From one poet to another

I seldom receive a poem written to/about me by another poet. I had the privilege to receive TWO poems by two different poets on the weekend of the McGregor Poetry Festival in October. They both wrote it spontaneously during my two performances at the festival. They were both happy that I post it here. 

It is rare for me to post other poets' work onto my blog. In this case I thought it appropriate to share their poems here.  <

The first poem by Archie Swanson -  he wrote it during my piano and poetry recital continents of sound < 

manic wind

Written during the piano and poetry recital by Lara Kirsten

2014 Mcgregor Poetry Festival

the manic wind

is howling outside the curtain-less window

bushes flail

dust is strewn

the first summer south-easter has visited mcgregor

outside the light is fading

dusk is blanketing down

like a slow dew

you sway

as if driven by the wind

the music rises

notes scatter

they feed into you

and you feed into the music

as it spirals

into a tight musical dna helix

umbilicaly joined to your soul

it is your life poured out

shared

we listen

witnesses drawn into the fray

drawn into your heart

as the notes reverberate

ever faster

ever louder

your blurred fingers flail the keys

beethoven

schubert

we are raptured

to another place

transported

snatched like leaves lifted in a storm

emotions flow

happiness and melancholy mix

your poems are delivered with every fiber of your being

new earth / music / ripe grapes / exuberance of sound

at the piano

you sit

bolt upright

as your loving eyes pour over the score

it’s as if you are being filled by your love

and always faithful

your love gives back to you

the wind still roars outside

yet now there is a gentle peace

within the room

debussy’s clair de lune

undulating

drawing us ever deeper

within our own souls

granados playera opus 5 number 5

i see alhambra with its majestic ramparts

towering above orange groves

and in the manicured gardens

fountains falling

into crystal-clear pools of spring water

reflecting the shimmering summer sky

clad in black

you are like a lithe cat

i have a fleeting image

of you streaking across parisian rooftops

past sentries of chimneys

silhouetted for an instant

against an amber moon

as you scale unchartered heights

chopin

gershwin

toccata opus 54

it is dizzying

your hands rest

your voice is still

we are changed

outside

stars set in the black, velvet mcgregor sky

wink almost approvingly

as the languid breede river

meanders through the sleeping vineyards

 - Archie Swanson, 1 November 2014

* * *

Here the second poem by Bruce William Haynes  - he wrote it during my poetry recital into the deep salt of the ear and paper <

Lara, self-proclaimed garlic of poets

barefoot, airborne, volcano

how can one help but feeling boring before your

burning restlessness

let me lead the scientist

searching for the definition of life

here into Caritas

at this McGregor Poetry Festival

to observe

your urgent bellows intake of breath

at the small of your neck

as you kneel

wide eyed in the dirt

before the fire of your life

Thank you Lara

for the gift

of the sparks

of your short-lived stars

 - Bruce William Haynes

Thank you to both poets who have captured something so much more personal and magical than any recording or photo ever could.