Sunday, August 09, 2009

In C

(Inspired by hearing the musical composition of the same name on the CBC. Click here for a description)

This afternoon, beside the road,
enveloped in C that rushed at me
from four thrumming corners,
long,
like a train on the prairie,
all ground, no figure, I heard
a sudden eruption, like geese
tumbling southward in autumn,
a sea change,
and there they were,
a migrant
flock of chaos fleeing southward
in clumsy formation,
honking,
the contrapuntal beat of wings
figure
against the ground of sound in C,
against the sky in black on grey,
disappearing,
leaving no trace of their passage.




6 comments:

Sheila said...

I'm always impressed by poems that successfully evoke music - John Hayes often does it to great effect and you have too. The internal rhyme is very effective and I particularly like the phrase "all ground, no figure." I know it's a musical comment but it operates almost as a metaphor for a state of mind one might be in driving down a road listening to the radio on a late summer Sunday afternoon.

Rose Marie Raccioppi said...

Each note is of particular significance in my work as a sound therapist. See: http://www.apogeelearning.com/acutone/about.asp
I am taken by the imagery of sound you have created in "C." Most impressive - Well done.

Tess Kincaid said...

You captured this piece perfectly. Yes, geese or the excitement of a train. I loved this.

Sandra Leigh said...

Good morning, Mairi and Rose Marie. Thank you so much. Rose Marie, I'll check out your link right now.

Unknown said...

Really like this--I'm with Mairi (thanks for the kind words, Mairi) on "all ground, no figure," & also wanted to single out the "chaos" line & the "contrapuntal" wings. A very memorable evocation all 'round. & so happy to see you post a poem.

Sandra Leigh said...

Hi, Willow. When the geese flew overhead, I thought their sound was part of the piece. It was only when they appeared in my visual field that I was able to separate the two. It was a very cool experience.

John, I know - and on a Sunday, too! I'm beginning to feel a bit more like myself. Must practice poetry.

Blog Archive