Along with my children’s books, I have an interest in poetry. In each of my six books, there is a poem that Chloe writes. The inspiration for most of my poetry is nature. I had written the poem below before I started my Boomer’s Tales series and while I was still teaching at Middle Tennessee State University.
“Calm Waters” was an actual observation of a fisherman who was sitting on a bucket with his rod still in his hand on the bank of the Stones River. I had the idea of taking one of my poems and setting it to music for scheduled concerts. I gave several of my poems to a colleague on the theory and composition faculty. He chose “Calm Waters” and set it for soprano, mezzo-soprano, and piano.
Calm Waters
Calm waters reflect the fading glory of fall colors.
On the smooth surface everything appears peaceful.
Beneath it all stir the dramas of interacting forces.
Water surfaces muddy, no longer focused and clear.
Speedily shifting, these waters hurtle over stones,
Cascading white foam splatters over rocks as the waters continue downward.
Some waters swirl into eddying pools; others journey onwards.
Gradually slowing, their hectic pace begins to gently subside.
A fisherman, seated on a white bucket, holds a rod,
White string dangling in the water, tackle box at his side.
Copyright 2015