The Word from the Corner
Shared on North Andover Poets Corner December 31, 2018
My introduction to poetry has really been through songs and lyrics. Something about the well-crafted music and lyrics from when I grew up in the 60's and 70's has stayed with me. What I get from these songs carries over into the poetry I write and the poetry I appreciate. I always wonder - what is really going on when lyrics and music talk to each other, work as one, and become something more? And are there ways for a poem to capture that music?
A song popped up on my playlist yesterday, and just like that it inspired a poem for me. The song is "Why Worry" by Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. Listen again to the first note of that song (see YouTube link below). You can't even hear him strum or pluck the guitar. It's as if the note just appears in the air on its own accord, as if from the breath of the wind on the strings. So I had to stop, standing in front of Rocky's Ace Hardware, and write the poem that came in response. Go figure! Hope you like it. PS "Why Worry" is something we all need after a rough year.
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Why Worry by Mark Knopfler
Baby I see this world has made you sad
Some people can be bad
The things they do, the things they say
But baby I'll wipe away those bitter tears
I'll chase away those restless fears
That turn your blue skies into grey
Why worry, there should be laughter after the pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now, why worry now
Baby when I get down I turn to you
And you make sense of what I do
I know it isn't hard to say
But baby just when this world seems mean and cold
Our love comes shining red and gold
And all the rest is by the way
Why worry, there should be laughter after pain
There should be sunshine after rain
These things have always been the same
So why worry now, why worry now
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Breathe in the Wind of the World
Oh…breathe in…
A note sounds on the wind, far off, now here, again
I breathe in when the wind of the world moves through me
I breathe in when the wind of the world moves across me
A note sounds on the wind, far off, now here, again
I am brought to life
I breathe, I speak, I sing, I live again
As if I’ve done this before
Which I have, I have
Some time ago
Time must have passed
I remember my last breath
I take another, another, greedy this time
Oh...the wind of the world moves again
I remember that old delicious ache
It speaks, it sings
The wind moves on
It is not done with me yet
Oh...oh...omm
Now it’s up to me
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Why Worry by Dire Straits on YouTube:
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