Mercury, Wandering Star

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Having been partially deaf since the age of four, I am not as avid a music fan as I might have been otherwise. Even so, a friend persuaded me to accompany him to a Queen concert once and I have to say it was a truly, unforgettably, enjoyable experience, not least for the sheer magnetism of Freddie Mercury; a  gay man, he oozed charisma .... generating adrenaline in audiences around the world to endure a lifetime.

On the evening of 24 November 1991, Freddie Mercury died aged 45 at his home in London; cause of death was bronchial pneumonia as a consequence of AIDS.

It is so true what they say about music and entertainment breaking down certain social taboos, especially where homophobia happens to be one of them.

Now, Mercury, as you may well know, is one of the five planets known to the ancients. They called these planets "wandering stars." Mercury may be seen as an evening "star" near where the sun has set, or as a morning "star" near where the sun will rise. ... The planet is named for Mercury, the Roman messenger of the gods. (ref. Wikipedia.)

The poem is a villanelle.

MERCURY,  WANDERING STAR

On stage, extrovert extraordinaire

masking a shy personality,

singer-songwriter beyond compare

Bringing to Rock, magic in the air.

a star valuing his privacy;

on stage, extrovert, extraordinaire

Fronting Queen with a talent as rare

as any in music’s history,

singer song-writer beyond compare

Winning hearts, minds everywhere,

no matter his sexuality;

on stage, extrovert extraordinaire

High on roll calls sounding anywhere

to rate the likes of Freddie,

singer-songwriter beyond compare

Bold icon of Rock, Supremo of Flair

and making music history …

On stage, extrovert extraordinaire,

singer-songwriter beyond compare

Copyright R N Taber 2019

The Busker OR Music, Spirit of Life

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

When people ask me what kind of music I like, I usually reply that if it is good of its kind, I will almost certainly enjoy it. Many people hate that answer, but it is true. Pop, Classical, Country and Western, Blues, Gospel, whatever...if it is good of its kind, it will have a quality able to reach and move the human heart if only the human heart will let it. In the natural world, the same can, of course, be said for birdsong, various animal sounds, wind in trees, waves lapping (or lashing) at a shoreline...

Now, I well recall an evening some years ago when I was on my way home after a particularly BAD day at work. The thought of returning to my lonely, empty flat was killing me. For no particular reason, I took a different route which meant taking in a subway where a busker was playing. I passed, paused, and stopped to listen to a lively mixture of jazz and other shades of popular music. It talked to me, the music. More than that, it told me a good few home truths like feeling sorry for myself would get me nowhere fast and being lonely was nobody’s fault but my own. I had to go to the world as it sure as hell wasn’t going to come to me.

The busker finished playing and I asked the name of the piece which turned out to be something he’d only recently composed himself, and called it ‘Hello, world, I’m Here, Where Are You?’  I gave him all the loose change I had and headed straight for my local pub where I had a meal, got chatting to people (some of whom would become good friends) and felt all the better for saying, yes, you’ve guessed…‘Hello, world, I’m here…’

What happened to the busker? I have no idea. Over the years, I’ve watched out for him on TV and listened out for that piece of music on the radio, but in vain.

Oh, but one way or another, the world, thank goodness, has always had and always will have...music.

THE BUSKER or MUSIC, SPIRIT of LIFE

Busker, making music,

all kinds of music;

without music, we might

as well be dead

Body rhythms, vibrations,

they all make music

even deaf people can hear

for everyone to share;

if a ‘sound’ means nothing

it has to mean something,

making mind, body and spirit

equal to the occasion

aware something’s out there

keeping us happy, sad,

fulfilled… as only music can

Busker, making music,

all kinds of music,

drowning out war cries,

making peace instead

It’s a happy heart that sings,

a heavy one that cries;

joy and tears are universal

to one and all;

where ‘song’ means nothing,

it has to mean something

making body, heart, and spirit

equal to the occasion

aware something’s out there

keeping us happy, sad,

fulfilled…as only music can

Busker, needing music

like we all need music,

all kinds of music turning

stress on its head

Copyright R. N. Taber 2008; 2015

Lasting Impressions

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._N._Taber

Today’s poem last appeared on the blog in February 2009 and has been requested by ‘Louisa and Richard’ to mark the birth of their daughter Charlotte Anne. Congratulations!

We owe so much to the Arts and its artists. Who would want to live in a world without music, theatre, paintings, sculptures and other such labours of love? They are always there to  remind us of takes on life, love and death that comprise humanity, men and women creating lasting impressions that we should never take for granted.

Update (March 2016): Some readers may be interested in my reading of the poem - along with another - on Brighton beach for my You Tube channel (see below) albeit in the early days of the channel before Graham and I discovered how to insert a voice file so I could read a poem over the video. [For other videos, visit https://www.youtube.com/user/rogerNtaber ]

LASTING IMPRESSIONS

Once I heard a story
about a dream that never dies;
of all we hope to see
beyond love’s tears and lies

Once I read poetry
about a love that never ends,
its spirit set free
from all the body but lends

Once I heard a song
that let fly my heart like a bird
soaring proud and strong
on the wings of every word

Once I saw a painting
of lovers in some long-ago time
yet as real as if still living
the dream now yours and mine

Once I saw actors bring
love’s ageless story to the stage,
a poem about our writing
its every word, turning every page

Come cut and thrust of all creation,
it’s to love we look for inspiration

Copyright R. N. Taber 2009

[From: Tracking the Torchbearer by R. N. Taber, Assembly Books, 2012.]