« The Weaver | Home | To Remain »
Swept Away
By Rob Kistner | April 17, 2008
A bluesman’s life and soul. Music gives me goose-bumps, especially when created by genuine human spirit
NOTE: I invite you to listen to the recorded “spoken word” version of this poem you’ll find at the bottom of this post. I’ve mixed in a little ‘atmosphere’ to heighten the immersion.
Swept Away
•
memphis red
no longer is
gray now shines
from a balding head
filled with scarlet embers
memories
still burn
a fired spirit
too deep
for coddled mortals
to fully fathom
red is real
red is legend
his tales
of pain
of injustice
the lore of the big muddy
his eyes
earthy brown
turbulent as that river
his stare
a deep current
impossible to escape
swept away
his voice
a tempered edge
honed by blues
broadleaf husky
thick as sorghum
smooth
as beale street bourbon
the cf martin
swings
from a leathered neck
on a tattered strap
stretched and shaped
by the heft of sorrow
poured into the soundhole
marked and scarred
by years of burden
of witness
its character and patina
bear testament
to a genuine soul
cracked and seasoned hands
reach
with suffered care
to wrap the fingerboard
in love
callused digits
yellowed by habit
depress taut strands
no longer catgut
sculpting emotions
blood and bone
grip
connect
true life
ensnared
in sitka spruce
and spiraled steel
knowing strains rise
chords of loss
rhythmic stomp
stinging verse
of broken promise
failed love
of dirt field
cruel street
back alley
of harsh wisdom
resonate
to fill this space
to break my heart
to steal my soul
swept away
• • •
rob kistner © 2007
_____________________
photo rendering above entitled: “Knowing”
rendered by: rob kistner © 2007
_____________________
• • •
To hear poem read by author, click below
Topics: Free Verse, Image, Poetry, Spoken Word |
August 10th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
yo… sweet! Your recorded reading kicked ass! Got a Martin, 38 years old. Still gig with it.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:59 pm
Gary -
Thank you!
I was online here when you posted. Do you have a blog or website? I would enjoyed visiting.
August 10th, 2007 at 6:12 pm
I really enjoyed the mood set by the opening verse.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
That’s a really cool tribute to the blues. Very potent in his memories and sadness in his age and fire in his spirit. I liked it!
August 10th, 2007 at 8:32 pm
oh rob.. that was breathtaking… just breath taking… thank you ….
August 11th, 2007 at 6:08 am
That was awesome! Thanks Rob!
August 11th, 2007 at 7:06 am
Marcia -
I’m pleased you enjoyed this…
August 11th, 2007 at 7:13 am
Jennifer -
Thank you for the very kind words…
I was projecting just a touch of myself into the character — creatively interpolating, as seemed appropriate, to ’season’ Red’s personality in context.
August 11th, 2007 at 7:14 am
Paisley -
Thank you! You are most gracious…
August 11th, 2007 at 7:16 am
Gautami -
Thank you my friend!
…and you are most welcome…
August 11th, 2007 at 10:00 am
Awesome poem! Very soulful, and befitting of the subject matter. It is good to be reminded the blues were born from genuine pain, sorrow and social injustice. The real deal bears no resemblance to The Blue Brothers, a beer commercial or some third rate cover band playing on Bourbon street. Thanks for a great post!
August 11th, 2007 at 10:47 am
Herb -
Thank you for your gracious words my friend!
…and you are welcome.
Yes, when I’m listening to a genuine blues master, telling of his/her life, the triumphs, the trials, the joy, the pain — it gives me goosebumps… because it’s REAL. It’s the shit and grit. It is the authentic story of true life in America, in this land of opportunity (but only for a handful). It ain’t some spoiled fool from the suburbs ‘feigning it’ for the money.
August 11th, 2007 at 10:52 am
I just listened to your Swept Away poem…just beautiful! Music does bring such joy, doesn’t it? Thanks very much for visiting my blog.
August 11th, 2007 at 11:00 am
FP -
I am pleased you enjoyed your listening experience, and thank you for your very kind words…
Music is like a direct conduit between souls — emotion stirring… and a great source of goosebumps!
I enjoyed your blog. Very tasteful!
August 11th, 2007 at 11:00 am
Gosh- what an awesome poem! A wonderful tribute! I’ll have to have my husband read this- he’s a great fan of the blues…
Kudos, Rob…
August 11th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Regina -
Wow… Thank you very much…
Your enthusiasm is humbling.
