The Saturday prompt presented by Stu over at dVerse Poetics this week is: OUR Music. The following is where my mind went this morning when I sat down to write about the subject. It starts with a familiar occurrence, and ends with… well, you’ll have to read it to find that out.
When the Music Stops
A song playing over
And over and over
One that slips in unbidden
Filling the mind
With just the one line
Like an old forty-five
Hitting the spot where the grooves
Are interrupted by carelessness
Or impatience
Pushing the needle to a place where
I can’t stop loving you
It’s useless to say
While other times the words aren’t even
The right ones
But what you wish them to be
Or how you perceived them
So you just live your life
In faded dreams of yesterday
Often, you try to force the song
From your thoughts
Finding it impossible
Though nothing is
And choose another to take its place
Eventually cursing that one, as well
Hearing the rage of an angry father
Now coming from your lips
Turn that crap off!
But… what is it he wanted you to hear
What is it you want to hear
Music changes as times change
The heart of man changes
And at one point all music
Will be the same
For both father and son
And the silence will be not golden
For in the end, should it be final
And your heart be empty
All that will be heard is
White noise
Copyright © 2012 C. Mashburn
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Mary said
Yes, one day all music will be the same…a somber reminder. Some songs DO stick in your mind like glue. For me too. Thankfully, with an iPad one can privately indulge and play them over and OVER and OVER.
charlesmashburn said
No iPad yet. I don’t listen to music as much as I used to.
Thanks for the visit and comment, Mary!
claudia said
nice..music changes as times changes as the heart of man changes…could identify with the pushing the needle to a certain place..took me back to childhood when i listened with my friend to her brother’s records when he was out of the house..ha.. the white noise ending gave me a bit of a chill but i get what you mean..
charlesmashburn said
The ending seemed natural, as I tried to explore what music was, is, and might be. So much a part of all our lives, and a subject one could study forever. One of those things I imagine future civilization uncovering and being totally confused by. Or going back in time and playing all the different types of music for a caveman. Okay… now I’m gettin weird.
Thanks for the visit and comment, Claudia!
brian miller said
i hope that its not white noise in the end with me…i’ll sing while i have the chance…there are songs though that def stick in your head and wont let go…ugh…ha…you capture well the distance that can form between father and son when we dont take the time to understand each other…
charlesmashburn said
I keep waiting to see if someone will notice the two lines near the end, and I think you and Stu may have seen them, though perhaps they didn’t grab you and speak to you:
For in the end, should it be final
And your heart be emptyBy those lines, I am saying I do not believe it will be white noise. I personally believe it will be music beautiful beyond our comprehension.
Thanks for the great comment, Brian!
ordinarylifelessordinary said
Oh Charles, I really like this one, especially the closing lines. Great piece.
charlesmashburn said
I think, perhaps, you see what I am saying in those “finishing” lines.
Thank you for the read and comment, Vanessa!
poemsofhateandhope said
Very good…and a great take on the prompt. Music changes us, makes us remember things good and bad….but you are right ….eventually all we will hear is that white noise- I kind of hope not though – I hope it’s something beautiful….very thought provoking
charlesmashburn said
I think it will be beautiful, Stu. I really do.
Thanks for the visit and terrific comment!
zongrik said
music changes as time changes, but we all have an ear that is developed to a certain sound
the river
charlesmashburn said
Yes, it does, and we do!
Thanks for the visit and comment!
vivinfrance said
The change of mood in the middle made this a fascinating poem to read.
charlesmashburn said
When writing it, Viv, I did not sense the big shift. But, Sherry noticed it immediately and really liked it,as well. Thank you for the kind words!
leahJlynn said
I like you use the visual of an old school record player.
http://leah-jamielynn.typepad.com/blog/
charlesmashburn said
Wel, doggone it,Leah; I’m old, and old fashioned!
Thanks for the visit and comment!
markwindham said
a nice piece Charles. beginning to end I enjoyed it.
charlesmashburn said
I’m really glad you enjoyed it, Mark! Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment!
Laurie Kolp said
Wow… amazing piece. I like the reference to the 45s and hitting the spot where they groove.
charlesmashburn said
Oh! An “amazing” comment with a Wow to boot! Thanks, Laurie!
I appreciate the wonderful visit!
pandamoniumcat said
Love my old record player, my husband and I usually fighting over what record to play next…we’re like little children music…it’s funny… music does change and I know my tastes have changed… Great poem with a strong ending!
charlesmashburn said
We don’t have an old player, but it would be a cool thing to have. I wish I had all my old 45s and LPs from back when they were all there was. I breathed music back then; oxygen was secondary.
Thanks for the great comment, Dianne!
Nikhil Jain said
Loved this….
charlesmashburn said
I’m glad you like it, and I appreciate the visit and comment!
Sherry Mashburn said
The music will never stop . . . it remains forever in my heart.
charlesmashburn said
I know that!!
shanyns said
There is something eternal about music, and even when the listener or the player is gone, the music carries the memories for us. And I believe we carry that with us in our hearts forever. I love this!
charlesmashburn said
Thank you very much, Shanyns! Your visit and comment are very much appreciated!
shanyns said