Sole of My foot Pressing Against Warm concrete Rocking chair Gently Moving me Back and forth As I watch Pines dance Across the way Strong-yet, Graceful One leaning Into the next And the next Then back again Their inspiration Originating from The same Cool breeze That graces My face I am alive And although There are no Instruments No melody There is music All the same
Dust in the Wind by KansasKelley Morris, piano
This song may not match the sentiments of this poem exactly. However, there is one line that stood out to me today. A line I had not given much thought to when I was younger. It really is the simple things.
My mind Can hardly Separate The words From melody Notes rising And falling…one After the other In seasons of distress and grief Can you hear it? I silently sing The phrase As I write- Many times It has entered My thoughts Unannounced… Waiting for A phone call Sitting in a Hospital room Driving to A funeral… The music repeats Easing tension On the last note The last word Of the new phrase My soul has often found relief Listen closely A peaceful Resolution Sweet hour of prayer
I was a little grumpy when I got home yesterday. The reasons don’t matter. But any little thing seemed to grate on my nerves. As my frustration rose, I suddenly had a thought. Why don’t you go to the other room and play your piano?
I don’t know why this solution doesn’t appear faster in my brain.
Sitting down at the piano, I opened one of my favorites, Schumann’s Scenes from Childhood, a beautiful set of short pieces. The first few I played didn’t fit my mood. Then I landed on Reverie. Just what I needed.
After playing it several times, I became curious about the original German title-Träumerei. Reverie is the translation in my edition, and I wanted to make sure my ideas matched the original intent. One definition said, “pleasant reveries, daydreams.”
I got lost in my thoughts, listened to myself play, then wrote this poem. I felt much better. 🙂
Reverie
Staring out The window Dreaming of Sunny days Even though Today is gray Running free Through a Golden field Of sunflowers Rolling Without Reserve Down a Grassy hill Walking Innocently Hand in hand Along a dirt road Daydreaming- Time well spent Lost in thoughts Energy renewed Before heading Back to the now
Reverie from Scenes from Childhood by SchumannKelley Morris, piano
Memories amaze me. They can be stored in our brains for years and suddenly find their way to the surface. Like when a song instantly transports me to another time or place. One I haven’t thought about in years! Then just as quickly, that memory fades, and a new one has filed right along beside it.
One would expect to hear the phrase, “Oh, that brings back memories,” from a grandparent. Or at least from someone who has lived long enough to experience certain milestones. But this week, I gained a new perspective on the subject.
During my First-Grade music class Friday, we sang Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. It was one of those sweet moments where students gathered around the piano, singing as I played. Of course, they immediately asked if they could sing for their teacher when she returned. So, we practiced and got everyone lined up and ready.
And then I heard it. A sweet little voice in the group said, “Wow! That song really brings back a lot of memories!” “Why, yes, it does!” I smiled. This friend has lived on this earth for only six years. But you know, a lot can happen in six years. And just because it occurs in the first six years of life does not mean the memories are any less powerful.
Cheers to making memories and remembering them! ❤ 😉
I decided to try something different this weekend-Simply Sunday. The idea is to show one subject using few words and a variety of forms. Keeping it short and sweet! Enjoy! 💛
Daffodils
Lovely yellow blooms Watercolor memories Brighter in person
Precious, fleeting, brief There is never enough- We want it to slow down, Then speed right back up. I’m speaking about time, of course- Such a fascinating concept We break it down into Hours, minutes, seconds Weeks, months, years To what end? Today, I played A piece of music On the piano Baroque music written Four-hundred years ago Can that be correct? History says it’s so As amazing as the Four-hundred years May sound, the wonder Occurred in one brief moment- The eyes of a child Listening and watching Questioning how those Notes on the page Made their way To my hands
I love playing the piano for my students. The only downside is not being able to teach all of them to play. Someone always asks, and I smile, wishing that was possible. In my dream teaching world, I would have a room full of keyboards. And each student would have the opportunity to experience that note-to-eyes-to-hands connection.
This week while playing, I heard one of them whisper, “That must be a recording.” Then they snuck over and peeked around the side of the piano. Another class was lining up to leave. One little boy said, “One of my favorite things today was hearing you play the piano.”
