Homework WE 25/4/16 - Morning Melodies

[Shelley Hansen]

What an interesting set of prompts, Maureen! Coincidentally, I read them last week on the very day that we went to Morning Melodies at our local Brolga Theatre. The performers were Tenori - three fabulous singers who gave us everything from opera to pop ... and who took me on a whirlwind journey down memory lane ...

MORNING MELODIES
(c) Shelley Hansen 18/4/16

Our week had been quite hard, and I was feeling sad inside,
and so I sought the solace that sweet music can provide.
We noticed Morning Melodies was playing in our town.
We had the opportunity – and so we headed down.

There, in the darkened theatre, we saw the show unfold –
dynamic showmen blessed with voices dipped in liquid gold!
They call themselves Tenori – just three men upon a stage -
who stirred the leaves of yesterday as breezes turn a page.

From legendary Lanza to Ol’ Blue Eyes, King of Swing –
they shared melodic memories and made the rafters ring.
The operatic classics swelled with sounds that were sublime
and soon the scene receded as I journeyed back in time.

The water-coloured memories rose up like morning mist …
of lazy weekend afternoons, the western sun that kissed
the curtains with its dappled light as I lay on the floor
as records played … a child, entranced to hear the music soar.

My father was a tenor and I came to understand
the colour of the voices – lyric, baritonal, grand.
Then when I learned piano I could hardly wait to play
his songs – so I could be accompanist to him some day.

I drifted back from reverie to feel a warming glow.
The past is gone – but in my heart it lives, and well I know
that music stirs the hidden springs of memory … and yet …
it also spreads a soothing balm that helps us to forget.

[Maureen K Clifford]

How lovely Shelley - you made great use of the prompts Seems you have discovered my psychic side

[Terry]

Very Descriptive and also very well written - potential there for future endeavors I reckon Shelley.

Cheers

Terry

[Shelley Hansen]

Thanks Terry and Maureen

[Catherine Lee]

Just beautiful Shelley! You have some lovely lines in here such as dynamic showmen blessed with voices dipped in liquid gold and who stirred the leaves of yesterday as breezes turn a page, plus the whole final stanza. My father sang tenor so I can relate to this, as well as the stirring, soothing balm of music in general. A really lovely poem.

[Shelley Hansen]

Thank you so much, Catherine! Something else we have in common ... both the daughters of tenors!!

I can understand how you would relate to my experience. Music certainly has the power to make us forget, and remember.

Cheers, Shelley