Friday, September 16, 2022

Kincaid Woods September 16, 2022

Thursday, September 15, 2022

Walker Avenue Wetlands September 15, 2022

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Hanks Pond East September 14, 2022

Tuesday, September 13, 2022

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