When the hard work came
and fingers fell flat
in dyslexic stumbles
at the stern reminders
of the metronome
who eyed her sharply
over dog-eared pages,
it didn’t feel as though
she had been handed
the keys to the kingdom.
It would take thousands
of chromatic notes to scale
that mountain, thousands
of butchered melody lines
to bind chords of muscle memory
and visual acuity into
harmonious union,
inversions ringing
as theory sang its way
into practise.
She couldn’t tell you
when the notes began to stir
something more than
soured milk in her soul,
when the melodies
sank into her bones
and played her heart-strings
in tones of salvation songs;
all she knows is that
these keys have unlocked
Rapunzel’s gate,
releasing the Muse,
and fingering their well-worn
skin ignites her own
with a song
that beats in her breast
with the sound
of her own
pulse.
Meanwhile, Melody Muses... 
I can almost hear the sound, Melody! Wonderfully peaceful! Thanks
Thanks Heidi! Do you play an instrument yourself? I would love to take violin lessons. Or harp. Or flute.
I love it! My favorite lines:
when the notes began to stir
something more than
soured milk in her soul
So much message in 3 small lines!
Bravo, Melody!
Russ
Thanks Russ! Music holds so much meaning for so many of us – a truly rich gift in every note.
Melody, that sounds like a good song! 🙂
Sing it with me across the miles!! 🙂
WOWZA–the journey in a poem about music!
A nice tribute to the way my piano has fed my soul these many years – and a way to describe the fight to grasp those kingdom keys while in the ‘practise phase’ here below! Enjoy your weekend….
I admire you greatly, Mel.
And you soothe my soul!
Oh what a lovely thought.
To quote Calvin (of the comic strip Calvin and Hobbes) – “Believe it, lady.”
Very cute–I will!
So truly beautiful Melody! It is so nice to embrace your words again! Thanks also for visiting me on twitter, I will do the same with you! Your spirit shines so very brightly in your words…have a wonderful weekend my sister! God bless!
Thanks Wendell! I am honoured by your words. I WILL enjoy my weekend – I hope you do, as well!
Love this!
“it didn’t feel as though/ she had been handed/ the keys to the kingdom.”
And you know – we have all been handed the keys to the kingdom, haven’t we? But until the day that all is settled for eternity comes, we plunk away, making mistakes, awkward in our earthly body suits, aching to make heavenly music. What a conundrum…
And this: “It would take thousands/ of chromatic notes to scale/ that mountain, thousands/ of butchered melody lines/ to bind chords of muscle memory/ and visual acuity into/ harmonious union,/ inversions ringing/ as theory sang its way/ into practise.”
Ok, I love the whole thing. You have captured my life-long love/hate/love relationship with music.
🙂 It’s quite a life metaphor, isn’t it – all the hard work and learning and development, where effort assures some measure of success. I have been blessed to see it all over again in my daughter, who pays piano beautifully now that she is past the beginner phase… hehe
You are amazing!
🙂 As are we all, in one way or another! Thanks you, Elizabeth – enjoy your Saturday!
The power of music : )
Absolutely!
And the power of good holiday that revitalizes our being.
😀 Can I hear a huge Jamaican ‘Yeah, mon!” ?? hehe
YEP!
Brings to memory the hours of practice hours I had! But there’s an analogy to daily living ~ that’s my opinion. Faithfully Debbie
🙂 Analogies are my meat and potatoes! You have seen past the physical practice to the meat of the story once again, faithful Debbie!