4 Poems (I. Rhapsody in Blue)

Written February 28, 2019

Inspired by: Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin (1898-1937) and the beautiful city of Chicago. I envisioned myself dancing through the city of Chicago to Rhapsody in Blue one day . The daydream was burning in my mind, so I wrote it down. This is from Fantasia 2000 and it inspired me to write the poem:

Like everyone else, I am walking
Not walking, actually, but meandering. 
I am getting lost in this big American Dream forest
Letting its skyscrapers swallow me whole
Like vultures leaning down to inspect 
Examine, lick and devour the lone furry mouse before them.

When I hear the clarinetist warm up the Rhapsody in Blue
With his soaring introduction of seductive syncopations
Drunk with his own wonder and wine
I spin in a little circle 
On the sidewalk, outside The Picasso
Its broad forehead curved into a long snout.
Like that of an anteater.
I stop before the statue as the clarinetist
Continues to slowly heat up the rhapsody 
Toast it to a nice crispy golden brown
With its back-in-the-swing-of-things conclusion
And then I resume my choreography.

The sudden booms, tumbles and clashes of the percussion and 
The rest of the orchestra startles my whole body
Into a passionate frenzy.
I jerk my head
I twist my body 
I spin in a pirouette
My Converses hitting the pavement with each move  
As apathetic pigeons look on and search for breadcrumbs.

After thousands upon thousands of booms, ebbs and crashes
The piece settles into the sweet quiet
Lullaby of the pianist.
I drop quietly to the ground
Tumbling, falling, dancing down to Mother Earth
My body loosens and I loosen it
I stretch out, let the cold slab of concrete take me in
I let it force me to reflect on the calm clouds
That pose placidly in the sky, looking down on us mortals.
They are not busy like us city folk
They are just there to let us dreamers imagine
A more peaceful world, one of less hustle and bustle.

Then the orchestra soaks me with its honey of a love melody. 
The piano soars in its harmonies
My shoulders roll and I slowly rise
Struggling to get up
Oh, the quiet moment of reflection has taken its toll
Putting me in a dormant state
I don't want to leave the ground
But alas, I rise to absorb myself
In the thick juicy love theme vat 
Never let it die, this moment of reflection!
My face contorts
As my eyes wide shut enjoy 
The soaking of the sun's rays upon my grateful eyelids.

I open my eyes
And admire the old
Deep-dish pizza parlor
As the solo piano delicately dances in a
Romantic scintillating monologue
Of long-lost memories, of lovers who stay in the heart 
Of those who remember
I admire The Chicago Theatre
Unlit, dormant until the night falls 
And its dazzling lights scintillate in the pools
Of fresh rain.

I see busy people rushing past me
On their way to work
I only work the night shift at Sally's Beer and Wine
So my day is free to wander and muse.
In rhythm with the busy ones
In rhythm with the rising crescendo of 
the flurried orchestra
in rhythm with the pounding piano keys 
in the key of e flat
rhythms trample me flat like an E key elephant 

then the elephant stops its trampling and
makes way for a grand parade of triumph and pride.
in living color, the Technicolor scheme asserts
itself boldly, I spread my arms in one fell swoop
as the orchestra and the pianist crescendo
and then end with a sharp bang.
my face muscles spread 
in a smile 
of love for my city.

Author: The Arts Are Life

I am a writer and musician. Lover of music, movies, books, art, and nature. View all posts by The Arts Are Life