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 hear it first in my memory Although the words escape me The tune is clear One note leading to the next And the next and on and on A flawless string of sounds Floating thru the air Seamless as a priceless String of pearls Made perfectly complete as The notes in my head move From my thoughts thru My eyes, my ears Traveling the path to My tired, aching fingers Breathing life back into These tired, weary bones
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
Impossible to count The many notes Played in places Near and far On pianos, grand And ordinary Yet, in certain Circumstances Melodies hang In the air of My memories As if sounding For the first time… I remember sitting At a familiar piano My hands playing Precious hymns Honoring a life- My Grandma’s- The music of both Joy and sorrow Where each note Carries its own tear Easing the grief While lingering In the heart
Some faces are no longer present, but their presence remains strong. Such is true of my Grandma Mahar. I smile, remembering the many Christmas Eves spent at her house. And while this poem is not about Christmas, I hope it brings honor to her memory.
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
I can’t think of too many birthdays or Christmases for our children that did not include Legos of some kind. There were superheroes, Star Wars, dragons, even the Friends coffee house for Rachel last year. Some of the more intricate sets remain on display.
I remember watching in amazement as they tore through the instruction booklets. It seemed like building times grew shorter as complexity grew harder. Pieces were sorted according to numbered bags, carefully following each step. A sense of accomplishment once each piece was in its place.
Several months ago, I read a story about a new Lego creation-a baby grand piano. The creator’s wife is a pianist, influencing his idea. Amazingly, this piano was to have working parts, gears, Bluetooth-somehow allowing it to actually play music. Even the piano bench would be adjustable-every pianist’s dream!
Casually I mentioned how cool it would be to have that set. Of course, the actual process of building it didn’t enter my mind. I was, however, fascinated with the final outcome.
Yesterday, we had an early birthday celebration for me and our oldest son, Robert. We share a birthday. Our family loves us so well. We each received thoughtful gifts pertaining in some way to our interests.
But I bet you cannot guess what gift I received from my husband. Yep! That grand piano Lego set! I felt like a little kid on Christmas morning. ❤
As I type, my dining room table is covered with bags of tiny pieces-twenty bags. Wait, now there are nineteen bags. With a little help and supervision, I put together the first two bags last night. 😉
This project will challenge my patience and fine motor skills. It will help me explore other areas of creativity, different from my usual. It will be good for my brain. But most of all, it will be good for my heart. Reminding me how much I am loved and that everything really does come full circle-even Legos.
Sleepy eyes Sun shines in Warms the body Mends the heart An intentional Slowing down Taking time to Look around Notice each Speck of color Hear each Color of sound Listen as the Breezy melody Sings with the Shifting winds Watch as it Compels the Changing leaves To wave hello
Daydream Believer by The Monkees. Kelley Morris, piano
This was the number one song on Billboard Charts the day I was born. Seems appropriate. 😉 ❤
These are difficult days. So many questions, so much confusion, so many tears. Yesterday’s rain reminded me that we have hope. And though there are more hard days ahead, we cannot give up. We must come together, lift each other up, and continue on…one step and a time. ❤
Raindrops teased All morning long Falling a few At a time With quiet Drip-drops Barely enough To dampen my hair By late afternoon The sky grew dark- No longer playing Their little game, The frightened raindrops Huddled together Creating steady streams Flowing down from Cloud to ground- Proving there is Strength in numbers, The brave raindrops Transformed themselves Into a wall of water Like a transparent curtain Hanging from the sky- Suddenly, the curtain fell No longer flowing From cloud to sky Now a blanket of water Flowing downward Across the landscape Carrying away All the sorrows Of the day- And the sun began to shine.
“Have You Ever Seen the Rain” Kelley Morris, piano
Someone told me long ago There’s a calm before the storm I know, it’s been comin’ for some time When it’s over, so they say It’ll rain another day I know, shinin’ down like water
I want to know, have you ever seen the rain? I want to know, have you ever seen the rain? Comin’ down on a sunny day