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from the issue of January 26, 2006
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American Life in poetry
BY TED KOOSER, U.S. POET LAUREATE
Lola Haskins, who lives in Florida, has written a number of poems about musical terms, entitled "Adagio," "Allegrissimo," "Staccato," and so on. Here is just one of those, presenting the gentleness of pianissimo playing through a series of comparisons.
To Play Pianissimo
Does not mean silence.
The absence of moon in the day sky
for example.
Does not mean barely to speak,
the way a child's whisper
makes only warm air
on his mother's right ear.
To play pianissimo
is to carry sweet words
to the old woman in the last dark row
who cannot hear anything else,
and to lay them across her lap like a shawl.
From "Desire Lines: New and Selected Poems," BOA Editions, Rochester, NY. Copyright (c) 2004 by Lola Haskins and reprinted by permission of the author and the publisher. This weekly column is supported by The Poetry Foundation, The Library of Congress, and the UNL Department of English. This column does not accept unsolicited poetry.
GO TO: ISSUE OF JANUARY 26
ARTS HEADLINES FOR JANUARY 26
'Wiley and the Hairy Man' opens Jan. 26
American Life in poetry
Artists encouraged to apply for 'Free at 6' series
Cat Chow exhibit opens at Hillestad
'Clouds and Stone' opens at Lux Center Feb. 3
Eklund to help celebrate Mozart's 250th birthday
'Free at 6' presents Gospel Mass Choir
Harris, Blackout present jazz fusion Feb. 4 at Lied Center
Hypnotist offers free show at East Union Jan. 27
Lied to host Winnipeg Ballet troupe
Osher Institute offers six-week series
State Historical Society presents documentary series
732337S35407X
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