[Harp-L] Soul and Harmonica

[Shubham Harnal]

Talking of poems, I had this one tucked in somewhere on my computer:

Inhale and exhale as an erratic constant
Really an afterthought
A muscle memory
Learned so it can be forgotten
Lips compressing contorting convulsing constraining 
Pressing pushing pulsing pausing
Thrusting twisting slipping sliding
Eyes bulging 
Cheeks straining 
Forehead sweating
Body sweating
Face contorts distorts and legs resist the pressure
Against a thin piece of metal that
Left to its own devices is nothing
Nothing at all
Nothing without the other
And a single note emerging
Loose… loose in the room
The room is filled
Lonely loathing gloating soulful
Shaky swoony swanky squeaky
Boasting bragging bashful barking
Now barely audible
A single note
A single note instantly recognizable for what it is 
The entire meaning of a person’s existence

No Idea who wrote or where it came from.

Kind Regards,
Shubham Harnal

-----Original Message-----
From: Harp-L [mailto:harp-l-bounces at xxxxx] On Behalf Of Richard Hunter
Sent: Monday, January 16, 2017 1:58 PM
To: harp-l at xxxxx; harp-l at xxxxx
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Soul and Harmonica

BB wrote:
<My harmonica is alive.
<Early in the quiet morning, when I am gentle, it teaches me new things.
<Such a humble instrument with insight into breath and sound.

Lovely little poem. And so true.

After 50 years playing the instrument, the single thing I hear most in it is the sound of breath.  It's the sound of breath that animates every note that comes from the instrument, even when that note is transformed with a battery of electronics.

And as the author notes, 'early in the quiet morning" is the right time to pick up the instrument, every day.  Mississippi Fred McDowell taught his students to roll out of bed and pick up the guitar while their minds were wide-open.  The smae applies to harmonica.

Thanks, Richard Hunter

--
"The Lucky One" 21st century rock harmonica project at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/richard-hunter-s-the-lucky-one/x/5259889#/
Author, "Jazz Harp" (Oak Publications, NYC) Latest mp3s and harmonica blog at http://hunterharp.com Vids at http://www.youtube.com/user/lightninrick
Twitter: @lightninrick­­­‪­‪­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­‪­­­­‪­­‪‪‪­‪‪­­­‪­‪­­­­‪‪­­‪­‪­­­­