The Big Licorice

I think this was a contest or challenge regarding a musical instrument.

 

The Big Licorice

 

I am my own voice, my own tune,

fighting for my few minutes of fame,

not the licorice stick

laughing gull of a b-flat clarinet,

nor the jazzy brass

of some sultry tenor sax,

but a deeper vibration

drawn from thick dark wood

and my nickel-plated bell and neck.

I am smooth as a cool salty breeze

on a warm, starlit August night.

And my mouthpiece and those reeds,

the fattest of any woodwind,

are just asking for a strong mouth

and firm full lips

to send steady waves of sound

down my smooth gullet,

to shimmer in expectant air,

skim acoustic tiles and float suspended

above rich maroon velvet seats,

occupants barely hearing

the deep tones of my contribution.  

But it’s there, in the warm undertones

of a full size band,

as I march in formation

at this year’s homecoming game,

in the melody of a sweet woodwind quintet.

My bass sounds take flight

nimble as a bumble bee,

but ready to sing

the deepest songs of your soul.

 

 

Reviews

[Pamela]

Wonderful. This poem conjures up all the senses, sight, sound, hearing and feel. From the breath from your lungs to the resonant sound from the barrel you take the reader through the whole experience. I love your dispatch of the other 'unworthy' instruments.

Sexy too
send steady waves of sound
down my smooth gullet,
to shimmer in expectant air

Terrific, well done.

[Phantom Heart]

"I am smooth as a cool salty breeze
on a warm, starlit August night."

Wonderful piece. A tasteful, mellow vibe.

[Nik]

"not the licorice stick
laughing gull of a b-flat clarinet,"

nicely done

[Kai]

"My bass sounds take flight
nimble as a bumble bee,
but ready to sing
the deepest songs of your soul."

Amazing line. Its impressive to see someone take something so simple as an instrument and refrom it into something so beautiful.

[Bdempsey]

congratulations on winning the contest! My favorite section was:
are just asking for a strong mouth
and firm full lips
to send steady waves of sound
down my smooth gullet,
to shimmer in expectant air,

I love how this so clearly describes the motion of the sound. You can picture it flowing through the instrument. Well done and well deserved victory!

[Debra Stevens Edwards (..]

As smooth flowing as the instrument you wrote about. I loved the description and how you made your words take on the flow of the music. great job.
Debby

[Talon Sjostrom]

I like the imagery and sounds this piece expresses, especially the bass. The bass is the deepest sound, could also express your deepest feelings, they go hand in hand, I think. Smooth, I liked it

[K Antonacci]

Mmm, delicious. I loved how you described pretty much every facet of the instrument and what an instrument can aspire to be/have/want

"are just asking for a strong mouth
and firm full lips
to send steady waves of sound
down my smooth gullet"

Beautiful!
Love,
K

[Monet Fielding]

I really love your word choice in this piece...especially the opening. Well done! Thank you for sharing this.

[Linda Crawford Ortiz]

A feast for the senses! Taking on a voice, the clarinet in first person, really brought life to the world of the music. Your melody and the photo were icing on the cake of a beautiful write.

[Siege Powell]

I was really excited when i read the title, I myself being a bass clarinet of 8 years now, you really have captured the essence of the player and the instrument in this piece. I really really enjoyed this bravo!! Absoluetly amazing, i love the imagery, well done well done!