SONGS SUNG DAILY BY THE HEART of TOM POTEET
It is my intent to include the poetry and prose from my book, It's Our Blend That Makes Us Outstanding, over the next several months. I began with the introduction weeks ago. Now I continue with some of my favorite poems . . . poems I consider timely . . . with metaphors I find hard to resist. Please stay with me as I continue my journey of loving diversity.
Tom Poteet
CHAPTER 1 - OUR BLEND
THEY WERE ALL IMPORTANT
As I watched the symphony,
I noticed the preponderance
Of violins and violas;
So many more were they
Than the others.
There were rows and rows,
But only a few bassoons
And not many oboes;
A few flutes,
Trumpets and trombones;
Some cellos;
Only one piano, a harp
And some percussion.
I should not
Have heard the others.
They should have been
Blotted out
By the violins and violas;
But they weren’t.
As the conductor began,
He pointed to this group
And that;
He waved his arms
Over all
As he blended
Each and every instrument
Into one wonderful voice.
If I listened carefully,
I could hear each instrument,
Though I preferred
To listen to them all
With such clarity
And brilliance.
When it was over,
He took a bow;
Then asked each to stand
As one body;
For they were all important.
I turn now to the blend of a symphony orchestra.
In my much earlier years, I played the saxophone. I played in the Junior High (now Middle) school concert band; then I played in the High School concert band. Instead of violins, there were clarinets; but the rules of engagement were the same as a symphony orchestra. Through the years, our son played the trumpet in the high school concert band; our grandchildren have played the flute, the trumpet, the saxophone and percussion in their respective school bands. We have been to many school concerts and professional symphonies. I have always loved the experience.
I must admit that the maturity of the players becomes evident as they move from elementary school to middle school to high school to college; and then to the professional stage. Learning to play and read music is one thing. Learning to follow the conductor is quite another. As the members of the band or orchestra mature, they learn the music better and they can more and more concentrate on the conductor. The focus shifts from friends and family, in the audience, to the conductor standing before them. The music, coming from the instruments, is beautiful; but it is the conductor that blends them all together in a way that transcends each individual instrument; and the notes that each instrument play.
Visit my author page at amazon.com/author/tompoteet.
Tom Poteet
CHAPTER 1 - OUR BLEND
THEY WERE ALL IMPORTANT
As I watched the symphony,
I noticed the preponderance
Of violins and violas;
So many more were they
Than the others.
There were rows and rows,
But only a few bassoons
And not many oboes;
A few flutes,
Trumpets and trombones;
Some cellos;
Only one piano, a harp
And some percussion.
I should not
Have heard the others.
They should have been
Blotted out
By the violins and violas;
But they weren’t.
As the conductor began,
He pointed to this group
And that;
He waved his arms
Over all
As he blended
Each and every instrument
Into one wonderful voice.
If I listened carefully,
I could hear each instrument,
Though I preferred
To listen to them all
With such clarity
And brilliance.
When it was over,
He took a bow;
Then asked each to stand
As one body;
For they were all important.
I turn now to the blend of a symphony orchestra.
In my much earlier years, I played the saxophone. I played in the Junior High (now Middle) school concert band; then I played in the High School concert band. Instead of violins, there were clarinets; but the rules of engagement were the same as a symphony orchestra. Through the years, our son played the trumpet in the high school concert band; our grandchildren have played the flute, the trumpet, the saxophone and percussion in their respective school bands. We have been to many school concerts and professional symphonies. I have always loved the experience.
I must admit that the maturity of the players becomes evident as they move from elementary school to middle school to high school to college; and then to the professional stage. Learning to play and read music is one thing. Learning to follow the conductor is quite another. As the members of the band or orchestra mature, they learn the music better and they can more and more concentrate on the conductor. The focus shifts from friends and family, in the audience, to the conductor standing before them. The music, coming from the instruments, is beautiful; but it is the conductor that blends them all together in a way that transcends each individual instrument; and the notes that each instrument play.
Visit my author page at amazon.com/author/tompoteet.