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On This Bright Morning
Zero minutes, one second:
A day. Another day.
These are the days poets say
put on a summery display.
One minute, twenty-five seconds:
I form my outfit quite womanly
in which a princess you may see;
today that princess will be me.
Two minutes, twelve seconds:
Though when these mad people fade
my darkest pains cannot be swayed
to form a heart from a spade.
Two minutes, twenty seconds:
Something changes beneath us two.
I'm the same; it must be you
who does coldly force it to.
Three minutes, eleven seconds:
It looked up then; it looks up now;
it lures me with no charm somehow
and obligates my head to bow.
Three minutes, twenty-nine seconds:
All is fine; it seems to be;
Life dares to get down on one knee
and promises to marry me.
Three minutes, thirty-five seconds:
Glass rains down from all the stars
and tiger-stripes me with new scars
and deafens me within these bars.
Four minutes, zero seconds:
Hard enough, I punch the wall,
yet along with it I do fall.
I can win some, but not quite all.
Four minutes, thirty-two seconds:
The tears look choice upon my face
and all artfully interlace;
this world seems to not hold grace.
Five minutes, fourteen seconds:
The brightest soul I've ever known;
I see inside me it has grown.
My angel keeps me not alone.
Five minutes, fifty-nine seconds:
Now I grasp truth's deja-vu;
we can reverse, me and you!
Now I can trust all that I do.
Six minutes, fifty-three seconds:
Like a ghost, I know you not,
though once I had you, my inkblot;
a name is more than just a thought.
Seven minutes, forty-seven seconds:
Low times ring like a church-bell.
You were the Heaven to balance Hell;
just build your soul; all will be well.
Eight minutes, twenty-four seconds:
Life and liberty again exist;
foolish Sin, though we once kissed,
your burning noose will not be missed.
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This is one of my favorite pieces so far, as it is entirely inspired by music; in fact, it's an ekphrastic poem written about "On This Bright Morning" by David Maslanka, performed by the University of Utah Wind Ensemble. The recording is accessible on YouTube and the time stamps in the video match the ones starting every stanza of this poem. I played this song in All-County band, and it's the first concert band song that made me tear up upon hearing it for the first time. This poem means a lot to me, and I hope all readers can enjoy it, too! Aloha!