To Be Frank

A poem not just for Sinatra fans. Finding ways to stay creative when the brain doesn't want to play.

I have been feeling out of sorts this past week and inspiration for writing today’s newsletter wasn’t very forthcoming so as a way to stop me having to think too hard, I have used other people’s words to make a poem.

If you haven’t guessed already, this poem consists of lines from a selection of Frank Sinatra songs. Although it took hours to put together it was actually really fun to do and a good way to stay creative when the little guy cells have gone on strike.

I suggest to get the best experience you listen to the voiceover, as I found it was easy to start reading the lines to the tune of some of the instantly recognisable songs. (Apologies for the croaky voice.)

That's Life

Your vagabond shoes, they are longing to stray
and yet before the evening is over, you are all I long for,
the moment that you speak, over and over, 
I keep going over the world we knew.

We found a new world where paradise starts,
a paradise where roses bloom
in fields of dawn and forests of the night,
each rosebud filled with dew, unphotographable.

We’d hide from the lights on the village green
running across the meadow, each country lane and every street of stone,
a game I thought I’d never play -
I guess when you met me it was just one of those things,

then tomorrow was another day.
This dream was too much for you to hold
like a leaf caught in the tide 
so it’s clear to see, there’s no hope for me,

I ask the sun and the moon just what is this thing called love,
something that simply mystifies me.
There’s one thing I am certain of,
I only know there ain’t no love at all

you obviously don’t adore me, somebody else came near you,
now the hands I hold belong to somebody else.
Through all of my life I’ve had my share of losing,
the autumn winds and the winter winds they have come and gone

I never knew the charm of spring
I guess you don’t remember, do you?
Once love was king, but kings can be wrong.
What’s to become of it, this love of mine?

To be sure when day is done, from this moment on 
now April, May and June will fill my heart with song,
oh, how I need a sweeter rose, a softer sky
crowding my every dream, not for a year but forever and a day.

It doesn’t matter where you are, let me play amongst the stars 
on tomorrow’s clear blue skies when the stars are bright, and now 
as tears subside, yes, I would give my heart gladly 
under an awning of silvery boughs beside a garden wall. 

I hope you can match some of the lines to his songs, he does have a vast repertoire so some will be easier to pick out than others. All the words are from songs, I haven’t added any words in.

Just a last note to say thank you to those of you who have been following me for a while now and a warm welcome to new subscribers, thank you for spending your precious time here, I am more than grateful and hope you enjoy my very eclectic posts and poetry.

I do love it when you comment, one of the best things about Substack is getting to know the people who read my work. It is a great pleasure me for to see a little community growing and that wouldn’t happen without your input so thank you to everyone who contributes to the comments section.

Wishing you a good weekend, wherever you are in the world.

Lots of love,

Lindsey x

Songs by: Hoagy Carmichael/Mitchell Parish, Edgar Eddie Delange/ Jimmy Van Heusen,Charles Tobias / Cliff Friend, Johnny Mercer / Rube Bloom, Paul Anka / Gilles Thibaut / Claude Francois / Jacques Revaux, Kelly L. Gordon / Dean Kay, Cole Porter, Richard Rogers/Lorenz Hart, Johnny Mercer/Harold Arlen, E Y Harburg/Vernon Duke, Bob Russell, Ary Barroso, Alan Jay Lerner/Frederick Loewe, Michel Legrand/Alan Bergman/Marilyn Bergman, Johnny Burke/Arthur Johnston, Ralph Rainger/Dorothy Parker, Johnny Rotella, Sammy Cahn/Jules Styne, George Gershwin/Roland Bach,Arthur Schwartz/Howard Dietz,Gus Kahn/Matty Malneck/Frank Signorelli,Ira Gershwin, George Gershwin.