See the Music

Mysterious the inner eye
that hears the dancers flying by
across the stage in grand jete’
as woodwind, horn and cello play

And there, just barely in the wings
the graceful ballerina sings
the song of butterfly and swan
to the pirouette of the baton

See the music! hear the dance!
alchemy of pure romance
transforming even sound and sight
into an ever-new delight

 

Ballerina Moth

A tiny ballerina moth
in costume made of fairy cloth
danced around a brilliant light
on each and every Summer night

She leaped and paused and fluttered and spun
on a stage as bright as the noonday sun
and all who saw her were impressed –
her dancing was the very best

And when the Autumn leaves did fall
she made her final curtain call
like all who danced before the light
and will again next Summer night

 

Leaves

We dance but for a moment
swirling in the Autumn breeze
and beneath a snowy blanket
there we spend the Winter freeze

Bursting forth again in Springtime
over valley, wood and glade
and we all join hands in Summer
we the canopy of shade

 

Joe Tessitore is a retired New York City resident and poet.


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25 Responses

    • Joe Tessitore

      Thanks Beth.
      A poem came from my less-than-admirable encounter with you:

      in the shadows…..

      the poem that I’ll never write
      is over there, just out of sight
      could prob’ly see it if I try
      I never do…I wonder why?
      a fleeting glimpse
      and nothing more
      it’s kind of easy to ignore
      could prob’ly catch
      but I don’t chase
      ‘cause then myself
      I’d have to face

      Thanks again!

      Reply
      • E. V. "Beth" Wyler

        Glad to have been of inspiration! Sometimes even in our darkest moments, beauty can be found in truth.

        E. V.

  1. Fr. Richard Libby

    It’s a wonderful thing to appreciate dancing on the stage, and also to be able to see it in nature! You’ve done a good job capturing these moments for us. Congratulations, Mr. Tessitore!

    Reply
  2. Trevor Siggers

    Evocative lines tapped out for you
    I hear the notes on tip-toe rise
    The poet’s music sings as dance
    Before your stagestruck eyes

    Terrific all – the dancer, moth and Autumn’s fall.

    Joe, simply beautiful and thank you for sharing, Trevor

    Reply
  3. David Hollywood

    Very pleasing imagery allied to a pleasant sense of lightness. Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Amy Foreman

    Beautiful poems, Joe, as always! Thank you for these evocative word-pictures.

    Reply
  5. Jenni Wyn Hyatt

    Three beautiful interpretations of dancing, Joe. I love “see the music! hear the dance!”

    Reply
  6. David Watt

    An enjoyable trio of poems with appropriately light and lilting lines. Well done Joe!

    Reply
  7. James Sale

    Some beautiful lines in this; they lift the spirit. There’s also a kind of poetry in the ascription too, isn’t there? The ” retired New York City resident” – have we really retired from New York City, Joe? Where are you, friend? The English language – don’t-ya-just-love-it? It’s ambiguity gives it so much life!

    Reply
    • Joe Tessitore

      Still here in the city.
      Working on one in “dialect “:
      Dante!
      Whaddya say?
      Shakespeare!
      Whaddya hear?

      What’s not to love about the English language?

      Reply
      • David Paul Behrens

        I lived in Washington Heights, the Lower East Side and sometimes in Washington Square Park when I couldn’t book a room in a Bowery Hotel.
        I lived in the city for several years, off and on, during the early seventies.
        I miss it a lot and I envy you if you still live there. Take care, Joe.

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