brother believe in your silver-spangled skill-set
stand on the shore, survey the scene
let your guitar sing, reverberate those rhythms
play it again boy, play it with ease
brother believe in your power and your glory
step all aboard, anchors set free
dive into those oceans, manipulate that music
play it all night boy, play with the breeze
brother believe, bring back your tall tales
return to the harbour, head held high
hold fast to the memories, they’ll last you a lifetime
play with your youth boy, play and believe.
I’ll be honest, this is an old poem I posted back in 2013. I’ll be more honest – I’m a little empty on the inspiration front with regards to thinking about a subject matter AND meter tonight. Sometimes it happens, right?
Anyway, I wanted to take part in the dVerse fun (and on the right day!), so here it is. My brother has just come back from another stint working as a guitarist on a cruise ship, so this is a little welcome home for him.
I also read this out at a poetry slam a couple of years ago – nerve-wracking though it was, I had such fun, and the audience were fabulous.
For those of you who have stumbled across my blog, if you want to read and even take part in dVerse Meeting the Bar, do head on over to the website. We’re a friendly, welcoming crowd and there’s always something good going on.
Thank you to Victoria for hosting tonight!
Freya Writes... 
I think you manage to paint the image of the boy with his guitar.. just balancing between joy and melancholy… the last line really sum up the emotion.
Thank you, Bjorn
Oh, I really love how you mixed meters to create a feeling of welcome but also encouragement for your brother. I have no problem myself with reposting older poems. We’ve all been there. Perhaps reading others and playing with meter will help you get back in the mood. Meter has been a go-to for me before when I’ve been stuck.
Thank you, Victoria. I’m very proud of him!
Yes, maybe I’ll dive in to meter a bit more over the weekend.
A lovely welcome poem for your brother. I specially admire play and believe, both themes refraining in your verses.
Thank you, Grace 🙂
This is absolutely exquisite 😀 what a wonderful poem for your brother, Freya ❤
Thank you so much, Sanaa!
Sometimes our muse is a stubborn mistress/mister. It’s understandable. It serves the prompt though, and it’s new to me, so I’m good with it, Freya! 😉
And well done, I might add!
Thank you!
Like so many forms we are prompted to write on MTB, to some extent, we already have been kind of incorporating the technique/form into our work already. This piece was rife with iambs, & hey, I do love me poetics about jazz men; wrote a few myself.
Thank you, Glenn.
What a great tribute to your guitar-playing brother. Your poem is new to me too and seems to fit the prompt so why not. Nothing wrong with a little “recycling.”
Indeed! Thank you 😊
I agree with Victoria about the mixed meters creating a feeling of welcome and encouragement. I could hear a tune while I read it. Have you thought of asking your brother to put it to music?
Freya, this is wonderful. Meter at its musical best. I enjoyed singing along.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Wow, how does one get a position as a guitarist on a cruise ship? And a great poem, too. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! My brother has a degree in music and can play guitar like a demon – Spanish, classical, rock, blues, jazz… I guess he interviews well!
“play with your youth boy, play and believe.” — love this piece! I do so enjoy the musicians who do the work on the cruise ships while we do the lounging and enjoying! 🙂 So I’ve always wondered, what happens at a poetry slam? What is it exactly?
Thank you, Lilian! Poetry slam – the one I went to had an open invite to anyone attending to stand up at the mike (eek!) and read out any of our poetry that we chose. There was a real mix of people (a lot of postgrads on the local university creative writing course, so that was quite awe-inspiring!). They also had an author read from his latest novel – he was fantastic. There was a great vibe – so much fun!
Okay — I may have to participate in one of these….You make it sound like a great experience.
It was a fantastic evening!
There is something about playing a little jazz on a cruise ship that is “Casablancaish”…if you don’t mind the comparison. It is his expressing himself that comes through in the meter of your poem.
Thank you, Kathy. I agree about the Casablancaishness 😉
The meter gives the feel of the guitar and the waves – love it!
Enjoy visiting with your brother while he’s home! Great tribute to your brother too!
Thank you, Bryan!