Swan Song, Creative Commons
I grew up with music in my home. My mother is a pianist. I’m sure she played Claude Debussy’s Clare de Lune. When I went to Google yesterday, I was pleased to find out it was Debussy’s 151st birthday. The link took me to a YouTube video of nature pictures with the harp playing Clare de Lune. It was one of those, let’s-write-to-this inspiration moments. I had planned to pass out pictures from a nature calendar. This was better, music and beautiful nature pictures. I wrote with my students, so I’ll post my poem here. Student work will come later as they do some polishing and make the plunge into posting on a blog.
Hills and mountains
reflect in still water;
Sun bursts through clouds;
A rainbow circles the sky;
And I travel there
with you.I ask, Do you love me?
How high? you say.
Higher than the mountains?
Higher than the clouds.
Higher than the moon?
Higher than the stars at night.
Higher, higher, still.
Blue Moon before sunrise. Photo by Margaret Simon
Poetry Friday is hosted today by Betsy at I Think in Poems.
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, this was my mother’s favorite piece and she too played. I grew up with Debussy! Wonderful to bring it to your students and the poem is terrific, how high indeed? Thanks for sharing the music itself!
Margaret! I so enjoyed this post. I was mesmerized by the google video yesterday. I am a pianist and play Clair de lune. Thank you for sharing your poem and the music! It took me very high! Love the photo of the blue moon as well!
Aww, sweet post/poem, Margaret!
You know I think I remember playing that on the organ. Lovely post and poem, Margaret.
Love the exercise, your poem, and the video!
Love your poem, but OH, that photo of the blue moon…with the barest hint of clouds and the barest hint of morning. LOVE!!!
What a passionate love poem! Debussy is a favorite, and I think music is a wonderful springboard into art and poetry with people of all ages. Thanks for sharing!
What a special moment and you captured it, very nice.
How fitting to turn Clair de Lune into a love poem. You really can’t beat those “let’s-write-to-this inspiration moments.” Beautiful.