I saw you in a way
that I’d know your playlist
in any lifetime,
any universe,
and even in the ones
where you break me,
I’d still press play.
That’s how our souls
speak in the silence.

the melody can be heard again.
i know the notes by heart.
i try to rip them from memory —
but i can’t.

the rhythm’s different,
but the tune’s the same.

like a possessed demon
it chases me underground,

and yet i sing.
sing along to it
the entire time.

Over the years music has played an important role in my life.
When I was upset, I played music to cheer myself up.
When I was happy, music sat by my side and cheered with me.
When I was depressed, music wrapped its cozy arms around me and acted as a close friend.

My shoulder to lean on.
My words when I couldn’t think of anything to say.
The reason why I was strong when everything tried its hardest to make me weak.
The one thing that I will always welcome to soothe me.

The music that graces my ears is as diverse as the colors of a rainbow.
Each one has its own significant meaning
and is a beautiful site to see and feel.
The words of my favorite songs float
from my speakers,
to my ears,
and then to my soul.
I like the songs I like
and I love the songs that I love.

There are many genres of music.
And me being the unique individual that
I am,
I can’t stick to one genre.
if my ears and soul dig a song,
Why can’t I do the same?

The 511 songs on my phone are shuffled.
When I press play, rock music could start the show.
Queen, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, The Eagles, or the Police, or Jimi Hendrix.
If I fast forward to the next song, rap might take the stage.
Tupac, Ice Cube, 3 6 Mafia, Bone Thugs N Harmony, Ludacris, TI, Lil Wayne, Drake, J.Cole.
Pop songs could pop out next.
Michael Jackson, The Weeknd, Sam Smith, Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Doja Cat, Lady Gaga.
R&B would want to follow.
New Edition, Adina Howard, Brandy, Erykah Badu, Aaliyah, TLC, Fantasia, Beyonce, Keyshia Cole, Amerie, Ashanti, Usher.
BTS, Blackpink, or Jay Park might conclude or continue the show.
As they always do.

Each song I jam to is distinctive.
I feel as though no one song is the same as the next.

My phone is the time capsule that contains the treasures to my ears.
I may start in the 1970s and travel to the 2000s.
Or I may start in the 2010s and go back to the 1990s.
Whichever song decides to play first, I will always listen to it like it’s my first time.

Mia J
3-14-2021

© 2021 Mia J

I still keep your favorite songs on my playlist
Because hearing them is like feeling a cool breeze on a summer day
I close my eyes and for a moment
I’m back in your Benz flying down the interstate
With the sunroof down and my hands up
Barely paying attention to where we’re going
Just looking over at you

And when the song ends the day is still just as hot
But the cool breeze gives me hope
So I’ll keep singing along
With a smile on my face
And an empty shotgun seat by my side

in the night
all by yourself,
with some tunes
in the background
to hit you with the memories,
they all seem very real
you'd thought they
would simply disappear,
but a lot of time
has gone by since
and now here you are
where even the walls have ears,
having heard many stories
over the years
so what's it going to be tonight?
'hold my hand',
says the hour hand to the minute hand
of the wall clock,
tick tock!
as time seems to pause
and you deep dive
into the music,
lyrics and instruments
with their own
ups and downs,
yet in perfect coherence
the harmony taking you places,
feels like a nightcap
for some midnight nostalgia
coming back,
you snap out of it
as the sound waves
fade way
in distance
'well, that was a nice little adventure...
onto the next one!',
your mind goes.

poetry in disguise
soothing for the soul
thousands of playlists
waiting to be explored

I remember on a night out,
the butterflies and a genuine smile,
every song to another brushes off my doubts,
unconsciously engraving into my soul;
the beat, the words, the melody,
my fragile heart seems to understand the language of music.

a playlist of beginning and throughout,
will always hurt more than
a playlist played on the ending,
because to remember the good times and weep is a sweet misery.

IA