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      January 26, 2023
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      ‘Look Up and See the Music’ by James A. Tweedie

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      January 26, 2023
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poem/stars/music

‘Look Up and See the Music’ by James A. Tweedie

The Society
January 26, 2023
Beauty, Music, Poetry
12 Comments
. Look Up and See the Music Psalm 19:1 In winter, when the atmosphere is still And cold, and when the nighttime sky is clear, The stars and planets, fire and ice, blast chill- Blazed, hot-white light so bright...
poem/music/Burns/auld lang syne

A Classical Guitar Rendition of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ for Burns Night, by Jeff Eardley

The Society
January 25, 2023
Culture, Music, Poetry
17 Comments
. Burns Night is when Scotland's most important bard, Robert Burns (1759-1796), is celebrated, usually with the recitation of Burns' poems, the eating of haggis, and the drinking of whiskey. It occurs on...
poem/woodruff/wef/davos 2023

A Poem on the World Economic Forum’s Davos 2023, by Julian D. Woodruff

The Society
January 23, 2023
Culture, Music, Poetry
20 Comments
. WEF, Davos, ‘23—A Modern Reply after “Endless Pleasure, Endless Love”* Endless hooey, endless snow, We’re exposed to here below. Ever on their riches leaning, Our tormentors strew their lies; While...

‘On Attending a Holiday Ensemble with My Wife’ by Jeremiah Johnson

The Society
December 27, 2022
Beauty, Music, Poetry
8 Comments
. On Attending a Holiday Ensemble with My Wife We’re gathered in a colleague’s home, Invited to this performance; Watching musicians’ fingers roam, I’m taken to when providence Crossed mine with Dr....

Classical Guitar for Christmas Performed by Poet Jeff Eardley

The Society
December 23, 2022
Culture, Music, Poetry
25 Comments
. A Christmas medley by poet Jeff Eardley: . . Jeff Eardley lives in the heart of England near to the Peak District National Park and is a local musician playing guitar, mandolin and piano steeped in the...

A Translation of Martin Luther’s Christmas Hymn Vom Himmel Hoch by James A. Tweedie

The Society
December 23, 2022
Culture, Music, Poetry, Translation
20 Comments
. Vom Himmel Hoch by Martin Luther (1483-1546) translation by James A. Tweedie 1. From highest heaven I here befall To bring a good news tale to all. So much I want this tale to bring To tell it I will gladly...

‘The Tartini Tones’ by Joseph S. Salemi

The Society
December 18, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
17 Comments
. The Tartini Tones Combination tones generated by violins of good quality can be easily heard, affecting the perception of the intervals. The harmonic content of the dyad is enriched by the combination tones...

A Poem for Donald Trump: ‘Nessun Dorma’ by Monika Cooper

The Society
December 6, 2022
Beauty, Blank Verse, Music, Poetry
4 Comments
. Nessun Dorma after the Italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni  The aria "Nessun Dorma" was played for Donald and Melania Trump's first dance at their wedding in 2005. No sleep tonight.  The...

Thomas Payne’s ‘Liberty Tree’ Set to Music by Jack DesBois

The Society
November 27, 2022
Culture, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics
7 Comments
. A contextual note: The American patriot Thomas Payne wrote "The Liberty Tree" early in the American Revolution; it was published in the Pennsylvania Magazine in July 1775. Payne wrote the song to be sung to...

Two Poems by Victor Hugo, Translated by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
November 5, 2022
Love Poems, Music, Poetry, Translation
10 Comments
. Guitar by Victor Hugo (1802-1885) Translated by Joshua C. Frank Gastibelza, the rifleman coming to town, Sang loud and clear: “Has someone seen Doña Sabina around, Someone from here? O villagers, sing...

‘Carcassonne’ and Other Poetry by Gustave Nadaud, Translated by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
September 21, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Humor, Music, Poetry, Translation
18 Comments
. Carcassonne by Gustave Nadaud (1820-1893) Translated by Joshua C. Frank “At sixty years, I’m getting old, And I’ve been working all my days Not being able to behold Fulfillment of my wishing gaze. I...

‘Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko

The Society
September 2, 2022
Culture, Music, Poetry
20 Comments
. Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition  Although this mad world’s headed for perdition, Don’t cower or wring hands with misery. Spines straight, my friends! Choose gumption and ambition Just like the...

‘A Stranger in Your Land’ by Damian Robin, After Dimash Qudaibergen

The Society
August 16, 2022
Beauty, Music, Poetry
12 Comments
. A Stranger in Your Land after Dimash Qudaibergen’s song “Stranger”  A lonely stranger in your land__where you are strange to me,underfoot, your rock and sand__enfold your land, your sea. I haul my...

‘Lament of the Little White Horse’ by Paul Fort, Translated by Joshua C. Frank

The Society
August 13, 2022
Beauty, Music, Poetry, Translation
11 Comments
. Lament of the Little White Horse by Paul Fort (1872-1960) Translated by Joshua C. Frank The little horse in the weather so dread, What courage he had inside! A little horse as white as white bread, All...

