A few years ago I started doing an activity with students in honor choirs that I conduct:  I have them write on half a                                                         note card an answer to a simple prompt, then I read all of the responses, group them together and choose lines to                                                           create a poem to read at the concert.  I thought you might get a kick out of this.  SO - here are the poems that I put                                                           together from anonymous lines written by students in the honor choir I am working with this weekend in Vancouver.

                                                  Happy weekend!  (February 4, 2023)

                                                  Nicole

 

 

Subject: LCRMEA Poems

LCRMEA Honor Choir, 2.4.23 

 

I am the... 

The nurturing energy 

The bringer of laughter 

I am the voice to keep going even though others around me don’t want to 

 

I’m the stable rock 

The fighter 

The protector 

The force of great strength 

and mobility to get things done 

I am the strongest I can be in any given moment 

I’m the reason my best friend is alive  

Because I’m the light at the end of the tunnel 

 

I’m the calm after a storm 

The silence before a crowd  

The heart that sings out loud 

 

I’m the bold connection 

The courage.. And the encouragement for my friends 

I’m the mind with a dream inside 

 

I’m the clouds when the sun goes down 

The brightest star in the darkest night 

The smile that warms the days 

The ground absorbing the sun 

And the blossoms bursting in spring 

 

I’m the beating heart of love, where kindness grows 

I’m the love in someone’s life 

And the love you need when you’re feeling down 

 

I’m the leader of my life 

I’m the foresight of life 

I am the truth 

I am the future 

_________________________________________

Based on these beautifully stated thoughts by such thoughtful students, I've attempted to place these exquisite ideas in the form of rhyming poetry. Pardon my faltering attempt. It, however, was fun trying!
Howard Meharg
 

I AM (by singers of the LCRMEA Choir of 2-4-23 - Vancouver, WA)
 
I am the nurturing energy, the bringer of laughter, the light at the end of the tunnel, 

I’m a stable rock, a fighter, protector, a force of great strength as others stumble. 
 

I am the calm after a storm, I am the heart that sings out loud. 

I bring a smile, the day is made warm on days that begin with a cloud. 
 

I’m a heart of love where kindness grows and the love you need when you’re feeling down. 

In the darkest night a bright star glows, and you know I’ll be around! 
 

As the ground absorbs the sun and the blossoms burst in the spring, 

Yes, you can know that I am one who will stand by your side and sing.

________________________________________

​

LIGHT 

In a seemingly broken world, what gives me light? 

 

Music, friends, family 

The people I love and the love we share 

Faith, God, religion, and my higher power  

Hope.     Sunshine. 

Pets  

 

What gives me light? 

Calculus 

Learning, Creating, and listening 

Singing, Music, and choir, and a passionate music community 

 

What gives me light? 

Little acts of kindness 

The promise of a new day 

Stormy skies followed by purple twilight 

 

What gives me light? 

The love from others – my relationships and connections 

Compassion.       Calm.         Community. 

Laughter.    Encouragement.     Freedom. 

Acceptance. 

 

What gives me light?  

Helping others when I can 

Satisfaction with my own circumstances 

Hope  

​

Using ideas from what these honor choir students have said, I have tried to condense these thoughts into rhyming poetry. Here is my version of what these wonderful students have said:

Dr. Lamartine's second question to the honor choir students was "What gives me light?" Here, I'm hoping, is a poem  using much of the material from what the students wrote and a bit of writing using a rhyming style: (HM)

 

WHAT GIVES ME LIGHT?
(A thoughtful question from Dr. Nicole Lamartine to honor choir students)

 

What gives me light? Is that your query?
In a broken world, what brings the light?
With one quick thought, here’s a theory,
It’s the people I love and the love we carry
Into each day’s promise, a promise bright.

 

What gives me light? You ask again!
It’s laughter, encouragement, freedom and acceptance,
It’s little acts of kindness, reaching to attain
Compassion, calm, community as we regain
Hope that leads us on to joy and, yes,  transcendence.

 

What gives me light? We can’t ignore
The joy of music, especially choirs
That bring unity of voice, minds, and explore
Harmony in sound, rhythm, and more.
What gives me light? Singing inspires!

________________________________________

Click here to see/read similar responses to two different questions posed by Dr. Lamartine and answered by students (a year ago) at the February, 2022 Suburban East Conference Music Festival in Minneapolis

 

Nicole C. Lamartine, DMA
She/Her
Director of Choirs
Music Department
McIntyre 122
307-399-0042
nicole.lamartine@cwu.edu
cwu.edu/music