I have been staying up way to late at night.
Listening to Etta James in the wee small hours of the morning,
that isn't good for me.
I dream a little dream for me.
Waking up today I could swear I felt your presence,
your scent on my pillow.
But it was just my imagination once again,
running away with me.
Smokey said that and I think he knows truth.
Where are you phantom of my dreams?
Please come to the door of my mind and soul.
Tickle the girl I was and the woman I have become.
It's been so very long,
I am tired of having you only in dreams.
I miss it all so much!
I desire to be challenged,
to explore with my mind.
I desire words, delicious words,
that roll off the tongue and sustain me.
I desire my heart to be wrapped up in that clover.
I desire a soft, sweet kiss.
I desire, I desire, I desire, so many things.
Where are you phantom of my dreams?
Does my desire scare you?
Does my enthusiasm give you a care?
I am so awkward, but
when I listen to Etta I become a swan.
I fly high in the sky.
I swin serenely in the pond.
If music be the food of love, play on.
Smokin', drinkin', staying up all night,
livin' in a fool's paradise.
© JACM 7 June 2009
Etta James At Last [Tavis Smiley show]
The words in the poem that are in italics are quotes from song lyrics, except for the Wm. Shakespeare quote. And, no I am not staying up all night drinking. Well, ok I am, but it is orange soda.
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Comments: 22
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Thank you Kathryn! :)
I can't listen to sad music right now, it just debilitates me.
Sharon, it's not a sad song. It is a monumental tribute to perfect, happy, love as only Etta James can sing it.
There is no such thing as "sad" music....my work has been called sad songs, gritty, writes from the guts with a whole lotta heart....but the fact is somebody needs to. Take your heart off your sleeve and put it to song, see what most think of as hopeless or pathetic and bring out the beauty through lyrics and music.....hey i almost forgot I am here to give a big cheer for Chana's write!
Work it Paul! Maybe you have the start of a silly little love song. This is a awesome comment (no offense to anyone else). I love it!
Your writing always seems to leave me thinking, ussally sitting here slack jawwed trying to figure out how it is that these thoughts and feelings so closely maych my own yet are of a far different nature.
Oh, Chana, I hear you. I first heard Etta James when I was driving in the car and it was a "live" version of her singing "I'd Rather Be Blind" ... I had to stop the car and pull over to the side of the road. She can tear the heartstrings like cotton candy.
Chana, that video is AWESOME.
I wonder how many times she has sung that song since she first recorded it 48 years ago in 1961 when she was a teenager?
Like any great song, one can never tire of hearing it again & again & again.
Thanks for sharing~
Yet another awe inspiring piece! Thanks for posting to my group, Anythingwriting
What a wonderful poem! Etta and Smokey are the best to listen to when you need to feel blue a little bit.
You gotta love Etta!
Yes, Chana, you're definitely a romantic.
Every wedding I have ever gone to in the last three years has had that song at the reception!
You've been examining the loss of passion and youth a lot lately. There's that same wistful melancholy in this poem as in your recent work and I hope that the bittersweet memories of the years gone by aren't weighing too heavily on you.
It's an excellent poem and I admire your taste in music, though mine leans more towards hard blues instead of soul and R&B.
Thank you Jason! I read a couple of your poems. From what I have seen so far I really like them. Please forgive for not keeping up, I am always behind.
A lovely poem of a dream Chana, thanks.
Thank you Haim!
I love that song that EJ does called "At Last."
I like how you integrated the lyrics here. Very nice. I've always liked Etta's version of this song better than any other I have heard.