Author Archives: Dr. Crystal Grimes
Song of the Bluefin Tuna #Poem
Play or download the poem with zither accompaniment.
I opened up a can one day
And heard a chilling song,
Lamenting how our human wants
Have done the tuna wrong.
It sang, “You fish and fish for me,
When you have had enough,
For something you call sushi
And that other money stuff.
“I keep the balance in the sea
Atop the chain of food.
I dive with such quicksilver speed,
Fins flashing as I move.
“I’m not a goldfish in a bowl;
The ocean is my home.
I live on up to 40 years,
In breezy mists to roam.
“So, when you eat your tuna,
Because I know you will,
Take time to give a little thanks,
A moment to be still.
“The red rock desert of your heart
Is where it all begins.
Expand yours like my ocean home
Of harmony within.
“Take what you need and nothing more,
And let the others live.
Though we may be endangered still,
You understand the gift.”
I listened to the tuna’s song,
And then I bowed my head
To thank the Lord for blessing me
With tuna fish and bread.
—
For Linda Kruschke’s
Paint Chip Poetry Prompt #36, Endangered Species,
with bluefin tuna facts from
World Wildlife Fund.
“Shenandoah” DSE #5 #Music
You’re probably familiar with the beautiful traditional tune, “Shenandoah.” Though its exact origin is unknown, it may have originated with French Canadian fur traders. Some versions are also linked to cavalry men, mountain men, riverboat men, and soldiers on both sides of the Civil War. Whatever its origins, “Shenandoah” is one of the most recognizable American folk songs.
In this arrangement, I play the melody on my 22-string zither (also called a lap harp or plucked psaltery) and harmony on my 22-string lyre. One instrument for each hand allows free access to all 22 strings.
I’ve heard some beautiful harp arrangements of this song. However, unless it is a large floor harp with 34 strings or more, the hands may run into each other while playing. This is eliminated when each hand has its own full set of strings.
“Shenandoah” is the fifth in my series of
double strung experiments,
preparing for a double strung harp. The harp is the same idea, except it is designed and built with two rows of strings on a single instrument. This means that eventually, I won’t need to hold two instruments on my lap, not to mention trying to tune them in perfect unison!
I hope you enjoy this arrangement, and that you’re having a safe and happy Labor Day!
Battle Hymn of the Republic #Music
In the United States, this Civil War era hymn is known as “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.” In other countries, it is better known as “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory.” The abolitionist Julia Ward Howe wrote the lyrics in 1861, to the tune “John Brown’s Body.” Howe is my maiden name, and I’ve always wondered if she was a distant ancestor of mine. I don’t know, but I do hope you enjoy hearing this hymn played on lyre!
Have a happy, healthy, and safe Labor Day weekend!
Positive Sentience #Poem
Can you see me?
Not just with your eyes,
but with your awareness?
Your eyes do not dictate, do not judge.
In fact, they don’t even see on their own.
Everything happens in the mind.
Your perception sees,
experiences, takes in,
and the mind creates your opinions.
Remember: You are sentient!
You are free
to perceive good if, when, and where you choose.
Yes, there is negativity in this world,
even in your thoughts.
But your mind is so much greater!
Open yourself
to
positive sentience!
—
86 words for Sammi’s
Weekend Writing Prompt #173, Sentient.
Sharp Cheddar Blessings #SoCS #Poem
Regardless of the season,
I love sharp cheddar cheese!
Alone or on a cracker,
It never fails to please!
The only disappointment,
Like so many a vice,
And why I rarely buy it,
Of course it is the price!
Four dollars for a little block?
Oh no, without a doubt!
Not when I can get full meals
For that self-same amount!
But blessings come in many forms,
So small but really not,
For we received a block of cheese,
And boy! It hit the spot!
—
Written and unedited for Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS) Prompt,
Sharp.
Freedom to Twist #SixSentenceStories
My older brother, James, loves to dance. Even at 5 years old, I was too self-conscious to try, until he taught me to do The Twist. That was quickly followed by The Limbo, The Chicken Dance, The Electric Slide, and the motions to YMCA.
Suddenly, the Saturday night dance was the highlight of our many family camping trips, along with the hot dogs, marshmellows–and s’mores–mountain pies, and anything else we could cook over the campfire.
These days I neither dance nor sit around a campfire, but I hold them fondly in the twists and turns of my memory. I’m forever grateful to my big brother for bringing me out of my shell.
—
My response to
Six Sentence Stories, Twist.
Serenity #Writephoto #Poem
Play or download this serene Sonnet with lyre accompaniment.
We wonder if serenity is real.
Can it be found in ever changing life,
Despite the negativity we feel,
Beneath the rolling boil of strain and strife?
Serenity is really in plain view,
A Purloined Letter*, right before our eyes.
So simple that we think it can’t be true
And close enough to touch, but in disguise.
Serenity is deep within the mind,
At center where the heart and soul are one.
As nature does, it’s something we can find,
Returning through the gate from which we’ve come.
Our birth right, we have only to un-learn
The concept that serenity is earned.
*Purloined Letter: Reference to the story of the same name by Edgar Allan Poe.
—
My response to Sue Vincent’s
Thursday #Writephoto Prompt, Serenity.
“Scarborough Fair” DSE #4 #Music
Here is the traditional English ballad, “Scarborough Fair,” played with melody on lyre, and harmony on zither. This is the fourth but not the final of my attempts to play lyre and zither at the same time, in preparation for playing a double strung harp.
As I mentioned
last week,
tuning these instruments in exact unison is very difficult, mostly due to the difference in string materials. If you have a very sensitive ear for music, I apologize for the tuning discrepancies. Otherwise, I hope you enjoy hearing the possibilities offered by having two sets of strings!
Come, Thou Almighty King #Music
Although “Come, Thou Almighty King” is often attributed to Charles Wesley, the text is actually anonymous. The melody is an Italian hymn, composed by Felice Giardini. The earliest known publication of text and melody together was in 1757. It remains a popular traditional Christian hymn today, more than 250 years later.
I hope you enjoy this zither arrangement!
Mystical Strings 
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