If music is the food of love
Then words will also be
The rhythm of an inner soul
That’s beats so wild and free
The metre of a heart’s desire
Expressions vent so true
Transcending destiny and life
As lexicon imbue
The passion of sweet harmonies
That dwell within so pure
And cadence of life’s symphony
Cross staves that dance for sure
The tonic of all emphasis
That swells to thus define
That music as the food of love
Tangos with words entwined
We have a strong tradition of jazz in our family going back the generations and are fortunate to be surrounded by some of the best loved jazz tunes every day playing through the house on either piano or brass. This poem has tried to syncopate the beat that is jazz whilst attempting to define this much loved genre of music that gets the toes tapping, the emotions racing and souls uplifted. Written in a simple 4/4 metre, try reading it by emphasising the second and fourth ‘beats’ or syllables to get in the mood!
Syncopation
The novel beat
Improvising
Out in the street
Where rhythm flows
Where notes complete
The jazz we love
A sound so neat
A genre born
In southern state
Of USA
Yet did relate
To African
Music and vibes
Combining blues
From native tribes
And swung notes with
Polyrhythms
The restless sound
The beat of drums
With blast of brass
Piano bright
That jazz that does
Not sleep at night
Spontaneous
Vitality
The beat that taps
The toe through me
Sonority
Great razzmatazz
Innovating
The sound that’s jazz
Jazz with Nic Jones courtesy of Ben DJ Photography
If the cap fits then please wear it
Though cautioned as you do
To understand that you will then
Take any blame that’s due
And akin to Cinderella
If slipper fits as well
Whatever mask you might then wear
Such fitting rings the bell
Or in the case of fingerprints
When image matches up
Admit that you were in the frame
And drank from guilt stained cup
For throughout our lives we walking so
Indelibly with tracks
That leave a trail of suggestion
To fill in all the cracks
So be sure to first acknowledge
If you have hidden guilt
For by your words and actions sure
The truth will then be built
And all will then unravel full
Right there before your eyes
Exposing just where you have been
Despite any disguise.
Cinderella fits the glass slipper. From left to right: Jaq, Gus, Suzy, Perla, the Grand Duke, Drizella, Anastasia, Lady Tremaine and Cinderella. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
There is no greater thing than love
No more than devine hope
No sweeter life than one that’s gives
Great succour extends scope
Nor one that is compassionate
Extends a hand so kind
That walks the earth with grace and peace
Contentment of the mind
There is no greater gift than faith
In self and purity
The cherishing of all that’s good
And of integrity
So may I pray that you will find
All these as you move through
This journey that we call the walk
Of life with blessings true
Today is my son’s 18th Birthday! He’s a Trombonist to give background to the poem below. Happy Birthday to him 🙂
Back in the days of ninety six
Some eighteen years ago
A gorgeous boy with deep brown eyes
Arrived post ho-ho-ho
Of Santa’s Christmas drop offs
Yet with as much good cheer
Arriving at the start of yet
Another fun New Year
Without a fuss or much to do
He breathed in frosty air
And in the silence of the night
Declared that he was there
His lungs it seemed were made for brass
So capable and great
But as a baby – oh so sweet
Such things would have to wait
Then five years hence he started out
At school from nursery done
A journey into more besides
To shine just like the sun
At nine he drew a further puff
Of breath that was to be
The dawn of his great love affair
With trombone musically
And since that day he’s not looked back
But progressed as we all know
At home, at school and further out
Just going with the flow
To play on his old sackbut slide
In chorus or alone
So raise your glass to my dear boy
And his tenor trombone
Photograph courtesy of Ed Chappell
Ginz&Tonic 