Oratorio

Dramatic poem set to music (n.)

"An Ode to Pomo"

(Listen to John Cage's 4:33 while reading the following.)

I can see myself:
I look up the word.
I write it down.
I write down the definition.
Then I think:
"Oh, I could write
a dramatic poem
while listening to music
and then note the music
I was listening to--
that'd be cool."
Then I put something
on the stereo
and begin to picture
what is happening
in the music,
what the sound makes
in my thoughts,
and I begin to write
a poem feverishly
as if, in my weakness,
I need it out on the page.
And then I stop.
And so does the song.
And then when
I am
finished, I look at the words--
right there in front of me.