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Sue Spitulnik

Writing, Sewing, Travel, and Thoughts

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A Birthday Poem for Jacob

Music. The universal language.

When there’s a beat, toes tap and bodies sway.

It can be fast and exciting, evoke feelings of loneliness,

Or have an air of peace and tranquility.

Animals even surround a singer with a guitar

I’ve watched it happening on a video.

Music. It’s one reason I met my husband

He wanted a dance partner

We could fill an empty floor

Just the two of us doing an old fashioned swing

Usually during the dinner hour

When the DJ played the crooner’s songs

Music. We sing along when alone in the car

And it takes us away from our today

People clean house to it

Surgeons operate to it

Children wiggle their bodies and butts

Grinning while being the center of attention

Music, the universal language

Aging backs took away our dance steps

So we enjoy listening, sitting near the band

In bars like the Spirit Room.

It brought us here, it’s why we come back

Well that and the birthday boy

Music is one of Jake’s things

He has a marvelous set of pipes

Everyone should get to hear at least once

Plus he makes a wickedly good cocktail

That might include an eyeball

And he writes poetry much better than so many others

Music, has brought us many new friends

Those who play it and those who listen

Some we’ve grown very close to and

Others are acquaintances in the crowd

Music, is alive in Rochester. It’s a big deal

And in so many locations

Sometimes we choose by the venue’s menu

Because our favorites are giging the same night

Music brings us together

By genre, talent, acoustically and otherwise

The stories that are sung

Could be yours or mine

Full of protest or gospel understanding

Patriotic even, the result is the same

It’s a way to share the reality of life

Music continues to be

Everywhere, All the time    

Happy birthday, Jacob

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A Birthday Poem

Who Is He

Who is he who has long white hair
Who is told it should be hanging down during a set?
Who is he who sometimes wears shades when singing
But, for the brand, never his readers? Oops he has them on!

Who is he who has a special redhead by his side 
With the "merch" and calendar,
Who books his gigs, keeps him busy, and takes care of the social media footprint
And who I study to learn how to market my writing?

Who is he who travels the world 
With a band waiting in every country
Or at least it seems that way from our usual front-row seats?
Well, tonight we're in the back, thankfully it's a small room.

Who is he who hit a bear in Alaska
Or according to the redhead, the bear hit them,
And I've heard open a set with a description of a
Thousand pounds on stage coming from southern Monroe County?

Who is he who can switch from the blues, to country,
To heartfelt originals in a flash,
And often travels with three pedal steels,
Plus two or more guitars that have names? One is Louise.

We can't put a date on when we met him
But we're sure glad we did,
Our music appreciation has expanded
And our group of music friends continues to grow.

We appreciate you Son Henry or
Karl Henry Mann, whatever your name is on any given day.
We love the boot stompin', chair dancin' singer man
We follow around town to old places new to us and new places to us all.

Thank you for the music that fills our souls.
Happy birthday our special friend. 
We love celebrating with you and Carolina.
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Same Words, Different Thoughts

It’s interesting how song lyrics can elicit different thoughts in different people.

 Thad played the melody to “Hit the Road Jack” on the piano and sang the words as if trying to perfect the phrasing.

 Mac remembered being ushered out of his pregnant Vietnamese girlfriend’s house by her unrelenting angry father and said, “Son, the band will NOT be singing that song.”

Michael added, “I don’t care to sing that either. It brings up painful memories.”

Tessa kept her good memory to herself. She had enjoyed a look of shock from her ex when she said it to him.   

Written in response to Charli Mills April 29, 2021, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story using the phrase, “hit the road, Jack.” You can interpret the phrase any way you like — road trip, goodbye, or story. Go where the prompt leads!

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Music For All Occasions

When Katie arrived at the No Thanks to stock before opening, she was surprised to see all the band member’s cars except Mac’s. When she stepped onto the macadam she could feel the thump of a bass and hear muffled sounds of a heavy metal band. Strange! She went inside, and recognized Tyrell’s cousins playing the extra guitars. Michael was pounding on the piano like it was an enemy. When the song ended she looked their way. “What gives?”

Her father grinned. “Just an escape. Playing out our anger at how the VA can screw things up so easily.”

Written in response to Charli Mills March 25 2021, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write an escape. It can be daring or subtle. Who is escaping from what and why? Go where the prompt leads! 

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Tapping Fingers – flash fiction

“Tap, tap, tap, tap. Michael’s fingers do it all day, sometimes in rhythm and sometimes not. It can get on my nerves.”

Michael’s mother nodded in understanding. “Have you ever seen the Dear Abbey response to the woman complaining about her snoring husband? It was something like, be happy he’s alive, be happy he’s home where you want him to be, and thankful he’s not out with another woman. And in Michaels’ case, it keeps him hearing music, not the sounds of war.”

Tessa thought. “Next time it gets to me I’ll ask him to sing what he’s hearing.”

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Rainbow’s Adventure

In high spirits, the veterans loaded the van after finishing their inaugural concert at the library. No one noticed Rainbow, the resident library cat, scoot out the door, jump into the van and hide under equipment.

After stopping for a leisurely meal, when opening the van door, Rainbow leaped into a surprised Tessa’s arms. “You little sneak! We’ll have to take you home.”

Rainbow sat like a queen on Michael’s lap looking out the window on the return drive.

The staff was relieved to see her. “Odd, she’s never done that before. She must have liked your patriotic music.”

Written in response to Charli Mills February 20, 2020, prompt at Carrot Ranch Literary: In 99 words (no more, no less), write a story about a library cat named Rainbow who escapes. Use this situation to write what happens next. Where does this e=situation take place, and who else might be involved? Go where the prompt leads!

 

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