music, words&performance by SzNG, at Christmas Eve, 2023.

Talán Egy Csillag / Tale of a Child

Let America Be America Again Langston Hughs  poem

Another experiment with Suno; A poem set to music or rather a poem with added music, or is that the same thing - anyway the poem came first.

Are You Afraid of the dark?

Once upon a midnight sombre,
Through which came tapping, tapping, tapping.
In there stepped a haunting downbeat,
Still is rapping, still is rapping.

I felt compelled to scour the setting
I awoke with such a start.
Ah, distinctly I was strumming,
"Take thy woe from out my heart".

At that my soul knew fear.
The thunderclouds spoke of death.
Whilst in the earth I saw a grave,
My body failed to draw a breath.

I heard a maniacal, muted moaning;
A solemn, sepulchral shrieking.
I believed my time was over
As I heard my spirit weeping

I had never been so frightened,
Never dreaming of these shadows;
And the creatures I imagined
From long forgotten barrows.

But just before I drew my last breath
A light appeared in the eastern sky.
The coming dawn rode to my rescue
The demons dissolved before my eye.

Years later grown into adulthood,
Still remembering that fright;
When asked why I am afraid of the dark,
I confess the happenings that night.

Are You Afraid Of The Dark ?

A Path
      It
Once was a road through a beautiful wood, now
Reclaimed, serenely, as only she could.  With 
Lingering hints of a logging long past, the
Scarring has softened and mem’ries recast.
      Now
Rising, now falling, now crossing a brook,
Reflecting the course of a path I once took.
Strangely familiar as if to portend a
Rendezvous coming, perhaps ’round the bend.
I hasten to see:  Might it be an old friend?
      But
Now comes to view a tall sentinel pine, while
Others lie fallen in peaceful recline.  The
Stately, yet graceful lone guard of the glen stands
Watchful and knowing, the actions of men.

Wish I were wise to its secrets well-kept, for
Many have passed o’er the stones I just stepped.  
Hoping for insight I pause to reflect
Amidst this great beauty, a timeless effect.
But somehow uneasy, I’ve become circumspect.
      A
Fork lies ahead with a choice to be made,
One towards more sunlight, the other more shade.
Unknowns await either route that I choose, but
Undaunted I follow the voice of my muse.

Fragrant the air now, my spirit refreshed, the
Flowers in bloom and with colors I’m blessed.  In
Nature’s own mirror my joy springs anew:
Enduring a lifetime?  If only I knew.
      A
Valley quite wooded now beckons me in.  The
Darkness reminds me of things that have been.  But
Tranquil I go for I know in my heart this
Path hath no end, Nay! Only a start.
      I
Once took a path through a beautiful wood,
Uplifting my soul, as only she could.  With
Fragrances ling’ring of memories past, I’ve
Found the contentment I’ve longed for at last.

A Path

In
Myth, as in life, the great beast inspires awe, a
Symbol of power and strength without peer.
Subject to no one but Nature's own law, he
Moves us to marvel - Nay!, even revere.

Deep in the dark of the forested jungle a
Shadowy figure lies hidden from view.  With
Vision acute like the eyes of an eagle, it’s
Ready to ambush the prey to subdue.

Of
Genus panthera and sacred to some, to the
Jaws of the jaguar the quarry succumb.  A
Bite through the skull with precision supreme,
Thus death comes quickly, with nary a scream.

A
Singular hunter with spots to deceive, for the
Victim intended there is no reprieve.  His
Appetite’s lustful, carniv’rous indeed, a
Craving for blood and a fresh kill his need.

Fearful all prey, on their instincts rely, and
Often sufficient his meal to deny.  But
Hint of their scent may their secret betray, and
Soon the great feline may spell their last day. 
 

Run though they might with some hope to survive,
Few with their flight are to remain alive.
Panic ensues, but too often too late, for
When the cat leaps certain death is their fate.

Pity the creature that falls to his claws, but
Suff’ring is brief by the beasts’ massive jaws.  The
Balance of nature dictates this cruel end, nor
Should we judge harshly or otherwise intend.  

With
Mist in the moist air and humidly hot, the
Cat prowls for game down where many were caught.  
Compact and muscled and gifted with speed, there
is no escape for the prey he will bleed.

Now the great cat senses motion nearby
That of a deer unaware it should fly.
Closer and closer the beast inches near, but
Suddenly fear strikes the heart of the deer.  It
Bolts in a flash as the cat rushes in.
Thus does the chase through the jungle begin.

The
Terrified deer gets a tiny headstart, but
Hunted and hunter are barely apart.  Only
One step ahead of the powerful brute, while the
Jaguar bounds forward in tireless pursuit.  
 
Now
Closer now farther the jaguar keeps pace, the
Outcome unknown for this all fateful race.

Faster and faster through tangled dense brush
Leaping a stream coursing near where they rush.
Dodging old branches and tropical growth
Heaving and panting the chase affects both.

Fin'lly the prey in its desperate flight
Takes a misstep and soon faces its plight.  The
Jaguar now lunges with all of its might and
Down goes the deer to the jaguar's delight.

Brief is the struggle, the deer facing death, in the
Jaws of the jaguar it takes its last breath.


The Jaguar

All My AI assisted songs are free to download.

I have been writing songs since1959 until the present. As a songwriter, I am more than happy with the wide range of songs I have written over the years. But my musical skills are quite limited and the early demos on Souncloud are of me singing  and accompanying myself on guitar or latterly ukulele. I can strum the strings well enough, but there my skills end.

Recently I discovered Suno AI and the results astounded me. I could finally produce demos of my songs to be proud of. I am currently going thru my catalogue of songs and producing AI assisted demos. I know many musicians turn away from AI but it has a place for me. There is no other way I could have obtained some 300 demos to this level. I do not and do not intend to look for any reward except the satisfaction that hearing my own songs gives me.

I am still writing and hope to have many more years of songs left in me, Enjoy if you can and I would love to hear your comments on the tracks, if the music moves you at all.

New tracks tagged #Poem set to music