SOME MORE PHOTOS - personal, private photos taken from FB page or from individuals. Hover over for captions.
HIS BATON CASTS ITS SPELL (a villanelle) For Bob Burton on his 90th Birthday Just as a bow draws magic from the strings, The baton casts its spell. Mr. Burton lifts It is high enough to shush the class. We stop. We sing. We utter notes we’d never felt before, they ring In our lungs, releasing unexpected riffs. (Who knew this man would give us wings?) From Handel to gospel, jazz, and swing. Hard-won practice soon becomes a gift. Repeating measures till everything Becomes beauty and harmony. Our bodies sway To the piano and the bass. We’ll never go adrift When the Master of Tempo directs us on a new way. Teacher, mentor, composer, friend, he gives us springy World, fancy-free, a place to wander. No cares, no rifts. We smile, leaning into decrescendo, marveling. And just as a bow draws magic from the strings His baton continues. Just look at us! As if Our teenage selves never flew away. Singing, winging With all our hearts. And now, in gratitude, we bow. Christine Hemp July 4, 2023 |