This Poem was Submitted By: Marcia McCaslin On Date: 2004-04-10 17:46:42 . . . Click Here To Mail this Poem to a Friend!

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Country Music

I see the dance floor, smell the sawdust, watch the couples swaying to the silver vocals of Emmy Lou, her sweet soprano  singing “Save The Last Dance For  Me”.   I’ve just fallen to pieces with Patsy Cline, and promised Willie not to let my babies  grow up to be cowboys. I make light of it, but, in truth, the  music brings  me to tears, and the lyrics pluck  me dry. Granted, my own inner song twangs a bit flat at times; my strings need to be changed by careful fingers, and   my wood is  thirsty. But give me “Three Chords And The Truth”, repeated choruses of “God Must Be A Cowboy” (well, maybe throw in a shot  of   “Jose Cuervo”) and I can still be played.

Copyright © April 2004 Marcia McCaslin

This Poem was Critiqued By: Jennifer j Hill On Date: 2004-05-06 14:17:43
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.86364
Oh girlfrin, yu got it goin on! Did I ever have all your poems in one clump that stayed forever at the bottom of my list. Perseverence paid off. They are finally at the top portion. YAY! First your Haiku/senyru, and now this. It's my lucky day. :) This is the most pleasing structure and poem for that matter. Personally , sometimes I just want a poem I don't have to try to analyse. One that just tells me how the cow ate the cabbage. HA! Is that country enough for you? lol. I think I'm giddy from your Haiku. Sorry...I'll chill. This is simple, yet enjoyable. It puts the reader there on the dance floor. Love the olfactory stimulation! I adore that song by Emmy Lou. She's a fav of mine. I have a Christmas CD that has her version of "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem", and it's very lovely. Ditto for the music of Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson. Great metaphor in s-4! But your ending is superb. Still be played indeed! Thanks for the laughs, IMO you're a real class act. Blessings, Jennifer

This Poem was Critiqued By: Jordan Brendez Bandojo On Date: 2004-05-03 18:57:20
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.70732
Hi Marcia, Wonderful sharing of country music. I am not familiar with "Save The Last Dance For Me". But I am sure it tickles your heart. God Must Be A Cowboy? I hope I can find that piece! Do you play a guitar? of any instruments? Nice to hear you hum and sing in this piece, Marcia! Jordan
This Poem was Critiqued By: Sherri L Smith On Date: 2004-04-18 17:01:19
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
Marcia, Again, I am so glad to have you back. I love the way that you picture things, and this could easily be a country song. I do not know how to write music, but this would certainly work. I love the references to the old country and the one song that I think is the most fun is Jose Cuervo! Are you submitting to song writers? Are you submitting anywhere? You must!! Sherri
This Poem was Critiqued By: Joanne Duval Morgan On Date: 2004-04-14 08:15:05
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 10.00000
What a nifty way you incorporate here Marcia, as a matter of fact my head remembers the Marine Corps, and the beaches in California, my first radio that played tapes, Patsy Cline's voice spread out over the beach, the mellowness of country sound captured, to lead me into the country music fold, unknown and realized by me, all that music Mom sang was of county origin, and her favorite was Daddy, but unless I were to rehear it, I'd instantly remember the title, , Good Bye Goodbye Little Darlin are some of the lyrics I do remember, anyway my whole young adulthood, to the present readily accepts the sounds you build on here, for in the routine of life, there is always country music. Lyrics are always a part of your projection, as they are in this poem, it's a song in it's own right, and I find my body swaying to the music once again. Love it, my love to you, keep writing it's always a pleasure for a visit from you........Jo
This Poem was Critiqued By: Thomas Edward Wright On Date: 2004-04-12 05:49:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.28000
M- This makes the piece: I make light of it, but, in truth, the music brings me to tears, and the lyrics pluck me dry. But this is brings tears to my eyes!: But give me “Three Chords And The Truth”, repeated choruses of “God Must Be A Cowboy” (well, maybe throw in a shot of “Jose Cuervo”) and I can still be played. WEll done, pardner! t
This Poem was Critiqued By: marilyn terwilleger On Date: 2004-04-11 17:37:10
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.87500
Hi Marcia, You and I seem to be heating up the link! This one got my toes to tapping...I love to dance my only problem if finding a man to dance with! Your song choices are great and the manner in which you presented them here is so quick-witted!..'swaying to the vocal of Emmy Lou' I immediately had the tune of 'Save the last dance for me'..running through my brain..The second stanza made me grin from ear to ear..'I have just fallen to pieces with Patsy Cline and promised Willie not to let my babies grow up to be cowboys' How clever is that...bravo.In the third and fourth stanzas you become wistful...'the music brings me to tears and the lyrics pluck me dry'...I know this feeling..sad but happy all at the same time....'my own song twangs a bit flat at times'...I love this line. there was a time when I did not like western music until it became more country because it all had that irritating twang that drove me nuts..consequently my husband forced me to listen to it just to be mean! I play the piano and my favorite pieces are the classics so he would torture me endlessly...boy do I ever miss that now....'my strings need to be changed by carful fingers and my wood is thirsty' love this line! You give us a resounding last stanza that again shows your funny bone that has made this piece a joy to read....'throw in a shot of "Jose Cuervo" and I can still be played! Thanks for making my day! Blessings Marilyn
This Poem was Critiqued By: arnie s WACHMAN On Date: 2004-04-10 19:48:02
Critiquer Rating During Critique: Unknown
Ah yes, but "save the last dance for me..." will ya? Good ol' two steppin' music. Do you line dance? I don't. I lived in cowboy country for 30 years and never learned how. I love your "the lyrics pluck me dry" line. Great stuff there. Very original. Novel and new poem. Thanks for posting.
This Poem was Critiqued By: Wayne R. Leach On Date: 2004-04-10 18:35:46
Critiquer Rating During Critique: 9.89474
Marcia, a nice light-hearted piece - at first, then Patsy's and Willie's "tear-jerkers" take the reader into the real story being told here in the 3rd stanza. Those staccato lines really give it the proper tone, I think. The pleading tone of S4 is answered very well in the final verse - with even a hint of humor in "Jose Cuervo". I love your choices of music. My cousin "Moe" is quite a musician, and I have a couple of his CD's. On one, he does that "God Must Be a Cowboy" song, and I really love it. The older ones are mostly all favorites of mine. Quite a lot of assonance [see, sweet, Me][swaying, Save][to, Lou] in S1 that makes it smooooth and danceable. My only [mild] suggestion might be to see if the line count of the stanzas could be equalized somehow. It just might make it a little more musical than it already is. Only a thought. Loved it. Write on in peace and harmony. :>) Wayne
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