3.12.2010

Euphonium and I

I just returned from a concert by the Utah Premiere Brass, titled, "UPB Goes West."  As gallant as "The Magnificent Seven" theme was, and as toe-tapping as Copland's "Hoedown," it was the hauntingly sweet euphonium solo on "Shenandoah" that stole my heart.  So what's a girl to do when she suddenly finds herself in love with a conical-bore brass instrument? Why, write a poem, of course.

(It's better if you read it aloud.)

Euphonium, euphoria--
Oh hallelujah, gloria!

Euphonium, you fill me up,
You floor me then you soar me up.

Euphonium, euphoria--
Oh hallelujah, gloria!

Euphonium, you for me hum;
You've blown me one, you own me some.

Euphonium, euphoria--
Oh hallelujah, gloria!

4 comments:

Mom said...

Thanks for sharing the pleasure of the evening. Wish I coulda been there to enjoy it with you. Is it prettier than a french horn, even?

Mom said...

Oh, and I loved your poem!! Speaks volumes!

Anonymous said...

Karisa,
I loved your poem. And so did our 2-year-old daughter. I read it to her and she giggled. Then she asked me to "sing again, Mommy", so I read it again. Apparently, I read in a sing song fashion. After eight or ten readings, she was filling in the "hallelujahs" (one of her favorite words of late). I just wanted you to know that we boththoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the smile you brought to my face! :-)
Love,
Mandy S.

Karisa said...

And thank YOU, Mandy friend, for making ME smile! Cute story. You must be a supermom to have your 2-year-old saying "hallelujah" already. I think all I was saying back then was "gimme" and "no!" and perhaps the occasional "pass the broccoli, if you please." Rhythmic, rhyming poetry holds a magic for kids that is sadly all but lost by adolescence. I highly recommend Shel Silverstein's poetry for kiddos. You would read it perfectly in that sing-song mommy voice of yours. Also, there's this album of fun, creative, God-honoring music called Slugs and Bugs and Lullabies that I have recently become a big fan of. www.slugsandbugs.com And that is all the parenting advice I shall dole out for now since it already extends far beyond the realm of my experience. Thanks for reading!