Unification Project

Post by **indar** » Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:09 pm

We stumbled on it because
of the 25 percent coupon
off the entire order
down at the Harbor
Broiler Restaurant.
They gather every Thursday night:
The American Ukulele Society.

At their dinner tables
4-string strummers
kept time with their heads:
chicken-strut action, foot tapping in unison.
A little wine through the night
improved the singing.

Words projected on an overhead screen
Waitresses made their way through
senior, swaying ladies. delivering food.

The music went on like the pipes of war
some stopped to eat others kept the faith.
What the world needs now
is ukuleles,
good food and old music:

we need to gather, break bread and sing.

http://ukulelesocietyofamerica.com/

Post by **Colm Roe** » Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:48 pm

Love it!
The movement is growing here

It's an instrument that only declares joy, joy, joy...you can only love, love, love it.

Post by **indar** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 10:02 am

Thank you Colm,

Guitars are for protest songs, ukuleles are for joy and love

I went down into the room where they were playing (you can see some windows above the group in the video---that's where we sat) and I asked to try fingering the strings to see how hard (or painful) it is to hold them down. Not bad. After this experience, I went online and looked at Ukes for sale. I will probably never follow through but who knows---if my career as a poet fails I might pursue it

Post by **Colm Roe** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 6:37 pm

Looks like great craic

What were you wearing? Were you playing? I'd like to locate 'indar' in the room :)

Post by **indar** » Thu Jan 31, 2019 7:01 pm

that link was to their home page. The night we saw them, there were about twice as many people and they were less "uptight" than in the video.

Post by **Colm Roe** » Fri Feb 01, 2019 6:48 pm

Next time it might be you on stage

Keep us posted re your progress.
I had considered taking it up. But there's enough unpleasantness in the world at the moment

Post by **indar** » Fri Feb 01, 2019 11:32 pm

let me know when you get yours

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Feb 02, 2019 2:25 am

Enjoyed the poem ukeles not so much. I would drop the pipes of war as not really fitting to all that joy

Post by **indar** » Sat Feb 02, 2019 7:53 am

I would drop the pipes of war as not really fitting to all that joy

Hmmmm---I amused myself with the contrast between opposing forces: war pipes vs ukuleles, each unfailing in their pursuit of war vs. singalong

Thanks for the read and comments Dave

Post by **Tracy Mitchell** » Sat Feb 02, 2019 8:07 am

This is a warm and engaging poem with much to like. There are some places where the attention to detail seems to slack off a bit. But the heart of it is strong. The Speaker brings the reader to the fest where we can all share the encouraging thought of breaking bread and singing together.

The poem starts slowly – the first three lines seem weak and introductory. The coupon plays no continuing role in the poem. The link you provided discloses that hula lessons precede the Ukulele Society Mtg – perhaps the Speaker was in that class which ran late?

Perhaps lead S.2 with "Four-string strummers". Just a thought.

S.3 - consider placing "delivering food" in L.2 following 'waitresses'.

S.4 -- The music went on . . . -- perhaps something more active, something better paired with pipes of war. marched on / rose / promenaded / unfolded . . . ?

S.4 L.3 - delete "now" -- I don't think you want that song reference.

Love the closing and the overall feel of the poem.

Cheers.

T

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