I hope you husband enjoys my piece as well…
August 11th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Wow Rob! That was fantastic, I can feel the power and depth, and the recording gave it a beautiful touch. Nicely done!
August 11th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
Gilson -
Thank you for your kind enthusiasm!
I enjoy doing the ’spoken word’ readings.
August 11th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
Yes,some music makes me feel that way too…!
August 11th, 2007 at 2:33 pm
This is wonderful, and i love being able to listen to it. I love:
failed love
of dirt field
cruel street
back alley
beautiful
August 11th, 2007 at 3:06 pm
Arboleda -
Thank you for visiting!
August 11th, 2007 at 3:07 pm
Tricia -
Thank you very much!
I am so pleased you enjoyed this…
August 11th, 2007 at 5:20 pm
Rob.
I’m sitting here in complete awe…….tears rolling down my face. That was so powerfully beautiful…….you captured his soul….you shared yours. I’m mind blown.
You gave me goosebumps, and am grateful.
gotta go find a kleenex now.
August 11th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
Awareness -
Thank you for your authentic human reaction… I am humbled, and most grateful that this piece impacted you!
These blues masters are piercingly real, and often remarkably gentle souls. They’ve usually lived life from the other side of our looking glass — and have the scars and tales to share, and to wring your heart… if you will listen.
August 11th, 2007 at 7:40 pm
That’s what I’m talking about. It’s the human spirit and the things we create that give me goose bumps and chills!
August 11th, 2007 at 8:24 pm
I read your poem before I listened to your reading and the depth and fullness of your voice, plus the bumpers of music enriched the poem. I’ll have to keep coming back to look for other recordings of you reading stuff. Your reading is precise and full. You sing the poem.
August 11th, 2007 at 8:44 pm
I think that’s why the blues AND your poem resonates with me. I work with human beings who live in the margins of our community. Their lives and scars are visibly real. Part of my job is to visit them in their homes where I am often honoured to hear their stories…sometimes I’m the first to hear it. I learn far more from them than I they do from me…..because the blues is their life and they live openly vulnerable.
It’s all in the listening.
August 11th, 2007 at 9:25 pm
beautiful Rob. Like you
August 11th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Colleen -
Thank you for contributing… and I completely agree!
August 11th, 2007 at 10:05 pm
Raymond Pert -
Thank you for your gracious words!
Please come and click on the Visceral Voice icon in the right sidebar of my blog. It will take you to all the “spoken word” recordings I currently have posted.
Thank you for catching my typo…
August 11th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
Awareness -
Thank you for sharing this part of your experience. I’m certain it must be very moving!
August 11th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
Lucy -
Thank you!
I’m blushing…
August 12th, 2007 at 1:14 am
Very powerful. I’ve got chills.
I joined Sunday Scribblings for the first time this week, and mine is about music as well.
August 12th, 2007 at 1:29 am
Robin -
Thank you, I’m pleased you were touched!
Welcome to the SS group! Hope you become a regular…
August 12th, 2007 at 5:24 am
Great poem. Love that it has a bluesy feel all the way through. And the audio just added another level to your work. Cool.
August 12th, 2007 at 7:26 am
January -
Thank you! I’m pleased you enjoyed the poem…
I tried to capture the bittersweet spirit of the blues, the spirit of Memphis, to honor the heart and soul… the gist of a blues master — without appearing pretentious, or having the piece become cartoonish, or a two-dimensional caricature.
I love creating the “spoken word” performances! It takes me back to years of being in bands — writing, recording, mixing… it is a source of great joy for me. I’m glad you liked the work!
August 12th, 2007 at 11:33 am
Thank you for including a recorded “spoken word” of this wonderful poem. I enjoyed it well.
August 12th, 2007 at 11:39 am
Rob that was beautiful - hearing it read made it even more special.
August 12th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Liza -
I am very pleased you enjoyed it!
August 12th, 2007 at 12:24 pm
Gill -
Thank you for your gracious words!
Glad you enjoyed the recorded reading — it is a great pleasure for me to create these.
August 12th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Wow, the reading of your poem gave me goosebumps =) I think you captured the blues experience - for both performer and audience - really well.
August 12th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
I just rented “Black Snake Moan” with Sammuel L Jackson and you truly nailed the blues! Excellent poem and even better with the audio…wow!
