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FRONT LINE

You can see they're in love, the musicians,

as they lift their instruments like new babies

from the swaddling plush of weathered cases

assemble them with pride, pipework with 

keys and slides, the cacophony of bright silence

before the performance.

Each one a treasure house of stories

stamped with number, maker's name. 

 

A soldier with his weapon might feel the same

proud and responsible enforcing a serious message

a creator of effect not easily dismissed

a player of fields, of hate or love

of blessings or curses who the fates have kissed. 

 

🌷(5)

◄ GRACE

FOUR FOUR ►

Comments

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raypool

Thu 11th Nov 2021 13:49

Thanks for coming through Holden!

Interesting Mark. Artie was a bit of a ladies' man and lived to a ripe old age, whereas Glenn.......

Thanks for that Tom, I rewrote and simplified the poem and that line was one of the benefits!

A nice comment New Shoes thanks.

Stephen, a good point made thanks.

Thanks Graham, that's a nice notch to have. There have been many imitators, but the original band was highly stylized and hard to exactly replicate.

Ray

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Graham Sherwood

Tue 9th Nov 2021 12:33

I once met a trumpeter from the Glenn Miller band in the middle of a vineyard in France. Great memories invoked by music.

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Stephen Gospage

Mon 8th Nov 2021 21:19

I suppose they are both 'creators of effect not easily dismissed' Ray. Of course, as MC says, recordings will outlast a soldier's bullet.

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New Shoes

Mon 8th Nov 2021 21:18

"With a loaded six string on my back" Jon Bon Jovi

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Tom Harding

Mon 8th Nov 2021 18:12

Lovely Ray - this is a great line -

lift their instruments like new babies
from the swaddling plush of weathered cases

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M.C. Newberry

Mon 8th Nov 2021 16:29

I read this after a recent viewing of (and participation in) an
online discussion about the likes of Glenn Miller and Artie Shaw,
and their skills in the big band days. They would certainly know
about the content here. Thank heavens for recorded music!!

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