This is a simple and simply lovely poem by Carl Dennis that masterfully touches on the complexity of music, art, and human interaction.
String Quartet
by Carl Dennis
Art and life, I wouldn't want to confuse them.
But it's hard to hear this quartet
Without comparing it to a conversation
Of the quiet kind, where no one tries to outtalk
The other participants, where each is eager instead
To share in the task of moving the theme along
From the opening statement to the final bar.
....
(Read the whole poem here.)
~~~~~~~~~~
Enjoy your time with this string quartet, and be sure to visit Michelle Kogan for this week's Poetry Friday round-up.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay.
11 comments:
Karen, thank you for this moment - sufficiently free and self-forgetful! :)
Karen, what a sweet message today to listen and be part of the whole. Do visit Tabatha's blog today, if you haven't already. It reminds me of this poem. Have a blessed week.
Wonderful poem! The last two stanzas *chef's kiss*
I saved it. Thanks, Karen xo
Wow, this is powerful and so perfectly apropo today!
I'm channeling that cello. :-)
And I love the message in the final stanza.
It's such a philosophical poem, taking the moment to dissect into parts of our lives; "maybe there's still a chance" seems to be a call for more! Thanks, Karen, for this thoughtful poem!
Thank you for sharing this poem, Karen. When I was growing up, my mother played in a quartet that often practiced at our house. This poem brought me back to those memories.
Thanks, everyone, for your lovely comments! I didn't think anyone had stopped by, as I wasn't getting email notifications of comments! (Blergh! Can't figure out what's happening there.) Anyway, I went straight to the source and found you all here. :)
* Tracey, it's my pleasure to share it!
* Denise, I agree — such serendipity with Tabatha's post! ❤️
* Tabatha, right back atcha!
* Patricia, yes, it's simple and yet so rich.
* Mary Lee, me too!
* Linda, I too love the thoughtfulness here, the way he compares the music to conversation, but also acknowledges the beauty of being a listener, silent but filled with wonder.
* Rose, what a wonderful memory! There's nothing like live music in a home.
I'm here now, too! Finally getting around to everyone's posts after a busy weekend. :)
Listening is perhaps the hardest skill to learn, we all want to be the lead violin, the star of the orchestra, in every conversation. ;-)
I always love thinking of music as a conversation with voices that tell a story through harmony and dissonance. Lovely poem by Carl Dennis. So glad you shared it.
*Jane, I'm running late-ish on getting to everyone else's posts, too. :) Isn't listening always a challenge?
*Janice, yes to that definition of music. I always love to see and hear the way musicians enter into that conversation with each other. They truly are speaking and interacting through their music.
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