Hanks Pond East September 14, 2022

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solo

The sound of a clarinet

That is music to my ears

The instrument I played years ago 

Performing in the school band

I have taken it up again recently 

Playing only when I am alone

Considering no one else has to hear

The first faltering notes that I produce

An occasional squeak or squawk

But otherwise it's good and it flows

Easily remembering the fingering

Eyes straining a bit to read the sheet music

There are phrases I play for fun 

When I am just warming up making it up

Enjoying the ad lib song of myself

Before I turn to practicing classical tunes

My favorite melodies come back to me

Familiar pieces played with metronomic rhythms

Especially Bach's rather insistent repeating variations

Keeping time like a tick tock clock 

But then that's what I hear in my head later 

As we walk along at a steady pace 

Our synchronous footsteps beat out the notes

From Sleepers Awake and Brandenburg Concertos

 

Ramapo Valley September 13, 2022

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cautious optimism

At times I feel a tightness in my chest 

Needing to take a deep breath

Holding onto hope for your remission

Holding back my fearfulness

There is reason for cautious optimism

About the test two months from now 

The interim results are the best yet

Though the level needs to drop further

There's a good chance that happens

But last time it bounced back up

So we keep our fingers crossed

Against another disappointment 

One sure thing amid the uncertainty

After a young life upended by a diagnosis

After a year immersed in medical interventions 

You are so ready to make a new start

The loss of innocence my sweet child

In appreciation of what you have been through

The waiting that now weighs on me

For you is managed through acceptance

You have gone above and beyond

Getting the very best treatment possible

And now you are preparing yourself

To get on with your life come what may