Never before have I witness such an outpouring of love as for Marques Bovre, a local Madison musician who has played every venue from coffeehouses to large clubs to churches. He is the Artist-in-Residence at our church, Lake Edge UCC here in Madison. Marques has been battling an illness and the event tonight, chock-full of bands, was a fundraiser to cover his medical bills. (Universal health care, anyone?) Marques himself garnered strength to play with his two previous bands, So Dang Yang and Marques and the Evil Twins (yeah, there are four folks in that one!). We’re praying for his recovery, and man, he really BRANG it tonight, if you can dig that!
Impromptu (for Marques)
Tribute to a great and good Madison musician;
a rare, beautiful brother, fighting a rare, ugly disease.
Songwriter of extraordinary range and style,
Marques can bring the Holy Spirit into a rock club.
This night, it’s all his songs played by many bands.
The stage is spacious and filled with love –
rowdy crowd vibes spill up over the edge, flooding the stage.
Band throbbing, pulsations vibrating in our collective gut.
My glass of local brew is refilled by Craig
and I know the time is coming when the lure of
raw elements grip me and I will ascend the steps.
Musicians are an enigma: We have to do it.
The final tune is a jam; the beat renders me weightless,
abandon rapidly released. Spasms of hesitancy are overcome
and come tumbling out as overwhelming enthusiasm
for the task at hand… it’s about affirming Marques.
We are all vessels, vital elements of the shout-out.
the crowd pleaser, the old classic everyone knows,
and we release full-tilt at the top of our lungs:
“You ain’t seen nothin’ like the Mighty Quinn.”
© 2011 Amy Barlow Liberatore/Sharp Little Pencil
For the Sunday Whirl: Elements, tumbling, spasm, released, weightless, enigmas, grip, rapid, glass, pulsations, rare, spacious. Thanks, Brenda, for mining the work of Billy Collins to give us this Wordle! The words literally called out to me and I wrote this shortly after arriving home from Marques’ gig. Peace, and please add Marques and this family to your prayers. Peace in the key of D, Amy
Sharp Little Pencil 
Debbie
Beautiful Amy . . .you took me there. Praying too.
Sharp Little Pencil
Debbie, I know you will pray for Marques. He is an extraordinary Christian, father, musician, and all-around cool person. The most mellow, least egotistical musician I know. Peace, Amy
vivinfrance
Your love shines through this, as does the music – you’ll find Mighty Quinn running through my head all day now! Such is your storytelling ability that I didn’t recognise the wordle words until near the end.
Sharp Little Pencil
Viv, isn’t it astonishing how often the Wordle words are so well camouflaged in the poems around our circle? You have done the same.
I love the idea that I put “Mighty Quinn” in your cranium! Even if all you sing is the chorus, it’s a crowdpleaser… for your little audience of two. If Jock doesn’t like it, blame me! Peace, Amy
Altonian
You are writing about someone I do not know, but the warmth and love and enthusiasm for him come through in your words. I’ll bet the Mighty Quinn came over very well as a ‘jam’. Here’s wishing Marques Bovre well in his fight towards health.
