Breath
By Philip Sidney
- 7101 reads
I listen
hard to hear
the low drone carved from air
drifting with the wind
across space
and time
a sound from those distant
hidden places
where quiet people made music
felt the weight of wood and stroked
a bow across a string
made vibrations that travelled
like our ancestor, who took a zither
on a sailing ship across the world, to Australia
you have a look of him, a sensitive face
think of him, beneath a eucalyptus tree
plucking a tune to ruffle the air, to let
the world know that he was there
there’s an exhibition in Reykjavik
around the corner from you
a hybrid instrument, the lokkur
part-langspil-part-spinning-wheel
found in America that
Icelandic settlers played
perhaps they longed to recreate
wild intonations of northern gales
or to spin out a thread of breath
that might whisper in the ear
of one left
behind.
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Comments
This is so pretty - I can
This is so pretty - I can hear the music. I wonder what this would be played to?
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Have you consided the damage
Have you consided the damage that could be done to your shoulder if I have to continually slap you on the back in appreciation of constant streams of great poetry trotting forth from your stable? In Australia the tones would dance in the haze of the heat rise and fall and woft away. Australians in the outback tend to spit on their hands, rub them together and then slap one's back with hardened hands. Tis a compliment downunder mate! But I worry about your shoulder all the same. Nice piece Phiilip
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Thank you for lifting my
Thank you for lifting my spirits Philip... ah you are a Kiwi at heart then no wonder your words vibrate as well as the beat within the heart of works. My enthusiaism for life was foundered in my childhood, though it's often misinterpreted by others as being that which it is not, it's part of who I am and most genuine. Kia Ora
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I love the feeling of soft
I love the feeling of soft tones from strings that seem as the winds and gales and droning breath. Rhiannon
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Hi Helen
Hi Helen
Beautifully done, as always, and an interesting piece of information. I certainly had never heard of an instrument shaped quite like that.
I love your choice of words - always special.
Jean
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The way you've invoked the
The way you've invoked the past with gentle words and sound is transporting. Ghostly in a longing way.
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This is astounding. The final
This is astounding. The final stanza is so gorgeous. I joined this site to get feedback of which I do not get much but reading work like this, I feel, is perhaps just as helpful.
Inspired.
Jeremy Hamilton
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Thank You, I only have four
Thank You, I only have four short poems and one short short story.
Plan to read much more and give feedback and post more content.
Wonderful site.
Jeremy Hamilton
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Don't know how I missed this
Don't know how I missed this poem Helen,
The title summed up this poem perfectly, that second stanza reminded me that music can hold a message with each breath to send out to the world.
Beautifully done and very much enjoyed reading.
Jenny.
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