Choral Society
Quiet
low hum
resonates
reverberate
add harmonics
increase dynamics
tenors are crooning
above basses booming
sopranos spin finest silk
contralto line flows like milk
as lush orchestral velvet notes
decode director’s every thought,
supplement sweet choral blend
with rhythm, counter-melody
combine plangent harmony,
string, woodwind, brass,
instrument of choice
the human voice
slowing baton
hushes all
sound
quiet
A kind of double etheree for two prompts: We Write Poems suggests we write a poem starting and finishing with a single word. Over at the Poetry Tow Truck, Diana Vorreyer’s prompt asks for a poem about a musical instrument, and my choice is something I have often thought of as a versatile instrument, the concerted voice of a large choir, played by a superb director.
Ah, delightful, Viv. The shape, word choices, and rhyming lines — superb use of the prompts.
Delightful. I belonged to a choir (well two combined for about) 17 years. Your shape reminds me of a string that has been plucked.
I’m here: http://julesgemsandstuff.blogspot.com/2012/08/wwp-117-strained-elfje-quintet.html
Form enhances content, building up to a crescendo and then back to hush. Great response to the prompt.
I like your shape poem – it fits the subject really well, as it starts soft, then builds before ebbing back to … quiet.
This is just plain wonderful Viv, I could hear it! The shape works really well, and poem sings its way off the page. Brava!
Elizabeth
My favorite line: contralto line flows like milk — I love how you caught all the sounds, the soprano silk and the contralto milk. It is exactly so. The form works great too.
Well done! I like the dynamics and shape… from start to finish.
An amazing poem, not just in form but in content as well. The rhymes were very natural and your words painted a visual and vivid picture — I could easily see the stage, the orchestra, and the singers. Not to mention, your use of the word “quiet” to both open and close the poem conveys both the sense of anticipation just before the music begins and the contrast between music and silence just as it ends. Probably one of your best pieces. Bravo.
-Nicole
Viv, I enjoyed reading your work. Anything involving descriptive sound to conclusion is a pleasure to read.
You’ve left me ‘speechless.’ Well, almost. This is amazing to look at and read. Beautiful!!
A challenging form done so well… and you’ve captured the build up and denouement in both form and word.
So clever….love it!!
wonderfully luxe poem. a pleasure for the minds eye and the tongue.
Oh lovely!! I love it.
I think you need an ‘s’ on ‘reverberate’ though. Will it affect the shape?
yesssss
Do you agree it needs the ‘s’?
grammatically, possibly. but it spoils the shape.
Very clever and effective!
wow !! what an arrangement .. lovely
I worked as an oboist for years and also was a choral piano accompanist. So I especially enjoyed your poem.
You’re good at these shape poems. I have a shape poem, but I can never get it to format properly for bloggings sake,
what’s the trick, please?!
bloody-minded persistence and occasional subversive punctuation!
HA!
How clever! I have learned a new word too – plangent.