for Wanda Lea Brayton
On this morning of lemon light
I can hear a guitar softly strumming in the distance,
I can see a moon tucked between
the midnight of your wings.
And as circles of silence rest
upon my sometimes weary ears
your words of sadness and beauty
come to rest deeply within me
and I am thankful.
During these moments of ancient crimes
and analytical sterilization
of the heart’s wounds,
it’s a blessing to know that the world’s exhaustion
is soothed by the enunciation
of your delicate phrases.
So I send you a bouquet of roses, dear lady,
I place a solitary dawn inside an envelope
and mail it to you,
knowing that it will be received
at the address of peaceful lake
where gentle poets reside,
chanting songs of perfect
tranquility.
Author notes
Sibelius wrote a tone poem about a swan drifting on a lake at midnight. It is one of my favourite pieces of music and always brings Wanda's presence into my mind whenever I hear it. Happy Birthday sister.
In a list
- List of Poems Written for Me by AP Poets (under construction) • next in list
- My Favorite AP Poets • next in list
- Beautiful Words by Beautiful People I Know • next in list
A contest entry
- Breaking Loose From Birthdates - For Wanda by CarolDesjarlais.
1750 points, ended September 24, 2008, 6 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Please tell me what you think
Comments
1 - 18 of 18
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When I moved to Nebraska, one of the first things I did was print off these beautiful poems you wrote for me, Marc. Thank God Danny has a printer. 
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OMG girl . . . that is simply too much for my weary mind. Talk about two spirits mingling at exactly the same time!!!!! I was just putting the Sibelius poem together with the other two that I wrote for you into one piece and low and behold, there you were commenting on one of them . . . I am certain that you and I will meet some day in the hereafter . . .
Marc -
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Count on it, Sweetie. I am. If not in this life, then in the next. I'll bring some tea...and wildflowers in my hair, so you'll recognize me. 
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this was amazingly beautiful.. words just played off the screen, and into the heart of the reader.. Thank you very much for sharing. well worthy of the silver.
Angel
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Beautiful - I can't understand having missed this at the time, so glad to see it now. Such gentle tenderness here, which the music suits perfectly.
How I hope Wanda will see this again, and remember how her friends support her.
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Writen with grace and a very soft touch with the words skipping across the pond to land smiling on hither shore
I like it thank you. -
a gift
....it feels like the most perfect day
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I know the piece of music, and love Sibelius' music too.. How original a write, and that you used it as the theme of your title, and penning.....Beautiful, exquisite, and no wonder you got a silver for it! Pen on poet!
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"moon tucked between the midnight of your wings..a solitary dawn inside an envelope...knowing that it will be received
at the address of peaceful lake ..."
“…Today at ten to eleven I saw 16 swans. One of my greatest experiences! Lord God, what beauty! … Their call, the same woodwind type as that of cranes, but without tremolo. The swan-call closer to the trumpet … A low-pitched refrain reminiscent of a small child crying. Nature mysticism and life’s Angst! The Fifth Symphony’s finale-theme: legato in the trumpets!” - Sibelius
The fifth symphony was played at his funeral.
http://sdgmusic.org/directorsblog/?cat=14
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Thanks for the silver goblet Carol . . . I so love the music of Sibelius as the well as the swan mentioned in the poem . . . she soothes me whenever I feel restless . . .
Marc
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Oh, this is so beautiful, Marc and I loved the swan-touches here; the opening stanza is magical and "dawn inside an envelope" - simply loved it. A beautiful poem for Wanda's birthday!!
~ Nicolette
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This is gorgeous and I can see that Wanda was deeply touched...Such a beautiful dedication ...
Lynda
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I bet you could find a link of the music, and put it in the author's notes...
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"I can see a moon tucked between
the midnight of your wings."
~ * ~
"I place a solitary dawn inside an envelope"
How completely gorgeous is this, I ask ya??? How wonderful of you to pen such beauty for me, my Brother. Sighhh...I got the nickname "Swanee" from Don; when I got chilled, I'd pull my arm inside my shirt & he'd say, "There goes Swanee, tuckin' in her wing again." Then he'd break into his Al Jolson rendition, "Swaaaanee, how I love ya, how I love ya, my dear ol' Swanee". He always cracked me up. 
(He also did Peter Lorre doing Ray Charles or Jimmy Stewart doing Ray Charles). 
This is a magnificent rendering from your luminous quill, dear Scribe. I am completely honored & humbled to have such grandeur ascribed to me. 'specially for my "Hoppy Birdy Day" (also Don's). Thank you ever so much, Sweetie. Good luck in Carol's contest.
~~~Swanee~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Swan . . . I recall the story of you tucking in your wing . . . He knew your heart and your soul well my dear . . .
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..."it’s a blessing to know that the world’s exhaustion
is soothed by the enunciation
of your delicate phrases."...This applies to your own 'phrases' too Marc...I hope Wanda has a marvelous birthday and I am positive she'll be delighted by this dawn and bouquet...ahhhhh...I know I have been. Peace always, Rhonda
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Oh, wanda will adore this...
I wonder if I can get her to forward that dawn when she's done sighing.
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Wellll...I gotta sunset ya can borrow 'til I am, Kathleen.
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