"R-H-Y-T-H-M" Sister Catherine pontificated,
from her desk at the head of the room.
Grade nine. My introduction to rhythm,
to poetry, to the world of words.
My first poem came to me there.
I wrote it down in my spidery scrawl.
***
Gastown, 1972, as I felt personal freedom
for the first time, and began to grow a Self.
Walking into a gallery: Here Comes the Sun
playing on the stereo. Love lying ahead,
just waiting to be discovered.
***
Years later: a gathering of gentle people
in a meadow, just before sunset. The wild notes
of Mullingar rang out: fiddles, violins, drums.
Spontaneously, everyone began to dance,
in a wide circle, around and around the meadow.
My youngest on a friend's shoulders, both grinning.
Joy, as the sun went down on a golden chapter
of my life.
***
2026. Songs of the 70's take me back
to all those joyous times: music, always
leading me, the sound track of my life.
Now they bring tears, for all the hope and dreams
we had back then. For how close we came
to changing the world.
For all that dark hearts have done instead.
For how much we need
to change it back.
***
I enjoyed the glimpses of your life, Sherry. Such a wonderful poetic journey after your first poem in grade 9! I especially liked to picture you amidst the gentle people beginning to spontaneously dance in the meadow. Such a vivid word picture of a few impactful times of your life!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful journey finding the rhythm of words and life - most importantly creating a self - Jae
ReplyDeleteGood memories of your joyful golden time. We are living in dark times at the moment. Nevertheless keep on singing and dancing. I wrote my first poem when I was ten I still remember it but do not remember the thousands of others I have written.:)
ReplyDeleteThe soundtrack of our lives, we all have them. Love your poem, Sherry.
ReplyDeleteA journey to finding rhythm and true beating of your inner heart. Love the dancing freely full of joy.
ReplyDeleteThis was like watching an Oscar winning movie in 200 words!
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful memories - old music is almost always nostalgic - but these dark times overshadow everything. Still you can hold tight to that image of dancing in the meadow with good people.
ReplyDeleteHappiness, joy and nostalgia so beautifully woven, Sherry, from the rhythm of the first poem to the joyful beats of music to a calming contentment in spite of dark words, hearts and the world. "Years later: a gathering of gentle people / in a meadow, just before sunset". Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI so enjoyed "seeing" you there in that time period, Sherry. I think there's nothing more freeing than a good dance session. I'm a child of the 80's and still love the music of those days. "Here Comes the Sun" of course is good no matter the day and age!
ReplyDelete