(re-posted from August – revised)
.
Music rises from her garden,
goes off key and disappears
into the sky.
And so she digs with fingers bared
past dead roots and rotting leaves
into birthing soil -
and there she feels a rhythm
pounding in the earth
and hears a sacred humming
in her ears.
She sprinkles seeds into the hole
and out sprouts a melody
that grows into a tree.
Wind sings in its branches
and for the first time
in her life
she hears the words.
.
© 1996, 2012 Betty Hayes Albright
Oh Betty, this is quite exquisite–I love the whole music theme so much!
Thank you, Caddo!!
This really is extremely beautiful and very appropriate for springtime.
Thank you, Holly!
Betty this is another one that is visceral, even more so when read aloud. Your poetry speaks to me in a way that I find hard to describe.
Thank you
Tricia
I’m glad you feel the poem, Tricia – thank you!
Certainly one of the beautiful and meaningful poems I have ever absorbed…
Paul, thank you!
Loved this. Just the right thing to come across immediately after reading http://skyraft.wordpress.com/2012/04/07/magpies-and-pines/ .
Is this an e-log you follow?
Thank you, Ben! And also thanks for the link. Yes, Skyraft is one I follow, though am far behind on reading their blog (along with so many others). Glad you reminded me – some beautiful nature poetry there!
This is lovely Betty.
Thanks very much, David!
What a beautiful image! Happy Easter XXXX
Thanks, and Happy Easter to you also, Willow!
This is a great poem. Betty, you have such creative ideas and you tell us in such a beautiful way. Love Ethel
Thank you so much for the wonderful compliment, Ethel!
Magical Betty…”into birthing soil “…a beautiful poem
Thank you, Norma – it’s always good to “see” you here!
Sometimes, Betty, you wonder how deep the springs of your poetic roots really go. The idea of this poem is as old as poetry itself, I suspect, branching out into mathematics and science–ever heard of the music of the spheres? But then Betty Hayes Albright puts her hand into early springtime soil, and the flowers of images and words bloom, making the world so fresh and new that you can see the bees and butterflies alighting on the pink blossoms of a wild plum tree. Wow! Do I ever think this is beyond wonderful.
Thomas, my gratitude to you again for your thoughtful comment!
)
Yes, I’ve read about the “music of the spheres” – a concept of octave upon octave of cosmic music… an ineffable experience of the inner, higher senses, a “place” at the core of creativity and divinity – and in physics, the mathematics that reflects this. (Whew! At least that’s my perception of it.
The idea started with the mathematics of Pythagoras, Betty, who developed the Pythagoran theorem and a theory of music. He also developed what amounted to a religion and deeply influenced Plato, although, the truth is, that much of his work is clouded by time. You’ve basically got the idea right on, and it applies to much of your poetry, at least it a metaphorical sense.
Thanks, Thomas – I didn’t remember where “music of the spheres” originated, but have come across it many times in various mystical literature. Both Plato and Socrates were mystics in a sense (though not known for that, I don’t think – they were just known as “philosophers”) so I can see why Plato was attracted to the idea – but maybe more as a metaphor? Need to refresh my memory. (It’s been many years since studying the old philosphers, can you tell?
)
I love this poem, it is full of joy and the rhytm is like the movement of seeding
Thank you, Ina!
I like these three lines.
She sprinkles seeds into the hole
and out sprouts a melody
that grows into a tree.
Thank you, Harry – for liking my “singing tree”.
Betty! The applause you hear is coming from all the branches of all the trees around you. Oh, and I am clapping, too. Bravo. You planted a seed that grew into a big, beautiful bouquet of words.
Thank you, Peter – I’m headed outside to walk among the trees and will listen for that applause.
(It seems we all have a spiritual connection to trees, whether we know it or not. Hard to explain, but it’s real!)
Betty! “Unlike our rooted cousins, we lack their inner peace” wrote my Dad, David Fulton from his poem: There Are Trees In Heaven,
whew… thank you for sharing this powerful poem… i have spent part of my day with a tree… at its base was beautiful quartz stones that seemed to have gathered there to be at the feet of this wise master tree. Each stone was nestled in earth and moss looking cozy and seemed so happy to be there… i took my place at her feet as well… i was reminded of the pure love energy of nature, and that i am a student and gratefully so… ~ Jason
Jason, thanks for sharing your experience. You should write a poem about that – the tree, the quartz in the moss, that “pure love energy of nature”. It’s so real when we’re open to that Voice!
Oh…such a beautiful image you create with your words…loved it.
This is exceptionally beautiful.
Thank you for visiting, Ruth – and for your nice comment. (I’ve just read a little on your own blog and resonated to your lovely poetic prose!)
Betty this is fabulous!
Words and music all swirling round each other into a beautiful harmony! That’s how it feels for me!!:)
Much Love
Christine
Christine, thank you once again! I always appreciate your great comments.
(And again I’m behind on blog reading – will try to visit yours and a few others today!)
Just totally fabulous to plant a seedling and hear a melody sprout forth! Betty, this is my new favorite of yours!
Thanks very much, Granbee!!
Beautiful use of imagery, Betty…like ‘birthing soil’
I always enjoy your work so much!
Diane, thank you again for all the comments you’ve left today! And that goes both ways – I always love your poetry and paintings.
Another beauty, and I love these lines, Betty:
“She sprinkles seeds into the hole
and out sprouts a melody
that grows into a tree.”
Thank you again, Lauren!
I love your imagery Betty and the flow
Thanks very much, Jane!