by Joe Salembier
Intro: I started writing poetry over five years ago. “Particles of Light” was my first attempt, my way of giving voice to the turmoil the country was facing. The following year, I got the idea to record the lyrics, found a small studio and paid $500 for the producer and talent, The Sugar Thieves. They are a phenomenal Phoenix based team and I ended up recording two other pieces that day. A former advertising executive, I had produced radio and tv commercials but this was different as there was no pre-planning whatsoever. I showed up, the producer and artists did a few takes and boom, it happened. The whole experience was a blast and I learned a tremendous amount.
I went on to write and record more pieces, mostly spoken word. Now 83, I’ve written more stuff and plan to record again, budget permitting.
If anyone in the OLLI community is a poet and/or song writer, I urge you record your stuff. It’s challenging, yes, but fun and very rewarding.
Below are the lyrics and the song. By the way, turn up the volume when you listen to it. The vocal is incredible!
Embedded audio/video of Joe's poem, click to play:
Particles of Light
by Joe Salembier
Albert Einstein had it right
we are particles of light
bent by spacial verse and rhyme
in increments of time
Seeing mother earth from space
we are such a tiny place
nothing more than grains of sand
in a cosmic hand
And if there is a grander scheme
where order rules and dreamers dream
we’re sending out a hollow ring
the extinction thing
Warring, killing, paper milling
profit motives all fulfilling
acting out with clear intent
destroying the environment
We gave up on the human race
when we lost our sense of place
Now everybody does their dance
in a stony trance
So when you go to bed tonight
squeeze your loved ones extra tight
knowing Einstein had it right
we are only increments of time
and particles of light.