August 12th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
Tinker -
Thank you very much! I appreciate your kind words…
I love to do the readings!
August 12th, 2007 at 3:45 pm
Tammy -
Wow — that was an intense movie.
Glad you liked this my friend…
The recordings are a blast to create!
August 12th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Wonderful rendering of the poem … I love the linguistic nuances in the spoken version. ~Peace, JP
August 12th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
swept away… I was blown away
the words alone would have been enough
your voice added depth and resonance
quite wonderful
thank you for visiting me too
ann
August 12th, 2007 at 10:44 pm
Deborah -
Thank you JP — very much… glad you enjoyed!
August 12th, 2007 at 10:45 pm
Ann -
You are most kind, thank you!
You’re welcome… I enjoyed my visit…
August 13th, 2007 at 5:15 am
You do it from your soul everytime Rob - thank you for the goosebumps!
August 13th, 2007 at 8:27 am
Redness -
You are kind…
Thank you!
August 14th, 2007 at 10:02 pm
Excellent! Very Well Done!
I am celebrating my first anniversary having moved to the West Coast from Chicago last August 18th. So many things out here I love and cherish dearly but one thing I miss and will not find out here often is the soul of the Blues. I miss stopping at a dive after work and losing own impoverished self in the music of another who lives and works the same. I have had the joy of experiencing that with all my time spent down South in New Orleans as well and cherish those memories just the same.
Thanks for this beautiful piece!
August 15th, 2007 at 8:26 am
Tag -
Thank you! You are most kind.
…and you are welcome…
I enjoyed creating this piece, especially the ’spoken word’ production.
My wife and I have lived in the Pacific Northwest for 18 years now, and we absolutely love it!
However, in the decade of the 80’s, I had a satellite office in Chicago for my media-room/home-theater design company. The office was manned by an associate, but I visited the ‘windy city’ frequently.
Greg used to take me to a number of marvelous blues joints, with the most soulful ambiance and real character. Those nights (into early mornings) were the greatest!
There was wonderful jazz in chi-town as well! One jazz place I remember, whose name I can’t recall, was up north of the city just a bit, along the Lake Michigan shore, nestled among apartments. It was at the intersection of oddly divergent streets.
The club was not big, and sort of pie shaped — with a low ceiling. You entered at the tip of the pie. Very intimate room with really great jazz. Ahh… memories!
October 4th, 2007 at 12:02 pm
I love your work. I am just passing through but wanted to give you a shout out.
October 4th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
deb -
Thank you… come back now…
February 23rd, 2008 at 4:23 pm
You are an authentic talent. Listening to this poem as you read it truly helped me appreciate its authenticity, it’s concreteness, the real feel of the blues.
I read Swept Away initially and I enjoyed it. But your reading showed me your interpretation and deepened my understanding of your words.
Loved it!
Peace,
L&T
March 6th, 2008 at 12:22 am
L&T -
Thank you so much for your kind words!
April 15th, 2008 at 9:04 am
[…] Original post by Trevorâ??s Writing […]
April 18th, 2008 at 9:11 am
It was fun to read the comments and here the background of the piece as well.
What a lovely baritone voice! It gave a much deeper dimension to the poem. The rave reviews aren’t by mistake!
April 18th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
The guitar, of all instruments, goes directly from sound to soul. Otto and I own three old Martins. Thank you for this beautiful poem.
April 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
cracked and seasoned hands
reach
with suffered care
to wrap the fingerboard
in love
My favorite part. Well done.
April 18th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
Swept -
This is a strange source for a comment?
April 18th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
Texasblu -
Glad you enjoyed it…
April 18th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Granny -
First, think you for the kind words! Second — how absolutely rockin’ cool that you own two Martins!!
April 18th, 2008 at 7:00 pm
Lilibeth -
Thank you…
April 19th, 2008 at 3:49 am
Rob, I just loved that! I read it first, and the description of his voice grabbed me particularly. Then, listening to your reading - you make a composition on another level entirely - the background music/sounds, your own voice! Marvellous!
April 19th, 2008 at 4:00 am
Imelda -
You are most kind…
I am genuinely pleased you enjoyed this work.
April 19th, 2008 at 4:16 am
Beautiful music.
Beautiful language.
Beautiful images.
Beautiful voice.
I guess you can tell that I liked it!