Voice Lessons

Voice Lessons

for SC

How are they born, the
universal truths of pitch,
tone, resonance, texture?
To sing like the small wind
painting my lover’s skin,
orange-gold tones emerging
like adult monarchs from
chrysalises.

We begin with vocalises,
fantasy syllables to
loosen tongue, palette
and sound box. Eyes
closed, shoulders back,
head centered, leaning
slightly forward on the
balls of my feet, as if
to make a free-throw.

Rectus and transversus
abdominus are
bellows stoking my
vocal forge. Piano
chords ricochet off
studio walls, painted
reassuring-green.

The first vocalise,
shu papa, shu papa,
shu papa, shu hints
at meaning, but instead
just animates the
pine siskins feeding
outside the open
studio window.