Where are the semitones I need,
the gentle climb, fall, steps of ease,
stave, cleft and bar, spread manuscript
saved by clear grace notes in the mix?
Expensive sound is diverse thought,
the grander vision, insight shared,
community, both living, dead,
the passing dreams, tomorrow’s hopes.
If all is hard, contrast distinct,
steer black and white, claimed obvious,
then life resists such ornaments,
poor harmony, stark melody.
Both scale and key is in our play,
not solo, but the orchestra;
what programme the photographer’s
notes, screening flashes on the stage?
Stephen Kingsnorth (Cambridge M.A., English & Religious Studies), retired to Wales from ministry in the Methodist Church due to Parkinson’s Disease, has had pieces published by on-line poetry sites, printed journals and anthologies, including Poetry Potion.
His blog is at https://poetrykingsnorth.wordpress.com/