Harmony meters measure
The moods rising
Off the tarmacadam.
Adults, in the swing of
Bills, forget to smile.
Less entertained by obligations
In the local park, a
Teen plays a keyboard
Harvests raw blurred notes, hint
Of a cool soundtrack.
High harmony
Readings encompass
The radiant child.
Echoes of lyrics dignify
The sensual pitch of her
Voice. She sings:
“Harmony travels
at the speed of joy.
A luminous poet is as light
as an ounce of osmosis.
Time after time
Parents, in the swing of
bills, forget to smile.
Moods rising… radiant child.”
Michele D'Acosta 
Love this one – superb!
Thank you so much. It’s such a pleasure to know you enjoyed reading about the radiant child 🙂
thank u….
Thank you, it’s my pleasure… did you recognize yourself at all?
glimplez of mee i thought. I am honoured that u write something so beautiful about me.
Yes, after reading your incredible blog and the amazing work you’re doing to raise awareness of political prisoners in America — you were a key inspiration for this poem. Others who inspired this poem are Bridget Barkan, Jean Michel Basquiat and Tanyeno at archaicsugar.wordpress.com
I am glad that u find my blog informative. Again i am honoured and knowing it comez from someone such az u it iz blacktastic. Panther Love
WOW! Beautiful.
Thank you for reading and for your kind words. I take them to heart.
I give them from the heart….. “The moods rising off the tarmacadam”…… “forget to smile”….. yes oh yes. This is Radiance.
I’ve often seen poetry in songs before, but never a song in a poem. I really liked that.
Brian, thank you for your wonderful observation. Keep up your great work. I’m a big fan 🙂
I am smiling today. Thank you.
Johnny, that’s wonderful. Hope you’re having a great day.
Children keep us connected to the magic and joy in the world. My daughter is a radiant child who just wants to smile and play. We have to make time for that.
Lovely comment and so good to hear about your daughter. You are blessed to have a radiant child.
I do feel blessed. Thanks!
So, so good Michele! My favorite part: “Adults, in the swing of/Bills, forget to smile.” but, after reading this, I didn’t forget! 😉
Glad you enjoyed the poem and the reminder for the bills 🙂
Beautifully done
Much appreciate your kind words. Thank you.
Glorious just like u!
Haha… thank you. You’re beautiful (and my original radiant)!!!
That is so beautiful and so true. I think I have found my way to embrace more peace, happiness and fun. Painting is a joy!
Catherine, thank you for your generous words and for sharing how you found fulfilment. So good to hear that your painting brings you joy. You have an amazing gift.
Oh it’s absolutely rubbish so far, I’m just practising. Love it though 🙂
Not at all. You deserve the compliment 🙂
So many truly beautiful lines in this poem – I loved the way they flowed through my mind conjuring up such images!
And the accompanying picture – a work of art.
Thank you. It means so much to me to read your words and to know that the poem (and artwork) connected with you in some meaningful way. You are most kind. Peace and blessings, Michele
Love it, I haven’t heard the term, tarmacadam since I left England in 1960. It brought back an immediate memory of summer days, walking to the shop with my sister to buy an ice cream. We stopped to look at the bubbles of tar on the road. I can still smell it. Thanks for bringing that back with your work.
Cheers
Laurie.
Laurie, so wonderful to read your comment. I’m delighted the word tarmacadam brought back fond memories for you. I enjoyed the glimpse into your summers in England. Many blessings, Michele
Ah, gorgeous.:)
-Jennifer
Jennifer, many thanks. So glad you enjoyed the journey of the radiant child 🙂
Wow, super poem, Michele! I liked the word tarmacadam and had to look it up (which made me happy as I love to learn new words and have the most wonderful dictionary). A hard flat surface, as for a road or pavement consisting of layers of crushed stone with a tar binder that is rolled until smooth… Well, the poem just sings a new hym straight away, doesn’t it! Now I have heard plenty of tales from the road but never seen the mood(s) rising from it, how fantastic! If coupled with the literal meaning, of the road being made up of crushed stone, layered and rolled out, well – that just breaks the heart as the mood rises from such devastating chaos! ‘Less entertained by obligation’ fantastic line, a really subtle suggestion of angst/upset, like saying ‘okay, i’ll do it (because I feel I have to) but I am NOT happy about it’ (there is something more rude in my head but I shan’t swear in front of a lady, either way – it is a great line). Finally: ‘Harmony travels at the speed of joy’. I would weep with delight, m’lady, what an enchanting and positive thing to write. Euphoric, pal. *hugs* from Baldy xx
“Hugs” back to you Kieran/Baldy and thank you so much for your amazing comment. Your (new) understanding of the word tarmacadam lifted my feet off the ground! You completely got the meaning behind “less entertained by…” and I’m overjoyed you delighted in the speed of harmony 🙂 Your generous appreciation is something to be treasured. I have the greatest respect for you. Peace and blessings, Michele
*happy dance*
Bless you, Michele, I smile as soon as I see your beautiful smiling avatar. I hope you are well, have a great day, my friend 🙂
Michele – did you do the art work as well? One of your tags was “soul retrieval” which gives the whole poem an even deeper layer of meaning.
