and responding so kindly. 🙂
What a treat for a Sunday morning! Love the imagery and “back story” of I Keyboard Position but I’ll come back to read and reread II Nocturne. Beautifully done, Kathryn.
Thank you, John. I’m glad you’re enjoying them.
I especially love the melancholy Il Nocturne. I like the image of others left to tend the notes.
After all, each generation of us is called upon to ‘take up the torch’ and then pass it. I wish in the case of my subject he had had a much lengthier custody of the flame, as it burned so very brightly in his hands, but all the more reason we must share it and grow it in our successors, no?
Your pictures are beautiful and this one is no exception. I am aspiring to become a professional photographer so your work is definitely inspiring me and motivating me to learn more. Thanks for stopping by my new blog at http://spydercreationsphotography.wordpress.com, it really means a lot to me. Any tips or advice you have I would definitely appreciate.
Well if you study photography even a tiny bit seriously I’ll be running to *you* for advice, since I have zero technical knowledge and just an experienced eye and a design background. 😉 Thanks for being willing to share the journey with me!
Now, I am a fan of yours.. Your poem is so great and the rhythm is so fantastic… You have a lovely photo’s of the cities at night too… Wonderfu….
Thank you, Nors, you are so sweet. 🙂 I’m so happy you are enjoying it. The cities, by the way, are a couple of wonderful ones I love, San Francisco (California) and Seattle (Washington).
Love the images and as always your words speak to the soul.
Thank you. Thank you. 🙂
These are a symphony in and of themselves, Kathryn. The first poem is simply stunning; it brings me a wistful feeling.
AND. I L.O.V.E. the city collage. Love. It. I think I want it to be one that I put together – that is what I think!
Okey dokey, darling. Why, you must’ve done it, then! (Sorry for my thievery.) Seattle and San Francisco. How can anyone not be inspired by them, eh?
I’m so glad you found something to move you in the poetry, too. 🙂
I, too, wanted to stop after the first poem.. it left me teary-eyed and so moved by “my heart was drawn instead…” I wonder if HH is JDH’s son? (just to clarify) how wonderful that two people could bring such a gift into our world… it always seems to end too soon, doesn’t it?
Life sure is short. 🙂 HH was JDH’s mentor, to such a degree that I think he was far more of a father to him than J’s actual father was.
So beautiful and such vivid imagery. I had forgotten how wonderful it is to read poetry – thank you for reminding me.
What a sweet thing to say! It’s funny, but writing poetry and sharing it has returned me to having an interest in reading it too, and being among bloggers who write and share poetry (theirs and others’) is a great treat!
Lovely poems which make me ask so many question about the subjects. It seems that his accompanying the singer you were there to see, was a surprise or shock? I have an entire story in my head regarding these individuals and your feelings as you sat there.
Backstory forthcoming, my dear. (How’s that for a seeming contradiction in terms!) 🙂 But I love that you’ve already got a story of your own . . . you know that fiction is often more potent than fact, anyway!
Vivid gorgeous pictures; ineffable poetic words…
Sweet of you, as always. I so appreciate your coming by and reading!