Les Deux Magots: ‘The connection of music and poetry’

Writers gathered at the Les Deux Magots, AKA Hill Family tasting room, for our monthly poetry sharing on Jan. 14. Poets captured the personal as well as the universal nature of the connection of music and poetry.

Charles Darwin said, “If I had my life to live over again, I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once a week.”

Geoffry Leigh, inspired by George Harrison’s “Here Comes the Sun,” wrote:

The sun’s snugness relaxes my breath
Extending tranquility through my body
Today I am content in
morning’s intoxicating rays

“Poetry and music are very good friends. Like mommies and daddies and strawberry and ice cream, they go together.” – Nikki Giovanni

I wrote a poem in response to Bob Dylan’s “A Hard Rain’s a-Gonna Fall:”

I journeyed to places where we plundered their all
Then more we stole
the more we believed we were whole
It’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard, it’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall

Trish Hanley used music language in her poem titled “Poem:”

I wish the cadence
of my sorrow
could cradle her in a lullaby
And we could both rest

Michael Waterson and Alan Arnopole strummed their guitars and each gifted us with original songs with amazing lyrics:

Driving On the Bridge to Nowhere
You’re never going to get there
You’re never going to reach the other side – M.W

Nighttime brings on the shades
And whispers a slumbering tune – A.A

Some poems carried with them hints of the music and poetry friendship.

Patricia Reis penned:

Parts of my body tingle
pieces of my heart awaken
Today light is here
Tomorrow is possible

John Petraglia offered a mediative poem:

Its liquid sound hangs in the air
so deeply
richly
so beautifully

Barbara Abbott penned of a mama bird:

Like a Symphony Conductor
Proud mama sang with joy
At the sound of her chirping chicks

Cathy Caarsel shaped a leaving home poem:

I sat in the back seat listening
The staccato violin’s sharp punctuation
With the Beatles singing
She’s leaving after living alone for so many years

Kathryn Goldman’s poem“My Life Soundtracks” revealed that:

Each phrase of my life has its own soundtrack

Spencer Johnson actualized that:

The day breaks cold and grey
tuneless
the trees empty    

Robin Gabbert uses sound extraordinaire in her verse:

His libidinous intentions break into a dozen irreparable slivers and shards

Readers, I leave you with a quote to ponder:

“Poetry is plucking at the heartstrings, making music with them”

Send your thoughts and poems to me, Marianne at [email protected].

Send your thoughts to Marianne Lyon at [email protected]

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