It's been a while since I wrote anything new, and this poem crept up on me. I had been thinking a lot about my grandmother, who passed away in 2001, and wanting to write a poem about her—but also wanting to avoid anything forced, trite, or untrue to her memory.
One night I was laying in bed and thinking about our visits together, which were usually fun and busy, and I remembered what would happen in the quiet moments, when we were done with lunch at Friday Harbor, renting movies at Roche, or buying Martha Washington geraniums to plant out front. It took me a while to realize why I have such a fondness for Scott Joplin and Hoagy Carmichael tunes, but this is where it all began. So Nana, this one's for you.
Stardust and Solace
She played so many songs
on those sunlit afternoons we spent together
her brittle fingers flowing with
surprising strength and grace
purposeful across the keys
two I most remember
one with words, one without
melancholy melodies of longing, loss
I don’t remember her ever saying she missed him
but each note spoke eloquently for her
never having known passion
how could I know her pain?
yet somehow that soulful sadness of
Stardust and Solace
sang to my tender untried heart
echoing in its empty corners
and I tasted true love’s loss
before I ever fell.
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10 comments:
Stardust and Solace...so much said in just the title. What wonderful memories to cherish.
"..never having known passion
how could I know her pain?"
That some how rings true...for more ways than one.
yes. i remember her this way. what a beautiful tribute to Nana. thankyou.
i think that she would have liked it.
This is a great tribute to your grandmother.
Well done, this weaving of words and melodies.
this is lovely, I can hear the melodies as I read the words. A wonderful tribute.
Oh, this is beautiful and worth the wait. Sometimes it takes years after someone dies to put into words the feelings and experiences we had with them. I can totally relate to this. You did a wonderful job creating such a heartfelt piece. The melancholy in it is exquisitely lovely and bittersweet.
Marie--thanks! I was pleased with the title, almost more than the poem.
Gautami--yes, I was so young when my grandfather died I had no way to understand (until much later) what it must have been like for her.
Dory--(((hugs))). That means a lot.
Deb & Crafty--I almost included lyrics and then thought that would be too easy and that trying to be melodic without them would be better. Glad it worked!
Clare--thank you, thank you for your knd words.
This poem speaks to how much music can touch you. Good job!
My Nana died when I was 13, just as I was starting to know her as a real person. I love the insight you have into the way your Nana's playing spoke things she could not say herself. I wonder what mine would say to me were she here today.
A beautiful tribute! The way you tied the two of you was wonderful.
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