The Feeling of It
I don't think of myself as much of a poet, although inspired by my cohorts in the National Writing Project at Rutgers U to write more poetry. I've attended the Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, participated in several writing marathons, always trying to gain a better appreciation for reading / writing. I have even constructed a Poet Tree in my classroom. Might sound campy, but I am most inspired by my students' poetry. Now I am looking at the craft of songwriting- poetry set to music. No guarantee that it will be of much worth, but I'll keep trying.
I wrote "The Feeling of It" during the NWP's Invitational Summer Institute a few years back. Actually this was my first attempt at poetry since high school. I was inspired to write a sestina, a very complex form poem, after having read Neil Gaimans "Vampire Sestina" in his collection titled "Angels and Visitations". James Baldwin's short "Sonny's Blues" also came to mind. This story has one of the best descriptions of the affect and communication shared between improvisational musicians in all of the literature I have ever encountered. The content came from a very moving experience at It, possibly one of the best Phish festivals outside of the Clifford Ball. I wanted to fuse: the complexity of a sestina; Baldwin's comprehension of music, and his power to communicate those ideas; with my own personal perspective on the Phish experience. The poem doesn't do justice for those not in the know, but might get a few head nods from those that share similar experiences. Therefore my audience is rather limited.
Today I post this poem in memorandum / celebration of Coventry- Phish's announced farewell party one year ago. That weekend is gone, but remains fresh in my memory.
The Feeling of “IT”
Bathed in golden locks of light
with no sense and loyalty of time
the intangible gap between space
and the subtle sounds of music
inspired the congregation to dance
as a celebration of the soul
It is the language of the soul
to converge, converse, shed light
upon movement, with sound dance
-ing a frantic rhythm within tempo; time
gauged only by measures of music
and kinesthetic space
Many individuals confined within a space
moved by funk, by jazz, by spirit, by soul-
shaking, pulsating, worshipping music
bringing them together toward a new light
a new time
within the communion of the dance
The musicians lead the crowd along, fingers dance
-ing tirelessly upon instruments; hollow space
reverberated guitar strings, snare drum snaped out time,
as bass sauntered beneath, piano rolls ringing out soul;
puffs of smoke rose showered in light
as the audience bathed in warm washes of music
A struggle of harmony and cacophony; a music-
al phrase called, answered, revisited, reinvented; a dance
of notes interweaving, improvising, imposing light
and order; then swept away into space
of frantic chaos- doubted, questioned, soul
searched, renewed, reiterated, then brought back to time
Band and crowd reciprocating pure energy; this time
invigorated by the exchange music
free to explore the uncharted depths of the soul
navigated by the dance;
what was once an empty space
now radiated with life, warmth, sound, light
Like a thousand sparks of light set free of time
and transcended space; set forth the music,
inspired the dance, and intensified the soul
I wrote "The Feeling of It" during the NWP's Invitational Summer Institute a few years back. Actually this was my first attempt at poetry since high school. I was inspired to write a sestina, a very complex form poem, after having read Neil Gaimans "Vampire Sestina" in his collection titled "Angels and Visitations". James Baldwin's short "Sonny's Blues" also came to mind. This story has one of the best descriptions of the affect and communication shared between improvisational musicians in all of the literature I have ever encountered. The content came from a very moving experience at It, possibly one of the best Phish festivals outside of the Clifford Ball. I wanted to fuse: the complexity of a sestina; Baldwin's comprehension of music, and his power to communicate those ideas; with my own personal perspective on the Phish experience. The poem doesn't do justice for those not in the know, but might get a few head nods from those that share similar experiences. Therefore my audience is rather limited.
Today I post this poem in memorandum / celebration of Coventry- Phish's announced farewell party one year ago. That weekend is gone, but remains fresh in my memory.
The Feeling of “IT”
Bathed in golden locks of light
with no sense and loyalty of time
the intangible gap between space
and the subtle sounds of music
inspired the congregation to dance
as a celebration of the soul
It is the language of the soul
to converge, converse, shed light
upon movement, with sound dance
-ing a frantic rhythm within tempo; time
gauged only by measures of music
and kinesthetic space
Many individuals confined within a space
moved by funk, by jazz, by spirit, by soul-
shaking, pulsating, worshipping music
bringing them together toward a new light
a new time
within the communion of the dance
The musicians lead the crowd along, fingers dance
-ing tirelessly upon instruments; hollow space
reverberated guitar strings, snare drum snaped out time,
as bass sauntered beneath, piano rolls ringing out soul;
puffs of smoke rose showered in light
as the audience bathed in warm washes of music
A struggle of harmony and cacophony; a music-
al phrase called, answered, revisited, reinvented; a dance
of notes interweaving, improvising, imposing light
and order; then swept away into space
of frantic chaos- doubted, questioned, soul
searched, renewed, reiterated, then brought back to time
Band and crowd reciprocating pure energy; this time
invigorated by the exchange music
free to explore the uncharted depths of the soul
navigated by the dance;
what was once an empty space
now radiated with life, warmth, sound, light
Like a thousand sparks of light set free of time
and transcended space; set forth the music,
inspired the dance, and intensified the soul
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Labels: Geraldine R. Dodge, National Writing Project, Phish, poetry, writing marathon
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