A Singer's Hands

Of course, Ukraine has been on my mind lately, like it has been on everyone's mind. Yesterday, someone on my Facebook feed posted a field recording of an old Ukrainian woman singing. I was very struck by the song and her haunting voice as well as by her powerful presence. However, the thing that struck me the most was her hands: strong, thick and always moving as she sang. They were very expressive: a life, emotions, age, strength. So, I made this video using two of my poems which I feel relate to loss, strength, war,  grief and love; I feel like they connect to a sense of what is happening now.

I used a close-up of this singer's hands in this video as well as introducing other visual elements. The music is a remix that I did (adding various clarinets and saxophones plus a bunch of electronics) to a recording of a rehearsal which my sister-in-law Pam Campbell sent me of her singing with her group Tupan. 

 Blue Train

  

so many accordions on the roof of the blue train. 

What is history?

The tracks travel to the horizon.

Quick! Let’s travel faster than memory.

Now a song. 

“so many accordions on the roof of the blue train.

What is history?

The tracks travel to the horizon.

Quick! Let’s travel faster than memory.”

*

life is long

life is long

(don’t worry)

 

except for its sudden end

(I mean it)

here we say something about love

 

life is long

foot falls

the war

 

but like I said

I said

except for its end

 

life is long

(don’t worry)

(don’t)

 

a sudden end means

it was a rocket

a rocket

 

like a foot fall 

a foot fall

landing on the ground 

 

like maybe when you were running

running

until the end

 

but of course I miss you

I miss you

you’re not here

 

not here

and all I can do

is walk