posted on Facebook North Andover Poets Corner
Thursday before last, I got a text from Justin Smalley, Director of the North Andover HS Band:
"Last year I read a poem for the seniors titled last days. Was wondering if you had anything original that you have written that would be appropriate for the last days in the band room?"
"No, I don't", I texted back. "I could find something. Or I'll write it. :-)" He replied, "I like your last option, if you have time."
It would be for the spring concert, coming up the following week. Justin said I could have one page in the program. I had 4 days. So I went to work.
To get things rolling, I sent out a request to close friends, other parents with kids in band, for ideas, memories, memes. Boy, did that help. After my two kids went through the wonderful music program we have in North Andover - after many years supporting them in the North Andover Middle School and High School music programs - you have a lot of memories. I tried to distill it down. I got the theme from what I heard over and over again from the kids. Here is what came out.
Go Scarlet Knight Marching Band!
My First Home
Dut-dut-dut-dut, I feel the beat, I hear the voice. How do I explain?
We’re the ones who put on a show – making music is our choice, our DNA –
Dut-dut-dut-dut, I feel the beat, I hear the voice. How do I explain?
We’re the ones who start a show – while lying in the dirt –
lying there on a cold wet field in a white compression shirt!
I started that first day, a little scared, when I entered that holy room.
Mr. N and Mr. I prepared us – Mr. “e” was friendly – why did I feel such doom?
I knew I could make sounds, but would I make music or just a sonic boom?
What would it be like to perform together, in this symphonic playroom?
Mr. Smalley started with “Be Inspiring”; something happened as the magic spun.
We had our roles in Brass and Reeds, in Woodwinds, Percussion and Drums.
We had our roles in Color Guard and as drum majors; we made music, we made fun.
We became more than a bunch of kids, we became a family, we joined as one.
Black socks. Cream Crew. Mr. Smalley remembers my name!
An American in Africa, Primary Colors, We The People, Checkmate!
Hey band! Hey what? Let’s sing “Hey Baby” in the pouring rain!
Bright lights. Chess pieces. The national anthem on the bus. A 93.8! That’s 93 Point 8!
We played concerts, Pep Band and Jazz Nights. We marched in town parades.
At Williamsburg and the LA Festival of Gold, we worked to make the grade.
We played for the school. We played for the town. We played for all America.
Wow, that Encore performance in Nashville! Get ready, next year, it’s Antarctica!
Off that backstage corridor, I became one of many, one of the chosen few.
In a plain room, my home away from home, something here was new.
In the band room, we made harmony rhyme.
Making art, making music, we also made family time.
At home you find your family – something happened as we rehearsed –
The band room is not my second home, I tell you, it’s my first.
____________________________________________
by Mark Bohrer, Poet Laureate of North Andover
North Andover is the home of the Scarlet Knight Marching Band
PS One of the best things about the Spring concert night was that my son Nick read this poem from the stage at the concert that night.
No comments:
Post a Comment