‘Byrd in Flight’ and ‘Summer Sunday Baroque’ by Cynthia Erlandson

The Society
August 10, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
24 Comments
. Byrd in Flight The surplice-vested, five-part choir, Like sparrows on a five-tiered wire, Gives flight to canticles of Byrd. The flocks of lightweight, living notes Ascend to where celestial thoughts Send...

Percy Bysshe Shelley Poem Put to Music for Death Commemoration, by Guntbert Markefka

The Society
July 7, 2022
Beauty, Love Poems, Music, Poetry
5 Comments
. . Introduction Percy Bysshe Shelley was born August 4, 1792 and died in a boating accident on July 8, 1822. To mark the 200th anniversary of his death, Guntbert “Gunny” Markefka and the Powerpoets...

‘On Palestrina’s Music’ by Margaret Coats

The Society
June 30, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
27 Comments
. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NHUuaA8DKiQ . On Palestrina's Music Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum, Ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus. Psalmus 41:2 As the deer desires springs of water, So my...

A Translation and Musical Setting of Victor Hugo’s Poem, ‘Demain, dès l’Aube,’ by James A. Tweedie

The Society
May 9, 2022
Beauty, Music, Poetry, Translation
11 Comments
. "Tomorrow, at Dawn" Sung in English . "Tomorrow, at Dawn" Sung in French . Tomorrow, at Dawn by Victor Hugo (1802-1885) Translation by James A. Tweedie Tomorrow, when the countryside is kissed by...

‘Lost Song’ by Jack DesBois

The Society
April 9, 2022
Beauty, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics
10 Comments
. https://youtu.be/LllN9NflfR8 . Lost Song A compass that won’t point the way, And a map of the faraway skies… I once was a child of grace; No matter the country I trod My feet found the path in its...

‘Dueling Violins’ by Tamara Beryl Latham

The Society
March 18, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
10 Comments
. Dueling Violins Yanni, Karen Briggs and Shardad Rohani live at the Acropolis in 1993 Anticipating each half-note he brings to life, her fingers stretch to find the grooves. Perfection springs, as sound is...

Share Your St. Patrick’s Day Poetry (with Music by Jeff Eardley)

The Society
March 17, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
15 Comments
. Happy St. Patrick's Day! Share your St. Patrick's Day Poetry in the comments section below. While writing and posting, enjoy an Irish medley of songs, “Chief O Neil’s” followed by “The Red-Haired...

‘Young Strongbow’: An Anonymous American Ballad Presented by Jack DesBois

The Society
March 6, 2022
Culture, Music, Poetry, Readings, Song Lyrics
7 Comments
. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaAv09XqwAY . Young Strongbow anonymous American ballad (Words in parentheses are alternate lyrics suggested by other extant versions of the song.) To Dartmouth’s...

‘Salieri on Mozart’ by Brian Yapko

The Society
February 26, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
26 Comments
. Salieri on Mozart More wine, Signore... Should I say mein Herr? I know! French cognac. Spirits help me share Dark thoughts. Now listen. I take one full year To pen these operas Kaiser Josef lauds; Then you...

A Valentine from Geoffrey Chaucer, Margaret Coats, and James A. Tweedie

The Society
February 14, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Love Poems, Music, Poetry, Readings, Rondel, Translation, Video
21 Comments
.   https://youtu.be/3XWcnISYGSE . Rondel for Saint Valentine's Day by Geoffrey Chaucer (c.1340–1400) | modernized in the original lyric form by Margaret Coats Now welcome, springtime, with your gentle...

‘Ode to Joy’ and Other Poetry by Brian Yapko

The Society
February 5, 2022
Beauty, Covid-19, Culture, Music, Poetry
29 Comments
. Ode to Joy My final symphony---my best by far!--- Which crowns a challenged life of brilliant works. Vienna’s finest came! Some from afar: Nobility, musicians, Prussians, Turks. A triumph! Yet it made my...

‘Bach in Heidelberg’ by Lionel Willis

The Society
January 27, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry
7 Comments
. Bach in Heidelberg for Marjorie Bach’s chorus didn’t leave us much to say After the Easter Monday concert in The Holy Spirit Church. Taking our way Over the Old Bridge seemed like we’d just...

‘To Tchaikovsky’ by A.N. Apukhtin, Translated by Olga Dumer

The Society
January 22, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Translation
13 Comments
. To Tchaikovsky by A.N. Apukhtin (1840-1893) | Translated from Russian by Olga Dumer With my musician friend’s departure A minor key pervades my lines. Yet, like a fugue’s evolving texture, Old...

An Excerpt of Jack DesBois’s Western Star for Epiphany: January 6, 2022

The Society
January 6, 2022
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics
4 Comments
. https://youtu.be/dYyxThEY71o . An Excerpt from The Western Star for Epiphany, January 6, 2022 The road stretched out forever in the morning, giving Balthazar plenty of time and space for thought. The...

