Drop The Needle

Drop the needle on the record,
Slowly.
Hear the spirits rise.
Raspy, smokey singers voices
Materialize from midnight vinyl,
And turn their velvet phrases,
Into rivers of molten heat
Flowing from golden cords
And chords.
Turn up the volume.
Open weary ears to
Syncopated wails of blue notes,
Riffs and scats,
Sharps and flats,
Rhapsosies,
Of a time before,
When music was born
In wooden shacks
And crooners sold their souls,
At the crossroads. Yes,
Follow flying fingers flayed raw,
On worn strings
And splintered frets.
Inhale the lush fragrance,
Of white gardenias,
And always,
Always,
Drop the needle on the record,
Slowly.

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

Excellent title name, drop the needle! Nowadays it’s rather nostalgic, going back in time where one slowly lowered the arm of the stylus onto the record to the crackling sounds of a 78 hearing Harry Lauder while looking out the window seeing a Model T Ford whizz by, and in the distance a steam locomotive blows the horn, only to hear the door knock and it’s the maid saying dinner is ready and she’s replaced the porcelain bowl under the bed. Yes I’ve gone back beyond my time but how nostalgic. Only bad thing though, there were lots of murders back then hence Father Brown, Bergerac, Inspector Morse were all around then. Nice writing Annette. Enjoyed the trip down memory lane.

[Samuel Dickens]

You're speaking my language. I seriously doubt that young folks today could have half the fun listening to music that we did. Handling the record carefully, dropping the needle slow, studying the album jacket--it was a magnificent ritual of sorts. And another thing--the music of our generation was simply the best there's ever been. (Since Bach, Beethoven and Mozart, at least)

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

I totally agree with you Sam- we were very lucky to have had those indelible and rich experiences. Thank you so much for your words.:))

[Lyn Anderson]

You do your work a disservice by saying it isn't as good as Margie's - different, yes, but equally cool.

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Hi Lyn and thanks so much gor your words!:))

[barleygirl]

I can't believe this! Not only do I love your poem, but I just posted something in a similar vein! You know what they say about two old hippies sharing a musical wavelength! *wink! wink!* Just yesterday I was listening to an America concert on TV & I swooned with "Horse with No Name" came on . . . I was thinking of you . . . & maybe this is why I channeled your musical wavelength into this morning's poem. Back to your poem . . . I love the way you use words that convey musicality with a dynamic sense of movement & all the other senses. The title is the kind of phrase we all wish we'd written! (((HUGS))) Fondly, Margie

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

A Horse With No Name- the best Margie!! Thanks for your awesomely serendipatous (?) words! We Hippies Rock The World! Can’t wait to read ((your)) poem xo

[Crowley]

Annette, this one hits me right between the eyes. A lovely tribute to music, and the people who make it. And making it a bit old school with drop the needle on the record, slowly...that hearkens back to my days as a kid spending all the money I made working on new records, I loved the smell of vinyl!!! Loved this!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Me too Crowley! I started buying 45s and went on to albums. Had a pink suitcase turntable, spindle and plastic adapters, and the state of the art Diamond needle. OK back to present- thank you so much for going retro with me in appreciation of the beauty of vinyl. Whaat- did I hear a scratch? Oh no!:)))))

[emmajoy]

' .. Turn up the volume. - Open weary ears to - Syncopated wails of blue notes, - Riffs and scats, - Sharps and flats, - Rhapsosies, - Of a time before, - When music was born .. '

That and all the words around them, are a two or so minute black and white movie score, along with figutes and smoke. sighs and sweat. You really have created a special atmosphere with this writing and Annette and i'm surprised.. shocked.. to see how a few viewers haven't seen what I've just seen in my mind's eye. So finely laid.. one of your best and you've written quite a few of those!!

[Annette Pisano-Higley]

Thank you so much dear Emma for appreciating this musical trip back in time. Maybe it’s just too dated to be relevant? Well, in any case, even though you’re only a youngster I’m so glad you enjoyed it! Xo