Top Six Live Music Moments 2018

 Live shows weren't as plentiful in my life as some previous years, however the ones I did see were some of the best ever.  There are some musical moments that stand out in my mind, so here is recap of my top six. I've included videos to share either the magic of the song, or the artist, or both!



6. "Have It All" performed by Jason Mraz. Fort Myers. March.
Jason is the type of performer you can enjoy even if you don't know his music. In an evening that stretched nearly three hours, there were many to choose. This was his final song and a new one he was releasing, and it inspired me greatly. I played this song on the first day of school for all of my classes, and I went to see his film about making the music video. Fun, fun, fun!

5.  "Don't Miss Your Water" performed by Roger McGuinn, Chris Hillman, and Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives. Clearwater. December
This song was written by the fabulous soul artist William Bell, which I never realized until that night. Of all the songs performed that evening, each one a classic, this was the one that moved me the most. I'm putting a live version by Bell here, just because it's so great!

4. "Tomorrow Is My Turn" performed by Rhiannon Giddens. Tampa. April.
I first got into the music of Rhiannon Giddens when I was suffering a health issue. Her music was incredibly healing, and her version of this Nina Simone song was life-changing for me during that particular part of my life. Hearing it live intensified its healing magic for me.

3. "Dear Theadosia" performed by Jin Ha as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. Chicago. June.
Jin Ha was my favorite performer in the production of Hamilton; the emotion he brought to this song was unforgettably moving. I understand he has moved on to another show. I count myself lucky I got to see him in June.  I first saw Jin Ha in the televised live production of Jesus Christ Superstar, and he impressed me then as well.

2. "Everything That Glitters is Not Gold" performed by Balsam Range. Sanibel Island. January.
The vocals. The heartbreak. Buddy Melton's amazing tenor voice. Seeing Balsam Range was a night of humor, music, and artistry. This is one of the best examples: a story of a woman that leaves her family behind for the rodeo. When he hits that pause near the end, my eyes never fail to fill with tears no matter how many times I've listened.

1. "American Tune" performed by Paul Simon. Sunrise, FL. September
The second last song in a two hour concert, the lyrics and Simon's introduction encapsulated everything that needed to be said about our  lives during this era. It was delivered with just Simon on the stage, one spotlight, no screens. Tears flowed. This has always been a favorite of mine, and he gave it the honor it deserves in the American songbook.

Experimental

Today I was longing to write a found poem. After reading four poems by H.D. (Hilda Dolittle), I decided to not only use as the basis for a found poem, but to make it a nonet as well. Here is my experiment.  Got to say, I liked the little internal rhymes that showed up. Thank you, Annmarie, for the title suggestion.

RESOLVED
Only now my heart shell breaks open,

the phoenix dropped a grain of wax.

We are each with a treasure

in the light of both past

and future, gems, gold

things new and old,

dissolved, lost?

Claim it.

Peace.

Smart Girls, Part Two

FLIGHT

Finley aims with a clear eye

Light arrow hits the mark,

Ignoring flights of fancy.

Grounded in her beingness.

Home in herself, and her

Trajectory of success

SHAPES

Sharp mind

Humorous and humble

Anna squares off

Pointing to contradictions

Embracing all conversation

Safe in her circle of knowing

Warm Fire

Cassidy -- a warm fire in a cold world.

Ready for anything, her eyes glittering.

She moves as if in a palace

of her own making, of her

own creation, knows how to be good,

how to stay in deserving graces.

SILVER

Sophisticated and modern

Intuitive and balanced

Living in harmony with others

Velvet fits this girl Ja'kira

Emblem of soft strength

Regal, graceful, and smooth

CREST

Curls rest atop her head

Reaching and rising, Amiyah is an

Emblem of the wave, the hill

Sailing her way to the apex

Taking up her coat of arms

Night Wind

Erica must know

the foreverness of blue sky

the elusiveness of night wind

the voices of mountains

taking her into herself.

 

Hannah Flies

In a moment of clarity

Hannah flies

face as fresh as

a winter day

searching for the high place

believing in

the soundless shadow of love.

STRING

Stretching herself

Threading ideas together

Run of academic success

Intricate movements

Never losing composure

Grounded and centered -- Emily

SILENCE

Spends class time in silence.

It is her right to do so.

