By Noel Ihebuzor and Susan L. Daniels
Susan:
Can I write this
or is this you
breathing in my poetry
& exhaling constellations
as I do yours
Let us write a truth
together
that resonates
across 2 continents:
of ogene and cymbal,
our voices
braiding organically
some new construct
Noel:
The song of twin voices twined and intertwined
linked by a bridge of rainbow,
a rainbow that links to an eternal truth
that bonds are color blind and see through blinds
communing across space and tongues with no tongue
sharing messages and vibes even in silence so total soft that feather falls sound like shouting waterfalls
the ogene perfumes the airwaves with lusty melodies
the cymbal charms and caresses aroused ear drums
as the flutist weaves and paints soft echoes of universal amity
feet begin to tap and waists begin to sway
to a spontaneous rhythm that speaks, that bonds, that creates, and announces a bond that baffles space,
time, clime and culture,
the bond and truth of the huge seeds and power of shared creativity that resides in us,
waiting to be released to waiting, warm welcoming spaces
Susan:
I pipe a melody
on a single pan flute,
and you answer with full orchestra;
a rainbow ocean of voices blended
I swim within gladly,
a song
echoed in conch shells
lifted to hungry ears,
or is that
the echo of a pulse
that is eternal,
life’s beat
is the rhythm of this dancing
out feet move inside
what will spring
from this planting
that I accept
in cupped,
trembling hands
& cover
with echoing silence?
Noel:
The planted seed bursts to life
and a sapling bursts to life
singing unheard melodies as it leaves unfurl,
branches reach out
embracing the open skies
its roots penetrate firm and deep
soon the bewitched seasons conspire
to fast track the season of seeds
the season of sowing
the season of birth
new songs are unleashed,
voices twine and intertwine
combining, creating and co-creating
new rhythms and fresh amities
and fresh rainbow bridges link people,
connect earth and sky,
people, places and spaces,
bodies and kindred souls in bonds of sharing,
bonds that penetrate, interpenetrate,
bonds that sing, hum and creating
warm synergies and energies
outflowing with enrichments
booming, blossoming and blooming
with life and unbounded possibilities
and boundless vistas
****My new friend Noel and I wrote this in 2 voices, from 2 different continents, and spanning God knows how many time zones–don’t know what time it was when he finished this last part–it is midafternoon here, in Western New York. This was a lot of fun to do!
All I can say is, it was a joy to have a conversation in poetry, and I am humbled to have my words intertwined with those of a master wordsmith….. His name goes first, as he is a far better poet than I, and it was his idea….
If I read this in public, I am going to have to have the help of a male poet who reads with a deep, booming voice, as I believe that is how Noel’s voice should be carried in the reading—not my smooth contralto 🙂
Susan Daniels Poetry 
Brilliant post Susan. You both are so very talented. Loved every single word of every single line. What a great idea!
Thank you Rhonda–this really was a lot of fun–and very challenging! Glad you enjoyed reading it–you should check out Noel’s blog, too–as he has some gorgeous, gorgeous poetry out there.
I will do that, thanks. Better than you? surely not! lol
🙂 Much, much better! 🙂
Perfect! Oh so love the duet!
Thank you Jennifer–I can’t tell you how much fun this was….
Susan, I think I could tell how much fun:). I just loved it, honestly a perfect duet…it really punched me, what was happening on your second verse…two distinct voices–one really cool duet!
🙂 thanks again. Noel came up with the idea in my “messy poem” comments. I sent him 2 drafts, he sent me 2 drafts & we went with it 🙂
Very nice to read
Thank you Ian!
You are so kind, Susan. Your messy poem inspired this – and your creative voice challenged me to sing along with you! Thanks for this pleasure of co-creation! and thank you Rhonda, and thank you Jennifer!
on reading this again, it is interesting to see how both our voices shifted a little bit to blend quite well in #3 and #4 🙂 We harmonized well.
my same thoughts – got better as we sang – our voices flowed, blended and intertwined!
Imela, ezigbo nwanyi obi oma!
that is such a sweet thing to say (took me a while to translate the Ibo to English, but I got it–after much frantic looking–and the same to you, but change the gender for you!).
would be – Imela ezigbo nwoke oma! Igbo and not Ibo!
Sorry–revealing my gross ignorance about a lovely language 😦
from now on, it’s Igbo, or you can call my primary language Anglish–deal?
🙂 awesome experience!
What a wonderful idea – and how well it works!
Yes–this impulse really needed to be followed–surprising, as our voices are so different how nicely they worked together 🙂
Brilliant idea…a poetic conversation across the ocean! Really enjoyed it! You both need to do another one!
We’ll see–I’m game if Noel is up to staying up so late–or we can turn tables & I can get up early 🙂
& thank you so much!
This is absolutely beautiful. What music to the ears, as if I was there listening to you both sing. Noel’s voice I know, Susan’s voice I imagined. Well done bro, Susan. Looking forward to the next one.
Thank you Irene–and nice to meet you 🙂
Oh wow…this is soooo beautiful. Its amazing how you were both able to remain so distinctly different, yet blend so beautifully well together. Its amazing and I love it. 🙂
Thank you–it was a marvelous thing to be part of!
Absolutely Beautiful work Dad and Susan. Blended together wonderfully. Amazing.
🙂 The amazing part came from your Dad……I just hummed along, glad to be part of it!
You both write exceptionally.
Thank you