Songs of the Soul
Exposed in the idle spotlight
awkward and unfashioned
almost uncongenial
bleak and inhospitable
transparent paper swaying
languidly waiting
lost, but no frustration
life, does it feel alien?
But then you strip down to the bone
start slashing at my flesh
emotions bluntly plundered
and torn out of my chest
as your songs of the soul
impatiently unfold
revealing dark obsessions
that violently evolve
Slave to your instrument
the bridge to each sentiment
the culprit of insanity?
or the medium of lucidity?
A lover lost in rapture
in haunting ecstasy
distilling good and evil
to disturbing melodies
That are darker than the darkest
side of a blood-shot moon
your notes a lake of indigo
spreading in the room
Longer than the longest
arab caravan
drying my insides
winding through the desert sands
And sweeter than the sweetest
mistresses’ delight
sugar dusted lokum
in the heat of a vibrant night
Oh and softer than the softest
warm summer‘s breeze
ling’ring in the shadows
of ancient cyprus trees
Steeper than the steepest
spiral stairway
as you climb to higher higher –
and your body folds in labour
bearing sighing melodies
Pain and passion synchronized
comprising unborn, old and wise
Songs of the soul
oh, in torment they are born
Frances Livings © 2007
Stream Songs of the Soul here on Spotify:
Recording credits:
Artist: Frances Livings
Album: During the Hours
Label: Moontraxx Records, 2010
Frances Livings – voice
Zane Musa – saxophone
Press:
Frances Livings’ During the Hours featured on: Poet Hound, August 21, 2012
CD review, During the Hours (Frances Livings) by Michele Wilson-Morris, The Entertainment Bank
“Songs of the Soul” is a plunge into an ocean of emotional colors, and the alto sax player on this cut never misses opportunities to express the leaps in time, place, and images of a very intimately soft spoken piece. The contrast of covering epic flows of intensity with the soft spoken voice is very interesting. The sax absorbs and reflects the intensity of the words, aptly helping to unleash the power of Frances’ poetic narrative.
~ Michele Wilson-Morris for The Entertainment Bank
Read more about my process of creating this piece:
Songs of the Soul ~ In Memory of Zane Musa (1979 – 2015)
Songs of the Soul ~ Musical Poetry and its Inspirations
A Breath She Took ~ A new Jazzoetry Release
Buy your copy here:
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