The Gift of Singing

 

Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

  The Gift to Sing
James Weldon Johnson - 1871-1938

Sometimes the mist overhangs my path,
And blackening clouds about me cling;
But, oh, I have a magic way
To turn the gloom to cheerful day—
      I softly sing.

And if the way grows darker still,
Shadowed by Sorrow’s somber wing,
With glad defiance in my throat,
I pierce the darkness with a note,
       And sing, and sing.

I brood not over the broken past,
Nor dread whatever time may bring;
No nights are dark, no days are long,
While in my heart there swells a song,
       And I can sing.

I love to sing and always have. I can't say that I'm very tuneful these days, but who cares? The joy that singing brings is immeasurable. I find myself singing around the house, in the car, while I'm shopping, while I'm gardening and with the grandchildren. The secretary where I used to work said that she always knew when I was in the building because she could either hear me singing, or laughing!

I've sung with Bradford Voices and Calder Valley Voices in the past and now have the pleasure of being in two wonderful, weekly singing groups.The first is Cornerstones Community Choir. We're about 30-strong and have sopranos, altos (that's me), tenors and basses. Covid forced us to spend over a year practising on Zoom - everyone muted and joyfully warbling away to ourselves in the privacy of our living rooms! Thankfully, we are now back together and, under the brilliant leadership of Graeme, enjoying rehearsing festive songs. 

The other is the newly-formed singing-for-well-being group at SHINE in West Bowling, Bradford. Led by the wonderful Fiona on her ukulele, we are a small, fledgling band of enthusiastic and joyful women (men are welcome).

Something magical happens when people come together to sing. Immediately spirits are uplifted, worries and cares disappear for the duration and there's a camaraderie that I don't experience anywhere else, along with lots of mutual respect and always laughter. The words of the poet (above) are so true:

"I have a magic way, to turn the gloom to cheerful day— I softly sing."

Writing Prompts:

• Write about a time in your life when you sang. 
• Write about your favourite singer.
• Write about your favourite song.
• Write about how you 'turn the gloom to cheerful day.'