Judee
In the span of a breath, everything changed
It fell from her hand, hung from a limp trunk
Glinting with hazard, its surface warned us
Of perils she ignored, or so we thought.
Her voice climbed branches mellifluously
Effortlessly returning humanity
Back to us so we could hear the melody
Of our own souls singing forgotten songs
I miss the unsung, unwritten music
That filled infinite possible nightclubs
If we could only dart into the past
Quickly enough to pluck it from her arm.
11 Comments
Meg
Is this about Judee Sill? Either way, it is really beautiful, most especially the line, “Her voice climbed branches…” My husband and I discovered her music only three years ago. A friend gave us a compilation of recordings and we listened to it over and over again. Such a gorgeous voice. And such a tragic loss. I miss the “unsung music” too.
Meg recently posted…Everything begins and ends
Natalie DeYoung
Yes, it is! I just discovered her music yesterday, after hearing an Unfictional podcast about her. It was instant love. I haven’t been able to get her out of my head.
Natalie DeYoung recently posted…Judee
Meg
I’m going to have to listen to her tomorrow. It’s been a few months since I’ve played the CD. I love that you love her work as much as I do!
Meg recently posted…Everything begins and ends
Shailaja/ The Moving Quill
It’s really tragic when someone takes her own life, especially one so young and full of promise. In times like that I feel like reaching out and hugging her, saying, ‘It gets better, I swear.’ 🙁
Natalie DeYoung
I know. Me too.
Christine
I don’t know Judee Sill – I’m going to have to go listen to her, based on this. The whole poem is beautiful, but I absolutely love the last stanza. Wonderful image.
Christine recently posted…Exhale
Stacie
I didn’t know of Judee either and now I must! Unsung, unwritten music. Unfortunately, there is so much of that we miss.
Stacie recently posted…A Change of Underwear
Silverleaf
This is beautiful! Like Christine, I really loved the last stanza and, also like Christine, I’ve never heard of Judee Sill. I’m off to google…
Silverleaf recently posted…Mexico by Moonlight
Splendid Empress
You’ve introduced a lot of us to Judee with this beautiful poem. I, too, am off to find her. My favorite stanza was the second one, I love the image of “our own souls singing forgotten songs.”
Nate
so much poetry on the grid this week! Does my soul good. The last two lines here could be applied to so many people the world has lost lately. I don’t know Judee Sill, but your words evoked how I felt when I found out Jeff Buckley passed. I must know go listen to Judee and Jeff now.
Kristi Campbell
I don’t know this woman’s music but I will definitely check it out right now. Beautiful and haunting poem though Natalie. <3
Kristi Campbell recently posted…Neighbors: Then, Now, And Motherhood is Lonely