And one of my favorite things was being able to play the piano for you… ❤
Didn’t take long A few minutes Maybe five My face turned Toward the sun Soaking up its Light and warmth Shifting my Response To this day Cold air was Not a deterrent Favorite blue sweater And soft grey slippers Made certain of that Back inside Warm and cozy Still wearing my Favorite blue sweater I continue to feel The sun on my face Though no longer Standing in the Path of its rays- Didn’t take long A few minutes Maybe five
My friend, Marina, keeps telling me to get outside and soak up some Vitamin D. Today, I finally decided to listen! 😉
We try and try to Measure our lives Days, weeks, months, years The number of seasons We travel can never Accurately measure Our existence What matters most Is often invisible Harder to quantify- The full impact realized, After physical days Have long passed If only our hearts Could be weighed An appraisal revealing The constant flow Of life-giving air Transformed into Actions of love- Actions of love Breathing Life-giving air- Leaving the heart full But never heavy Always overflowing Impossible to measure
I suppose there is something about being in quarantine that makes me think more about time. Particularly being quarantined as a new year begins. But it is ok. As my Mom recently said, “Looking forward to better days!” 🙂 ❤
I have not spent enough time at my piano in recent weeks. So this week, I decided to remedy that. With it being Christmas time, what to play was an easy choice.
As I played through several old Christmas hymns, the word balance kept coming to mind. No matter the context, there are always notes, voices, instruments, rhythms that need to be heard above the rest. And quite often, that spotlight is shared, giving others a chance to be heard.
Even though one voice might not be the momentary focus, it remains essential to the music. Where would that melody be without harmony? Or that jazz riff without the brushes of the drum floating behind it?
When I sat down to play this morning, I began by playing the hymns as written. Though tempting, I did not add any embellishments. My goal was to play so that the melody rang out clearly, while the harmony provided support.
After reading the music as written, I went back and added new rhythms, patterns, harmonies while keeping the melody clear. Both versions required the same thing-balance.
I have said this before, but the only time my brain is calm is while I am playing the piano. Somehow, it provides an inner balance. There is that word again. Outside voices are quieted. Worries of the day temporarily disappear.
Music reminds me that I do not need to raise my voice above the crowds. Although I may have something important to say, unless it is balanced with love for those in hearing range, I should probably remain part of the harmony.
Harmony-that is my prayer for this Christmas. For there to be less shouting and more listening. That we may experience joy amid our sadness. And hope that outweighs our fears. Merry Christmas!
Please enjoy a few Christmas carols! ❤ Kelley Morris, piano
What Child is This?I Heard the Bells on Christmas DatCome Thou Long Expected JesusHark the Herald Angels Sing
Snow is not a common occurrence in Oklahoma. The expectation brings a collective holding of breath. Adults become like little children, waking up all hours of the night to see if the snow is falling.
Today is one of those uncommon days. I was awake several times during the night. At first, all was still and quiet. Doubts began to creep in…the forecast was probably wrong anyway. And then I heard something hitting the roof.
A quick look outside brought disappointment…only rain. According to the forecast, it should be changing to snow in another hour or so. I would hold my breath a little longer.
Finally, the transformation from rain to heavy snow began! It didn’t take long for the grass to turn completely white. Snow-tipped evergreens now graced the backyard. And the snowfall looked like it would last forever.
What is it about snow? It has the power to transform the faded colors of winter into a magical wonderland. Snow makes me feel like a child again-at least in my heart. But most of all, it is a reminder that when all feels bleak, the uncommon gives hope.
In the Bleak Midwinter Kelley Morris, piano
Transformation
Moonlight shines on Snow-covered grass Afternoon clouds Long dissolved Giving stars their Chance to shine Pulsing through The darkness Feathered birds- Cheerful melodies Now quieted- Nestle peacefully Inside their nests While the fox Ventures out to Gather food for pups Sleeping in the den I am tired, but The moon shines Snow is calling- Do I snuggle in Like the birds Or venture out Like the fox? Wisdom says Sleep can wait Give witness to The transformation