Listening, but responding rarely.

Expressing her thoughts carefully.

Navia may not be loquacious, but has

Collected within herself

Everything she will ever need.

* Inspirations *

"Flight" by Twyla M. Hansen

"Urban Renewal XX" by Major Jackson

"Ode to My Mother's Handwriting" by Barbara Hamby

"Spiddal Harbor" by David Whyte 

"Savior" by Maya Angelou

"Fire" by Joy Harjo

"In a Moment of Madness, a Dublin Poet Thinks for an Old Love" by David Whyte

"Call It Fear" by Joy Harjo

"Tuesday June 4, 1991" by Billy Collins

Comfort Food

Today is bittersweet. We are having our traditional Christmas Eve Eve -- a tradition since 2010 when Margie and her family moved to Fort Myers. Although we do not yet know if and when they will move, there are many things in the works. It is fairly evident this is our final Christmas season together in the same state.

I decided to write a nonet about this morning's activities. Good way to process, right? Feeling pretty fine as I wrote, counting syllables, the house full of good smells.

And then that damn Aretha Franklin song came on, and I collapsed into a puddle. I think that song will forever be associated with this particular Christmas season.

Green not alone in summertime,
But in the winter's frost and rime;
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree,
How faithful are thy branches.

This sentiment found its way into my poem.

Happy day to all. Hope you are eating well. Say prayers for our family, please, as we face transition with acceptance and grace.

Comfort Food

I once heard Maya Angelou say

to think of the ones you love while

you are cooking for them. I 

did today while chopping

onions, browning the

meat, carrots.

Some things last.

Comfort.

Food.

This Old Reading Class

This week I had my reading classes fill out a survey (questions listed at the bottom), and it has caused quite a bit of contemplation on my part.  I was even up in the middle of the night thinking about 7th period and what needs to be done there.  It will probably come as no surprise to you that my two classes with 17 kids barely had any complaints, but that the issues rose higher with the number of kids in a class, culminating in my 28-member 7th period being the one with the most issues.

Oh for the days of reasonable class sizes!

Anyway, today I read a poem by David Whyte called "How the Rocks Came to Ireland," and I loved this line:

...the land opened up an old door again.

I decided this was a Golden Shovel poem for me. It is the end of the semester, a time to reflect and make plans to improve. This is my mode of operation every year. Some things never change!

The Door

Going through my student surveys has brought the

necessary messages to land

in front of me, to help me open

up to challenges and possibilities, to change up

what isn't working and bring an

increase of what they need in this old

reading class; their words are the door

I enter to create and innovate once again.

***

Survey questions I got from Pernille Ripp

Would you consider yourself a good student in this class? Why or why not?

Do you use your time well in class? Why or why not?

Do you feel respected by the teacher? Feel free to explain.

What do you wish I wouldn't do, or do less?

How would you realistically change this class?

What do you wish I would notice?

Overall, do you like being a student in this class?

Anything else?

"How shall I begin..."

Today's inspiration is from a wonderful collection called Women in Praise of the Sacred. I am using a healing ritual song from Owl Woman (who lived in American Southwest and had shamanic powers) as my mentor text. The photo is through a screen, so not that great, but I wanted something to represent the general environment I was drawing from in the song/poem.

How shall I begin my song

In the violet morning?

In this day my heart will go out

I will seek peaceful means of expression

In this day, my heart will go out.

The birds are quiet this morning

They have nothing to say

The light has not reached them.

I have walked beaches and woods

As a means to reach the edges inside myself

The trees comfort me, the water soothes.

The light on the horizon is brighter

I will enter this day in presence

and acceptance of all that comes my way.

Aretha sings "O Tannenbaum"

Today I read a poem by Twyla M. Hansen called "Moonrise, Aurora, Nebraska."  These lines stood out:

Look, life is like this, filled

with moments of meaning

and I decided to write an Inner Voice poem, (which also is a monostich, as it turns out) with some additions on the end.

Look, I heard Aretha sing and thought of her

life gone, how the world

is less for the loss of her voice,

like so many who have gone before

this way, we are enchanted and

filled with their presence

with their voices and spirits,

moments in time we treasure,

of memories and connection, bringing

meaning to our daily existence

                         through the grace of music

                         through our calm attention

                         through the lingering silence