Whispers Poets on the Theme of Song

Dear The song is…readers,

It is a privilege to share poems from six of Whispers’ talented writers.  With the topic of song, requested by Editor/Publisher Marianne Szlyk, writers from six different countries responded.  The eclectic mix of poetry is a joy to share with you.

Music wells from deep within us…the song of our hearts nestled in soft melodies or maybe at times a clash of cymbals.  It walks on with our lives, a part of our souls.

After 5 ½ years of publishing, Whispers closed for submissions in June. I invite people to share in the treasures I feel blessed to have published. I would be happy to facilitate any requests to such as this one.

Sincerely,

Karen O’Leary

Whispers’ Editor

karenoleary1956@gmail.com

http://whispersinthewind333.blogspot.com/

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that song 

By Peggy Dugan French, United States

the one that lingers deep into the night

brings a smile of remembrance

or a tear of regret

soothes a broken heart

calms a ragged soul

simmers in the midnight hour

leisurely entertains on Sunday mornings

gently lulls a child to sleep

introduces the kids to the classics

blares from a teenager’s room

fills the house with holiday traditions

keeps us company on the road

gracefully fills a wedding aisle

and hovers over a final resting place with honor

of the many songs that fill our past

nothing compares to the song that is us

Peggy Dugan French lives in Cardiff, California and publishes the small print zine, Shemom.

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Tunes of hope

By Inge Wesdijk, The Netherlands

A dissonant chord

starts to tear down

the harmonious melody

between my body and spirit

Causing anger and distrust

leaving shattered dreams behind

The sweet tinkling

of colorful wind chimes

interweaving tunes of hope

and encouragement

into my life's composition

Restoring my newfound faith

Inge Wesdijk hailed from The Netherlands, a talented writer who was Whispers’ Poetry Editor.

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Dreamy Lady*

By Jack Horne, England

He sang, 'Oh, dreamy lady' to

the woman of his dreams; and I

was meeting you that day and felt

you were the one...contented sigh...

I hear that song and think of you; 

I clear my throat and wipe my eyes,

recalling better times when I

was innocent to all your lies.

Our love was doomed - I see that now;

I wasn't in your future plan;

the song still moves me, yet I know

you're gone and have another man.

*Inspired by Marc Bolan's song

Jack Horne lives in Plymouth, England, and enjoys writing poems and short stories.

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Lost Love

By Gert Knop, Germany

And when I stood there,

thoughtful caught in memories

remembering

those unforgotten tunes,

and never-ending dreams.

And see us yet,

still walking hand in hand

and listen to the bird songs,

what a lovely dream,

I wished would never end.

But what remained of our love?

Only those songs and melodies?

An empty heart,

yet with desire,

A piece of driftwood like,

and long extinguished fire.

Gert W. Knop, born in 1943 lives in Zittau, Germany.

________________________

A Cicada Song

By Paul Callus, Malta

I sit underneath an old gnarled tree

watching sunlight filtering through

clustered leaves, relishing the smell

of ripe carobs ready for picking.

Ignoring lethargy, a cicada erupts into song –

a few stuttering attempts followed by a

prolonged bout of monotonous intensity.

I fill a tin mug with cool well water from

the pail beside me. Savouring its freshness

I close my eyes and travel back in time

to when the field buzzed with activity –

grandfather, uncles, parents and children

defying the hot summer temperature,

clambering branches, lashing with rods,

heaping brown carob pods on the ground

before transferring them into sacks, ready

to be loaded on the horse-drawn cart.

Nothing much has changed, except that

now I am not a child anymore, but a

frail old man who sits alone reminiscing...  

Paul Callus has been writing prose and poetry for over 50 years, his preferred mediums being Maltese and English.

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The Song Is ....... Spring (with Maria Callas)

By Isha Wagner

The dead mouse has lain

a long time on the backyard stair

Why it chose to die there

Why I chose to leave it be

Now spring is changing the scene

As Maria's voice shatters the warm air

Lemons and oranges have flourished

White camellias have blossomed

And I think it's time now to sweep

up the mouse with the dead leaves

and depart from the cold season

As Maria sings.

Isha Wagner lives in the Wairarapa, New Zealand, and likes putting words on paper to form ideas.

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Let's start with Maria Callas' aria from La Traviata:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7yKFQJEavU

Recently my husband and I went to hear some local jazz musicians at the Strathmore.  Among them was the violinist David Schulman.  Here he plays "Agua Madruga" with his band Quiet Life Motel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzzZwC9zdsU

I'm not sure who sings on this song "Home," but David Schulman plays the violin here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkk_dsfbuiE

OK, I saw that Tillery is the vocalist.

This is Marc Bolan's "Dreamy Lady":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEd-jv5BPWs

Enjoy!