Harmony: A Musical Poem About Singing Along Even When You Can’t Change the Tune

Harmony has always sung to me. 

I used to sing in the high school choir, the Cecilian Singers. We were actually quite good, despite me never learning to read music. I was somehow the president my senior year, despite me not believing in hierarchy (don’t worry, i was completely ill suited for leadership in anything but social gatherings, which we excelled at).

Who knew all these years later I’d remain unable to read music, despite having played music mostly ever since. I can’t even count along to music for more than a measure or two before I get lost in it. Oh, I’m aware that people who play bass and drums should probably be able to count. What can I say, it throws off my timing. I gotta feel the groove.  

And I guess I’ve also developed a pretty descent ear, likely stemming from my harmonious time in the high school choir, under the infectious direction of the great Paul Smith, whose joy of music was only slightly more abundant than his talent for it. God bless that man.

Perhaps this PockPoem has something to do with that lifelong love of harmony, even if I’m only harmonizing with myself. Then again, if you enjoy it, I suppose we’re harmonizing together!

One of these days

The sirens 

Will surely sing 

(and unfortunately, ring)

For me. Just me.

I can’t change the tune

So may as well sing along

Just harmonize 

As best I can.

And hope

Pray and hope

For resonance…