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Open Poetry #17

The Silence of The Radio

Glenn Logan
Member

since 2001-10-10

Posts 111
Virginia

0 posted 2001-12-20 09:50 AM

In those years before radio, I am told,
it wasn't regarded
as boorish or bold
for men to whistle while they worked.

Not many laborious tasks were begun -
and even fewer
were fully done -
without at least a few tunes being sung.

People sang all the new tunes they knew,
and by singing in public
shared anew
even the old songs most everyone knew.

A man moving briskly on his own two feet
down some crowded
1920's street
often might sing aloud to express his joys.

And in doing chores, Grandma might sing:
"Daisy, Daisy tell me
your answer true!"
or maybe, "The Last Rose of Summer."

A guest coming to someone's home might
whistle as they arrived,
and sing if they stayed -
proudly, loudly if a man, sweetly if a maid.

But then the radio came, and it all changed.
Yes, we loved the radio,
but found out too
it imposed a cruel silence on me and you.

So the beautiful "Last Rose of Summer"
vanished with
"Just a Song at Twilight,"
as "Daisy, Daisy" withered in radio wind.

Now we don't often sing songs old or new,
and the seasons once
swimming in song
now drown in silence that's lasted too long.

So whistle, brother, sisters, mother! And
father: I'd gladly hear again,
if I had a choice,
your wonderfully terrible singing voice!

Yes, whistle, cousins! Sing out, neighbors!
Let me hear your
lost voices, grandfathers,
singing opera by the piano, or in your bar!

So sing, son, and whistle, daughters! The
seasons of silence
have lasted too long,
but it's time again
for us to sing a song!

More of my poems, long and short, are posted at:
http://www.poetrypages.com/pages/glennlogan http://www.geocities.com/glennlogan/index.html http://mywebpage.netscape.com/gloganpoet/gloganpoet.html

Soleil Noir
Senior Member

since 2001-12-19

Posts 688
USA

1 posted 2001-12-20 10:20 AM

It does bring to mind just
how many children haven't
learned to whistle, because
of all of the noise around
them...

a good reminder to shut off
the radio, and
turn on the mind...

Seymour Tabin
Member Empyrean

since 1999-07-07

Posts 31720
Tamarac Fla

2 posted 2001-12-20 12:04 PM

Glenn,
A good reminder I enjoyed the read.

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