Trapezoid - 1980

the shape of a song is rounded

it rides on the crest of a gentle wave

lapping the shore

again and again

 it suits the polished curves of a guitar

strings      ringing      out  

and if I close my eyes

and just listen

I can see the sea              stretching out to the horizon

while the incessant waltz

of the water on the sand fills my hot tired thirstiness  

as the gentle hammering

on double strings of delight

stretched over unrounded box

shapes the song so that angular corners

are transformed into

the curved lines of life

Nathan Rogers - 2013

just a voice

reaching     

blanketing  

calming                 calling out

to throngs on patchwork prairie  

all business stops             rapt

as he wraps voice

around naked spirits  

it’s a story about Bermuda

but it doesn't matter

it's the voice

and the energy

and the love

and the memories

that feeds these thousands

starved for so long of the real

instead chained to screens of vicarious vicious death  

and the singer seems only

thankful

and humble

a true father's son

man at the drum - 1984

strange                 incessant rhythm

and lyric Latin melody  

of revolutionary dance from

El Salvador and 

we are on our feet moving

empathetic tent billowing in the wind 

but my eyes draw to

man at the drum 

hands    sudden     violent

bite the stretched skin 

face       young       smooth

yet resolved and ready 

eyes

like swords

stabbing out

searching for the hope of

understanding

moment - Saturday 2013

boy on dad’s shoulders

blue striped shirt small baseball cap

points up red airplane

The Milk Carton Kids - 2013

little roots

stick out of the ground here

and the sun stabs

through pine branches

at this forest clearing  

and you stand on the stage

black suits and ties

joking with the signer for the deaf

guitars slung high around shoulders  

white cloth tied

around the neck

of one of the guitars

it means something        maybe  

but then you begin to play

and you get down to business  

gentle sun filtering through

to shadow patched ground

of small roots and hardy grass

Mike Seeger 1982

folk song comes alive

lone reedy voice banjoing

in the prairie sun

Indigo Girls at Folk Fest 2013

they weave spells

sound glints tangling intricate patterns

ribbons of

red

orange

blue

above our nodding sun-warmed heads

bound by the spell of

strummed rhythm

and sung harmony

and words so fresh and ancient

reaching back

to dance of the gods

and forward to the exploding nebula

as chords crash fireworks

of love

above  

and we look up

tears brimming

Rudy and Helen (a farewell tribute)

they pose for the camera

blurred green leaves form a background

two faces smiling at us

natural smiles

gentle breezes

summer sun 

his greying beard

her inviting eyes

speaking of northern winters

and southern

Spanish cities

service to and for 

you can look at trees

bring them in focus

and hear a simple folk song

or a bagatelle by Beethoven

both beautiful

both honest 

the eyes look out

and we can hear the voices

mixing with the leaves

of the tree of life

change for good (Lynette and Sophie at Grad)

your two young voices weave together

a sunny unison

as you turn towards each other

long gowns gracing strong young frames

blond hair ungravitied

tendrils cascading

black grand piano behind you

supporting the song

music of poignant parting and

celebration

of friendship gained

of transformation

of boats built to cross the river

of riverbanks

and the vast expanse     of territory on the other side

left to explore

of the people you were

and are

and will be 

but in this eternal split-second

on the stage

everything unites into

one well-shaped phrase

a melody that rises and falls

expressing lives

lived

with love