Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Two Jam Poems.

These are the two poems born, actually, in the pre-Jam visit to Austin; but they are Jammy, so here they are for the Jammers' reading pleasure. The first one (really, written second) was written as the plane flew away toward Albuquerque, based on the view as we headed to the airport.

Austin Sunrise

The sky is violet-blue, and easterly,
A glow of red and gold begins to rise -
A flame to dazzle all unwary eyes;
The day begins, the dark again must flee.
The frightened shadows turn and race away,
Not standing on their order of retreat,
Fleeing the dreaded light on silent feet,
While we with music greet the newborn day.

The day is young, as we; with merry heart
And soul, refreshed and rested, up we start,
To fill its time with actions good. No wrong,
God aiding us, will dim its golden light
Till, as it deepens into dark of night,
We end, as we began, with joyful song.

and then, this one was written early one morning as I waited for Bibi to wake up (because, as we all know, she is very lazy -- (kidding, I love you Bibi!)

Song of the Jam-Pianists.

Our hearts are strung with piano wire,
And when our fingers touch the keys,
Our being is engulfed in fire
Of light and love and great desire
For music's deepest mysteries;
Yet we would have not only these,
But long for glory that is higher.

And this desire for holy things
Is source of sweetest melody,
Sending it pulsing from the strings;
And rising on undaunted wings,
Sweet harmony with harmony
Blends, as the waters of the sea,
And sadly sobs or richly rings.

O music, heartbeat of our soul,
That rends our hearts and fills our eyes
With tears of pain or deepest dole,
Or strengthens us to reach the goal,
Or makes us laugh in glad surprise;
True gift of God thou art, and prize
To us, that makes our spirits whole!

Our music let us boldly raise
To Him that gave us Song and Love,
And as we lift our hymn of praise
Through all our nights and all our days
To Father, Son and holy Dove,
We pray that we, at last, above
The stars may sing more worthy lays.

--June 25, 2009.

5 comments:

Thom said...

I Really like the rhyme scheme of , the Austin sunrise, it really intrigues me; I like it a lot and that gives me an idea......I'll post it later(if you don't mind) if it turns out good.

Agnes Regina said...

Thank you Tom; I'm glad you liked it. That particular scheme of rhythm and rhyme is known as Sonnet, and dates back to 15th or 16th century Italy.

Please do post your poem -- after all, that's what this blog is for, the Jammers' poetry, music and random stuff!

Thom said...

What is the Rhythm/rhyme scheme of the Jamm pianist?

Erik said...

Hey Ines, how are you? The poems are great. I was able to read some of your other poems on way back from the jam session out of the little book you gave bobby. It was nice to have something to fill in those 15 (or however many) hours. And thanks for the invitation to the blog. :)

Agnes Regina said...

Tom: The rhyme scheme of the "Song of the Jam Pianists" is my own form, as far as I know - it would be analyzed as A-B-A-A-B-B-A. The rhythm is simply iambic tetrameter.

Erik: glad you enjoyed the poems here and in the little book. (The copy for the three of you should be in the mail by tonight, actually; so you'll have your own!) Welcome aboard.