Friday, February 11, 2011

Dangling My Legs Off the Moon

I am going to do something radical today.
Something that I may regret.

....Are you ready? ;)

Okay. Last summer I wrote a poem-of-sorts that I call "Dangling My Legs Off the Moon". I wrote it after going to one of the Planetarium shows at the Creation Museum in KY.
I have always been rather creeped out by outer space but this show was just so amazing. It took you on an in depth tour through the solar system and... wow. It was absolutely incredible. (It definitely served as a reminder of how small we are and how big God is!) The show was also very calming and it made me feel that I was sitting on the moon and observing the galaxy. (Hence the poem.)

And now for the part I may regret...
I turned my poem (Dangling My Legs Off the Moon) into a song. I've only written a handful of songs though I've improvised many instrumental pieces on the piano. But I forget them as soon as the last note dies away. (A fact which causes me more than a little bit of sorrow.)
Sometimes, though, I will take one of my poems and sit down at the piano with a blank piece of sheet music and a pencil expressly with the purpose of writing a song. One song can take months though, since I'm only comfortable doing it when I am home alone which rarely happens these days.

I have been debating for quite some time whether or not to post this song. I vacillated, arguing that "no one wants to hear my stupid little song" and "couldn't I just post the poem without the recording?"
"No," I chided myself, "the poem and the melody now belong together and you cannot separate them."
So, today I am finally throwing caution to the winds and posting it. I may be filled with regret since I have grave insecurities about the whole thing... but if I do not post my little song, which I am rather fond of, it will languish on my hard drive. What a terrible fate!


But first I must apologize for all the things wrong with the recording.
1. The sound isn't great. I use a microphone that's in my laptop and I just place the laptop on top of the piano. So it's very poor sound quality, to say the least.
2. My vocals aren't great either (not to mention my enunciation!). Sitting down isn't the best position to sing from. And while I no longer cringe when I hear my voice in recordings I find no beauty in it so, yeah....
3. In the second to last stanza I sing the word "And" when it should have been the word "But". (I can't even get my own lyrics right! Sheesh! :P) I make other mistakes as well, in my piano playing but I won't go into those right now.

Alright... enough self-deprecation. Here we go.






Dangling my legs off the side of the moon
I am dangling my legs off the side…

I've never known a silence as quiet as this
I've never known such misty intensity

Against a purple velvet sky stars group together
In sequined clusters twinkling, twinkling
They’re not so little as we sing

I’m infinitely small
In these galactic realms
And I don’t feel hollow or alone
As I thought I would

Lighthearted and free
I sit and I swing
My dangling legs off the moon





{Aren't nebulae so stunning? I realized that's what I was describing in the 2nd and 3rd stanza of my poem.}



{Picture found here.}

23 comments:

  1. ♥dear, the recording won't play -- on my computer at least... haaaay naku... i wanted to hear it :) but it's okay... and are you kidding, melee? many people including myself wants to make their own songs but doesn't possess the talent... but you, melee, you have it in you :) i say you are awesome :) and also, i like that poem too ♥

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  2. Oh, darn. That's rather vexing. Very sorry about that. (I wonder if it is just your computer or what? Hm...)
    Awww, thank you dear. Your comment made me smile. <3

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  3. haha! maybe it's just my computer dear... :) *hug*

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  4. Melee, that's a great song!! You have a lovely voice (and way better than my singing), and I love the piano part. :) The song definitely fits the inspiration, too.

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  5. haze: Must be. Computers are ornery little things, aren't they? ;) *hugs*

    Marian: Thank you so much for your extremely encouraging comment! It especially means a lot coming from such a talented musician/lover of music as yourself. :)

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  6. 1. I have no idea what you're talking about as you clearly have a lovely voice. It has a high, eerie quality that I've always found enchanting. (Of course, I don't particularly like MY recorded voice either.)
    2. Your poem is beautiful. I love the whole thing, and I kind of want to paint a picture of a girl on the moon.
    3. Your song is beautiful too. You're so talented! I would have no idea how to write a song. Well, dropping piano lessons when I was thirteen probbly has something to do with that.
    4. Nebulae are breathtaking. The end.
    5. Would it be alright if I emailed you? I find myself curious about you, and I'd like to get to know you a little better. (And now I feel I should say that, just in case that was creepy, I apologize. But I hope not.)

