Sweet Harmony
Nine years ago, when I visited friends from my childhood that I hadn’t seen for scores of years, we had a wonderful time going through a box of mementos and then gathering around the piano to make music as sweet as the memories. Susan is a wonderful pianist and Karen a professional-level singer with a lovely soprano voice that always sends chills down my back. Patti and I, good high school altos that we once were, created the harmony. A perfect day with three of my favorite people whom I don’t see often enough. Sweet Harmony for sure.
Sweet Harmony
As the pianist deftly presses out her chords,
the soprano’s voice slides smoothly from her throat
while we others strain until “Dear Heart” syrups our vocal chords
and we slip with less effort up and down the scale—
old friends singing even older songs.
The small dog snuggles in,
balancing on the plush chair back.
The mother of the pianist and the soprano
observes from her frame atop the piano.
All husbands out and about on other business.
Old letters reread, old memories pulled from forgetfulness,
each of us is left at the end richer—hearts refilled
from a shared past. Every word
has been a song of its own—
our notes blending together
in perfect harmony.
The My Vivid Blog prompt is “sing.”
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 
A vivid presentation of a memorable day. The mother looking down from her frame is such a sensitive touch
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She (Their mother, Ruth) was such a remarkable person. The entire family was. Their middle daughter, Karen, was my sister’s best friend and their mother, a former professional singer, was such a smart and funny person. I still remember and can replicate the whistle with which she called her girls in from the playground at night. They moved to Minnesota when I was 10 (I think…perhaps younger) but their daughters came back to visit and my whole family stopped to spend the night with them in St. Paul when we were on vacation when I was 13 and then my niece moved to Minneapolis and she and her daughters still live there so I see Karen and Susan when I go to visit. It has been a few years, though. A very special family.
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Whenever Karen came to spend the night with my sister, she would bring her Bonnie Braids doll to spend the night with me. This was so kind and I’ve never forgotten that. Karen still has her and I took a photo of her when I visited 10 years ago or so.
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Thank you for this supplement, Judy
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Thanks for sharing your beautiful memory Judy. A beautiful poem
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Thanks, Sadje. I just sent both of these ladies my two books about the town I grew up in and they grew up in for awhile and remember fondly. I can’t wait to hear their reactions (and perhaps contradictions) to the tales told.
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How lovely 🥰
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This made me weep with joy.
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Ah. Me, too.
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Utterly sweet and lovely.
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