My apologies, if you’re confused by my response to your comment on the Weekly Photo Challenge. It’s been a challenging day! The “soul retrieval” question is very relevant to this poem. And, yes, I did the artwork 🙂 Thank you for your patience.
Yes, I didn’t want to ask any nosey questions….we all need to find that radiant child – again, or for the first time – within ourselves.
Thank you, you’re wonderful 🙂
Beautiful poem and art. I always wonder if whatI see on my little IPhone screen is what you paint. Woman in a room, red top, dark pants, bare feet, thinking half consciously about a sad faced man, older maybe worn by life or illness or both. And big red scissor handles. She has her back to history and her hands reach through to paint in light.
Anyway beautiful work.
Wow, I love your interpretation of the poem and the artwork and appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts. What’s interesting is that you’ve picked up on some of the subliminal messages buried in the image. Quite incredible! Do you have a third eye that sees into your iphone? Lovely day to you. Michele
Yes and thanks for the warm reception and positive input.
Alex
Just FYI, I showed my daughter your picture and we agreed. Your smile is contagious. : )
Very striking artwork. Lovely. “…in the swing of bills” are lyrics from on high.
Ah, bless you and thank you — your words make me smile!
Reblogged this on daisuzoku.
I so appreciate you and your support. Thank you for reblogging Radiant Child. She’s even more radiant thanks to you… 🙂
Love this. The rhythm keeps you going and wanting more. Nice 1. God bless.
Careen, so delighted we’ve connected and hope my Jamaican roots are pulsing through the rhymes 🙂 I very much value your appreciation. God bless you.
Hey Michele, roots definitely came through 🙂 You are most welcome.
Lovely to hear you say that 🙂 Thank you.
Beautiful!
Very beautiful. 🙂 Clear-sighted and honest.
“I am here, watch me pain the sky with my colours” that is what your image and your poem say to me. How well you paint your sky with your colours Michele.
My appreciation and love are with you.
Lady Isis x
Okay, this is the first poem in which I have read the word “tarmacadam”. I learned what this word means a few months ago. Maybe my ignorance obliterated by observation of the word before… nah, no one uses that phrase here in the USA. We just call them gravel roads.
On a more conceptual note, you bring up the concept of people being distracted by their obligations to the detriment of enjoying their lives. I happen to have a conversation with some folks the other about this. I was trying to see how they organized the activities they do on a daily basis. They concluded that they do not do tasks because they want to (i.e. enjoyment or sense of meaning in the activity) but because they wanted to avoid the consequences of not doing the tasks.
Oscar
You are truly a talented spiritual individual with years greater then your physical body. I must follow you, you inspire me at many levels. My interp. and I’ll try to be short:
As the mood from the day changes to evening, the radiant child is the adult within, sways to the music for money she must have selling her body, a way she learnt from her own parents. She sings to herself reflecting the beautiful music playing in the park as what is inside her using osmosis, longing for a better way of life.
So sorry if i’m way off.. I loved it!!!!!
❤ Tara
Had been thinking earlier in the week about, melody, harmony and rhythm pulse – beat. Different voices singing to opposing or adjoining keys/moods the bills in disharmony with the radiant, a frustration in the contact of sounds, keys opposing one another. If only they paused with doing the bills for a few long moments, as their time with the radiant child will not last forever, for a child grows, and soon they will have bills to deal with, so why not find the harmony to the side instead, and sing with rather than against… Anyway, that’s my thoughts while reading your beautiful poem, Michele. Your art too?
For the non musical, here is an explanation of what I mean by the harmony of keys… http://www.didjshop.com/playingDidjHarmony.html
Speechless!!! Awesome!!! WOW!!!
Sweet you,
I’ve an award for you, for the person who you are and the things you share with the world
http://summer4soul.wordpress.com/2013/06/10/peace-is-a-free-choice-so-is-this-award/
Thank you for that..
Namasté, Summer
Michele, I can REALLY relate to this: “Adults, in the swing of
Bills, forget to smile.” I strive to keep the bigger picture in mind (although I am not perfect, by far). Beautiful poem!
Sahm, OMG… you are funny, brilliant, amazing, genius, and I want to give you the FAB award just for writing this post and inventing this award!!! It’s morning here in the UK and, already, you’ve made my day. Thank you so much for the nomination. I’m delighted you thought of my blog. I’m singing your praises 🙂
Special images… mental and visual… 😉
My favorite lines:
A luminous poet is as light
as an ounce of osmosis.
Lovely work. I could really hear the music in it. =)
It’s a nice poem. *Very* well done. I enjoyed it. Hope there’s more where that come from!
Some unusual imagery here like speed of joy, as light as osmosis. It created a beautiful scene, the glory of the child. 🙂