Greeting the New Year with Poetry and a Tribute to Louis Braille

 

Greeting the New Year with Poetry of the Five Senses and a Tribute to Louis Braille

 

I hope that 2018 is beginning in a wonderful way for all of my Wordwalk readers.  For my first blog of 2018, I am sharing with you a poem which I entered in a contest this past October.  Although the poem did not win a prize, it was well-received by my critique group and other readers.  For the national contest, the poem had to focus on the five senses.  I hope that all five of your senses–plus common sense–are in perfect tune for you throughout the upcoming year.

 

Fugue in Five Senses

 

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

 

 

On stage, at the concert grand,

thanks to the braille music the pianist studied,

she smiles with joyful confidence

as her long fingers stretch over octaves

of cool ivory keys

that share warm melodious notes

with an audience, unseen beyond the spotlight

which smells of the heat of this solo moment.

 

Then, the applause bounces into her ears

as she bows

and takes into her talented hands

the comforting harness and leash

of her cherished guide dog–

her second sight–

that leads the pianist stage right,

where someone hands her

a fragrant, single, apricot-colored rose

and a chocolate raspberry truffle

to celebrate

her “Fugue in Five Senses.”

 

 

Best wishes for a sparkling, poetic, and happy 2018!

Alice and Leader Dog Willow

 

POST-SCRIPT:  January 4, will mark the 208th anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille, the inventor of the system of raised dots that we call “braille” to honor this most famous person from Coupvray, France.  A teacher and church organist, Louis Braille also created braille music.  On January 6, 1852, Louis Braille died of tuberculosis.

Through the centuries and still each day, Louis Braille continues to touch the lives of countless people around the world.

 

January 3, 2018, Wednesday

 

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