A Groove a Cat Could Dance to

[jisbell00]

A Groove a Cat Could Dance to


The voice glides by. I’ve spent about an hour
on this clean music, with its change of pace,
of mood, of orchestration, and I’ve come
to “Trouble Child.” The drums have let me through.
Horns and guitar lay out a groove a cat
could dance to with a partner. Joni Mitchell
rhymes lazy now with easy. She has got
the rhythm of the thing. It’s like the waves,
she idles in to sing, at Malibu.

It must be 4 a.m. by now. I still
sit at this desk as overhead, the stars
move in their quadrants. We are off today
to see the waves break. I’m completely under
the spell of Joni Mitchell; she is quite
the master of her art. Again, the pace
shifts underfoot. You can’t expect the world
to stand you up when it is liquid. And
there’s no fixed point to see the waves come in

and crest, to watch the sky dance. From the first
chords of the first song – Love came to my door –
I’ve traveled like the heavens, like a spoke
that turns around its axle. To the East
is only darkness. Chords are playing out
some sort of game with my heart. I could be
laughing or crying, but I’m listening
to Joni’s wide-eyed insight, laughing it
all away. That’s where we will begin.


People's Parties:


 

[Macavity]

One of your best so far in the genre John. Personal.

A Groove a Cat Could Dance to


The voice glides by. I’ve spent about an hour...indeed it does. Like the specific of time spent, frames the context.
on this clean music, with its change of pace,..as opposed to being cluttered and muddied!
of mood, of orchestration, and I’ve come
to “Trouble Child.” The drums have let me through....the underlying rhythm
Horns and guitar lay out a groove a cat
could dance to if they wanted. Joni Mitchell...seems weak, no compulsion? The cat not under the spell?
rhymes lazy now with easy. She has got
the rhythm of the thing. It’s like the waves,
she idles in to sing, at Malibu..............exactly!

It must be 4 a.m. by now. I still .............again like the context
sit at this desk as overhead, the stars
move in their quadrants. We are off today
to see the waves break. I’m completely under........like the connect
the spell of Joni Mitchell; she is quite
the master of her art. Again, the pace
shifts underfoot. You can’t expect the world
to stand you up when it is liquid. And.....................sense of fluidity
there’s no fixed point to see the waves come in

and crest, to watch the sky dance. From the first
chords of the first song – Love came to my door –
I’ve traveled like the heavens, like a spoke...........pursued stars?
that turns around its axle. To the East
is only darkness. Chords are playing out
some sort of game with my heart. I could be
laughing or crying, but I’m listening.....................great, conveys the nature of the spell
to Joni’s wide-eyed insight, laughing it...can picture her
all away. That’s where we will begin.....................lovely concluding line


People's Parties:


 

[Leaf]

Hi John,

I agree with Phil that this is one of your best;of course I do appreciate a personal musem I do like the title and the idea of having 'with a [something]' in place of 'if they wanted'. I'm not sure what the something is, though. A little poetry puzzle for you!

Best wishes,
Fliss

[jisbell00]

Hi Phil, hi FLiss and W.-B.,

Thank you for the thoughtful comments and the general vote of confidence! I like this one too, and I love Joni Mitchell.
I've gone with dance to with a partner. Thanks for the nudge!

Cheers,
John

[Macavity]

on the tweak John. I presume the partner was a Tom

[jisbell00]

Almost certainly!

Cheers,
John

[CalebPerry]

Two of Joni's best songs from possibly her best album. She knew how to distill emotion into music, and she did it like no other singer ever did. I'm happy that she is still alive, but sad that her hey-day is past her. It was when Joni grew old that I finally realized I had grown old also. Joni was the embodiment of youth and creativity, and she now provides us with irrefutable evidence that nothing lasts. She was such an icon of youthful creativity that I couldn't imagine her getting old and dying. I still can't believe that she is old now, and that she will die. It can only make sense if death is some kind of transformation and not actual death.

I'll come back and look at your poem again, but right now listening to those songs has put me into mourning.