In the heart of the city, where steel and glass arise,
A melody awakens, a sapphire in disguise,
It’s a symphony, a rhapsody, in shades of purest blue,
A tale of New York dreaming, vivid and true.

A clarinet’s wail, like a siren in the dawn,
A plaintive, soaring echo that gently lures you on.
It dances through the concrete, down avenues and lanes,
A lament of longing, tethered by invisible chains.

A rhythm then emerges, a pulse within the stone,
The city’s heart is beating, alive, yet all alone.
Piano keys, like raindrops, begin to gently fall,
Painting blue-tinted stories on the city’s endless wall.

Bassoons echo softly, the heartbeat of the day,
As the city awakens, chasing night away.
The strings join in harmoniously, a river flowing free,
In this urban symphony, this rhapsody in key.

Through the din and clamor, the rhythm never dies,
A testament to resilience beneath the endless skies.
In every brick and rafter, in every shining pane,
Lives the soulful echo of Gershwin’s sweet refrain.

Sometimes fast, then slow again, the music ebbs and flows,
Through joy and sorrow, love and loss, the city’s story grows.
A dynamic dance of shadow and light, of new and old,
In the heart of the city, where countless tales are told.

As the final notes fade, under moonlight’s gentle hue,
The city sleeps, and dreams once more, in tones of deepest blue.
Yet in every rustling leaf, in every whispering breeze,
Lives on the timeless melody, the city’s memories.

Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, a symphony so grand,
A poetic ode to the city, where dreams and reality stand hand in hand.
And so, in every sunrise, in every setting sun,
The city’s song continues, the rhapsody plays on.

:: 01.01.2000 ::

This Tired Poet’s Notes:

The poem “Rhapsody in Blue (A Musical Translation into Words)” is a brilliant fusion of musical interpretation and poetic expression. It uses the language of poetry to articulate the emotional and narrative resonance of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.” Here’s a breakdown of its various elements:

The poem begins by setting the scene within the city, likening the urban landscape to the orchestra that performs this piece. This imagery is a metaphor for the city as a living, breathing entity with its own rhythm and melody. The “sapphire in disguise” references the title of the piece itself, inferring the rich, deep emotions that make up the ‘blue’ in “Rhapsody in Blue.”

The use of different instruments throughout the poem reflects the various sections of the composition. The clarinet’s wail is a direct reference to the piece’s iconic opening, which is famously played by a solo clarinet. This serves to draw the reader into the cityscape, much like the clarinet’s glissando introduces the audience to the piece.

The rhythm and pulse that emerge symbolize the energy and heartbeat of the city, brought to life by the piano keys that are depicted as falling like raindrops. Each instrument – the bassoons, the strings – is used to represent different parts of the day and different aspects of city life, mirroring the versatile and multi-layered texture of Gershwin’s composition.

The poem also explores the dichotomy of city life – its dynamism and its solitude, its resilience and its yearning, its joy and sorrow. This reflects the diverse emotional range of “Rhapsody in Blue,” which alternates between lively, vibrant sections and slower, more introspective parts.

The final stanza pays a direct tribute to Gershwin and his grand symphony, affirming the enduring impact of his music on the city and its inhabitants. The repeated imagery of sunrise and setting sun symbolizes the timeless, cyclical nature of the city’s existence, just as “Rhapsody in Blue” continues to be played and appreciated decades after its creation.

Overall, the poem is a beautiful homage to “Rhapsody in Blue,” effectively translating its musical narrative into evocative, poetic language. It captures not just the sounds of the composition, but also the feeling and imagery it evokes – the essence of the city that it musically depicts.