‘Forever and Evermore’ by Margaret Hunt Brisbane, Put to Music by Gunny Markefka

The Society
January 2, 2022
Beauty, Found Poem, Music, Poetry
12 Comments
. Introduction In a second-hand bookshop, located in the French Quarter (New Orleans), I discovered a poetry book by Margaret Hunt Brisbane (1858-1925). It had been in mid spring of 2005, a couple of months...

Three for Christmas Day: Poetry and Music by James A. Tweedie

The Society
December 25, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics
12 Comments
. Introduction Each year I compose or arrange music in celebration of Christmas. This year I have created three arrangements of familiar Christmas music, each introduced by a poem. The organ piece is based on...

‘A Wretch Like Me’: a Christmas poem by Joe Tessitore, set to music by Jack DesBois

The Society
December 25, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Video
10 Comments
. https://youtu.be/fx3NidSVFKk . A Wretch Like Me by Joe Tessitore To miss the mark, to lose my way,To choose the dark, on Christmas Day.No star I see, no Virgin Birth,No joy for me, no peace on earth. But...

Two Poems by Bécquer, Translated by Cheryl Corey 

The Society
December 18, 2021
Beauty, Culture, Music, Poetry, Translation
10 Comments
. The Harp  by Gustavo Bécquer | from Spanish by Cheryl Corey Obscured by corner shadows, gathering dust, perhaps forgotten over time—there stands the silent harp. So many hidden notes entombed on muted...

‘Bidenflation’ to the Tune of ‘Tomorrow’ by Will Spiller

The Society
December 15, 2021
Humor, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics
1 Comment
. . Bidenflation to the finale of “Tomorrow” from the musical Annie Fuel prices go up Tomorrow Bet your shrinking dollar that tomorrow They will soar! Inflation will rise Tomorrow All the things you...

‘There Was a Free Nation That Swallowed a Lie,’ Nursery Rhyme Sung by Jack DesBois

The Society
December 12, 2021
Beauty, Covid-19, Humor, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics, Video
13 Comments
. There Was a Free Nation That Swallowed a Lie sung to the tune of "There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly" . https://youtu.be/luLcKkCHWFo There was a free nation that swallowed a lie. I don’t know why...

‘A Vagabond Song’ by Bliss Carman, Put to Music by Jack DesBois

The Society
October 31, 2021
Beauty, Music, Poetry, Readings
7 Comments
. . A Vagabond Song by Bliss Carman (1861-1929) There is something in the autumn that is native to my blood -- Touch of manner, hint of mood; And my heart is like a rhyme, With the yellow and the purple...

‘Why Freedom Had to Die’: A Song by Jack DesBois

The Society
October 6, 2021
Covid-19, Humor, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics, Video
3 Comments
. https://youtu.be/ErwnJkA4G68 inspired by a T-shirt at a Boston freedom rally You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. You may be wondering why Freedom had to die. If you were wondering why Freedom had...

‘Biden Blues’ for the 4th Worldwide Demonstration for Freedom, by Jack DesBois

The Society
September 19, 2021
Culture, Music, Poetry
24 Comments
. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fhNIScHrUOM&t=4s . Biden Blues When I was just a kid,I’d shout and I’d refuse.My mama taught me, be polite,Taught me the words to use:No thank you, Joe; no thank you,...

‘California Wildfires’ to the Tune of ‘California Dreamin,’ by Margaret Coats

The Society
September 17, 2021
Culture, Humor, Music, Poetry
25 Comments
. California Wildfires to the tune of “California Dreamin’” All her landscape bronzed, Her breezes ashen gray, What can Cali dream on, Despoiled and rechauffée? Never safe, too sultry In her disarray ....

A Vaccine Mandate Protest Song by Jack DesBois

The Society
August 30, 2021
Covid-19, Music, Poetry, Song Lyrics, Video
91 Comments
. Waking Up (Freedom Doesn't Come in a Can) A Protest Song Written and Performed by Jack DesBois I was lying in my bed, Waiting for the day to start, Waiting for the sun to get me on my way, And I...

‘Riots Everywhere’ by Jeff Kemper, After Hank Snow’s ‘I’ve Been Everywhere’

The Society
July 11, 2021
Culture, Music, Poetry
28 Comments
. The below poem is a memoir of the summer of 2020, to be sung to the tune of “I’ve Been Everywhere,” with apologies to Geoff Mack and Hank Snow. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6JSfp6Az3k . I was...
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Resources

       Online Teacher’s Poetry Guide

       How to Write with Meter

       Poems of the Year

       Best Love Poems of 2021

       Best Haiku of 2022

 

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Trending Poetry

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  • ‘A Holy Picnic’ and Other Poetry by Sally Cook 31 comments
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  • poetry poem beauty culture death funeral ‘Elegy for an Unremarkable Man’ by Shaun C. Duncan 24 comments
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  • ‘A Broadside’ by Peter Lillios 17 comments

Resources

          1. How to Write a Sonnet

          2. How to Write a Haiku

          3. How to Write a Limerick

          4. Best Poems of 2019

          5. Best Haiku of 2020

          6. Poetry Lesson Plan

          7. Poetry Contests

 

 

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