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  7. Oh my... Wow. I just can't believe how beautiful this song and your voice is! I would honestly pay money to buy this song. This is just so incredibly amazing. Your voice has such an enchanting quality and you are so talented to be able to play the piano so incredibly. Please, please, take this song further, to a recording studio or something of the sort, I would love to hear the audio in crisp quality. Dear, I am overjoyed that you decided to share this with us. Thank you, so much. xxxxx

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  8. You are utterly AMAZING. I am stunned! I knew it'd be good, but I didn't think it'd be quite this breathtaking! the poem, the voice, everything. Well done. xx

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  9. It is absolutely lovely.
    I loved every note, every word.
    x

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  10. Such a magical poem and the melody <3 You are very talented and you do have a beautiful voice (I wish I could sing like that). xxx

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  11. Hey Melee, I'm sorry I haven't been replying to your comments lately, although I did read and appreciate them :)
    I might just do what you suggested on my valentines day post, chocolate sounds good haha :)
    Your song was lovely! You have a great voice, and you were right; the poem and the melody do belong woth each other :) well done! :)

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  12. Hi Melee, I absolutely love your song! Your voice is expressive & beautiful. The melody is so pleasant. The piano playing is also very expressive and the words are poetic and fit the melody well. Thank you for sharing this.

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  13. I came back here, to simply hear your beautiful song. This is just whimsical. xxx

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  14. Jenica: 1. Oh, thank you for all of your sweetest words. No one does seem to like their recorded voices, do they? It amazes me how different we sound to ourselves.
    2. You should do that! The only painting I am good at is finger painting. ;)
    3. Honestly, I have no idea how to write a song either! I was petrified for so long wanting to write a song but having no idea how to go about it. I still doubt my method is very ethical but I guess it doesn't matter in the long run.
    4. Amen!
    5. Um... YES! That would be awesome. That's not creepy at all. In fact, I've been wanting to know more about you too and probably would have eventually asked If I could email you. So, yes. That would be wonderful. My email is right over there on the sidebar (which you probably know, but I don't want to make any assumptions). :)


    Joanna: Oh goodness, I don't feel nearly deserving enough of your lovely comment - thank you. It is a dream of mine to someday record an album or even just an EP. For now it is just a dream, but I do not know what the future may hold... :) And thank you for coming back! I was flabbergasted when I read that. <3


    mckenzie: Awww, thank you! You are such an encouragement to me, darling. <3

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  15. Anonymous: Thank you from the very bottom of my heart. :)


    E: Oh, thank you, dear, ever so much! You are so sweet. <3


    P.s. I am Me: Oh, that's perfectly alright! Don't worry about it. :) Thank you very, very much.


    Jade: Thank you so much, my dear. I always appreciate your thoughtful and kind comments. <3

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  16. Wowowowow, haha! That was beautiful! I'm always impressed with people who can create with music; it's something I never learned to do as a kid and I kind of regret I missed out on it. I'm so amazed at the haunting melody you've created for you poem. Your voice is very lovely too (don't deny it. It was pretty cool :D). If you combine your poems and music again, you should share them again. Thank you!

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  17. okay Melee dear, i finally heard it... at long last! i was feeling bitter that i'm the only one who couldn't listen so i hit the play button again, and viola.

    ♥that was so beautiful, love! i'm so glad i came back. :)

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  18. This is such a sweet little piece that you have written here dearest! You are so brave for putting up something as personal as this, and I am so very glad you did!

    xx and hugs

    Jhordyn

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  19. CloudyKim: Hehe, thank you so much! I have my mother to thank for that. She made all of us children take piano lessons whether we wanted to our not. If I ever write another song I feel is worthy I will definitely share it. :)

    haze: So glad it finally worked for you, dear! Thank you. <3

    Jhordyn Ashley: Thank you, dearest! It did take a mustering of my courage to do it but your (and everyone's) words make me glad I did. :)

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  20. Okay, this is unrelated to your post. But I got both your emails and now I'm unsure if I should respond via the same, if you've been hacked? xoxo

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  21. Hey Jenica, I think my email is fine now but I went ahead and changed emails. My new email is thepeculibletree@gmail.com. I meant to send an email telling you but I hadn't gotten around to it. So, yeah. Just email me at that new address there. :)

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  22. beautiful Malee! I hope you will be posting more of your work soon! I do wish I could play an instrument - and what a wonderful expression a singing voice is... Lovely! Happy holidaying to you! Mika x

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  23. Thank you, dearest M. I hope to be able to do that soon! It is a most wonderful expression, indeed. :)
    Happy holidaying to you too!

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Silhouettes of a secret. A story told over a cuppa. Or perhaps just sitting on that stone bench, basking in the moonlight... and not saying anything at all.


("I can no other answer make but thanks, and thanks, and ever thanks." -Shakespeare, Twelfth Night)