Carnegie Hall, April 23, 1961
The whole world smiled,
fell in love in 1961.
I've listened since I was
five, countless times,
as she went to their heads
even forgot the "gol darn words",
she intoxicated,
made people care.
How long has this dream
of mine been going on,
seated in Carnegie's front row,
Judy's garland voice wrapping
about me, reverberating?
Unlike my 33 LP, voice stuttering,
scratched from overuse...
Transported, I'd breath in
perfect harmony, a melodic rhapsody
sending my heart reeling
and I'd SING! when she invited
the crowd along,
and she'd see me crying,
Swanee River swaying this fan
with a memory of a lifetime.
by Margaret Bednar, April 8, 2013
Thanks to Fireblossom (and forgive me it's not 1958) for the opportunity for me to indulge myself. This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads is "Let's Do the Time Warp". Obviously, Judy Garland was a huge performer in the 1950's, so I hope I squeak under the wire with this one.
Her album "Judy Garland, Live at Carnegie Hall" has never been out of print!
This is a bit late as this prompt was offered last Tuesday while I was enjoying Charleston SC.
Such a beautiful picture, and Judy Garland is timeless. Her voice and image will live on forever. It's a shame her life was really rather sad in so many ways.
ReplyDeletebeautiful..does justice to the entire experience
ReplyDeleteLate - early - who's counting! Nice one!
ReplyDeleteI like the setting and the way you use it - Judy Garland and Carnegie Hall.
ReplyDeleteHey girl, you're right on the money with this. King's narrator waited around for something that happened in 1963!
ReplyDeleteIt would have to be an overwhelming thrill to see someone so talented, and who is no longer with us in the present, appear live and on stage, about to give what you already know will be a famous performance. Wow!
What a fine capture of the whole moment--her fame and voice, your narrator's thrill. Love it!!
ReplyDeleteVery nice! what a great memory-
ReplyDeletewe all used to sing the musicals
especially in the car!
You have captured the ethos of that era, the singer, the 33s, the admiration of a musician as an artist. Lovely piece of nostalgia here.
ReplyDeletesuch a beautiful memory:-)
ReplyDeleteReally enjoyed this, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteHer voice dazzles. I always get the biggest lump in my throat when I see her singing Over the Rainbow in Wizard of Oz - all of her innocence and bright dreams, and the pain she went through later........so sad.
ReplyDeleteYou capture the Broadway sensations so well with your writing, and the sketch is really well done. Nice combo, Margaret.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never with a voice like Judy Garland's, Margaret. Timeless!
ReplyDeleteK
Margaret you're some amazing artist and voice to what's beautiful and good and lovely ! I literally wanted o get up and applaud 1 Judy was 1 in a million!
ReplyDeleteI'd say you better than squeaked under the wire for this one, Margaret! :)
ReplyDelete