Sharp Little Pencil
Leigh, you are a mensch. So is Marques. You’d never guess, if you were lucky enough to meet him, what a musical force of nature (and vessel for the Spirit) he is. Writes everything from “Woman Trapped in a Man’s Body” to praise songs that would knock your socks off, even if you’re not into Jesus. Thank you for your positive vibes for our dear friend. Amy
Susannah
Wonderful writing filled with energy and the spirit of the scene you described. What a brilliant way to use the wordle words. 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Brenda’s prompt, plus just coming back from the fundraiser, made it all fall into place. Thanks so much, Susannah! Peace, Amy
Jae Rose
More than anything I feel the sense of belonging around like minded folk in this piece..sharing a brew..virtually..Jae 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
A brew or five, ha ha ha. And yes, the other brew, the music – as well as the love vibes conjured from the music and from the man. That sense of belonging, when I have lived here less than a year, is something I truly treasure. Peace, Jae. Amy
Sarath Unnithan
Nice Amy 🙂
Wish Marques all the best and a speedy recovery! 🙂
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Sarath. He will read this blog post soon and realize that people all over the world are sending him good vibes! Peace, Amy
brian miller
nice…i love the energy in this, esp in that last stanza…i could tell it was fresh off coming home as much of the passion lingered within it…very nice…
Sharp Little Pencil
Brian, I’m gratified to know I was able to pass on the groove. Remember old break dancing, when one dancer would finish a move and then touch off fingers with the next person, who would commence punishing the pavement in all sorts of beautiful ways? Thanks, and peace, Amy
Old Raven
“The final tune is a jam; the beat renders me weightless,” these words struck me … almost paralyzed me with the sense of this music that you have conveyed. You are completely in sync with his (their) music. And it’s loud. And it’s good!
Sharp Little Pencil
WOW! Yeah, baby, I practically levitated to the stage. So glad you caught the vibe of this poem! Peace, Amy
nan
Prayers going out for Marques. Beautiful Wordle tribute.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for the compliment, and special thanks for the prayers. Hope he knows when he reads this that there are folks all over the world praying for him through his friends’ various FaceBook pages and blogs! A special man… Peace, Amy
timkeen40
Amy,
A great tribute. I write a thing or two here and there. I do have great respect for the musicians.
Tim
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks, Tim. Waiting for more Gangillo adventures!
Musicians are too often seen as lazy, as not truly contributing to society. I always remind people musicians share their love with others for little pay, without paid vacation time, without sick days, without health insurance. You really have to NEED to make music in order to make a living at it! I should know; I did that for over 30 years! Peace, Amy
Laurie Kolp
This is such a lovely tribute. I felt as if I were there with all of you. I Hope he gets better soon.
Sharp Little Pencil
Wish you had been there, too, Laurie. And yes, all prayers are focused on the best possible outcome! Peace, Amy
Traci B
Fantastic tribute, Amy. I pray for Marques and his family, that he will have a quick and complete recovery and that his and his family’s needs are met.
Sharp Little Pencil
And to that I say, “Amen, sister!” Thanks for your prayers on our spiritual brother’s behalf, and peace, Amy
Roger Green
Sounds like a great dude. Wishing him well.
Sharp Little Pencil
Thanks for this, Roger. Marques is exactly that: A great dude. He can use all the positive vibes we can send right now, and his wife and teenaged kids as well. Peace, Amy
claudia
ah nice..this is wonderful amy…thanks for pointing me here… when there is something i love even more than music than it is music in a spiritual environment… i once had such an experience with a christian italian singer…each of his songs carried a story and by the end of the evening i was mesmerized… just like you..though my evening was a bit less rhythmic than yours i guess..smiles..love all the emotions in this…felt
Sharp Little Pencil
Claudia, I think music of all kinds is spiritual. Even the roughest hip-hop is expressing the spiritual – you can tell whether the deliverer is a tortured soul, someone who wants to make the world better (Michael Franti and Spearhead are a great example, all about the love). It’s true for me, though, that acoustic music is the most soulful of all. No electronic barriers between the voice and the ear… organic. Loved this comment, and thanks. Peace, Amy
pmwanken
What a great tribute to a great tribute to a great! 😉
My wordle: http://whenwordsescape.wordpress.com/2011/12/13/empty/
went in a darker direction, but there are other more uplifting pieces on my blog if ya need it after “Empty?” 😉
*hugs*
Sharp Little Pencil
Come on, Paula, you know that half my poems are dark, too! I think I’m up for the challenge!
As for Marques, yes, he’s a teddy bear with an incredible voice and his songs are not only spiritual. One is called “I Like Girls Who Like Girls”!!
Peace, Amy
kaykuala
Amy Ma’am,
Such a wonderful tribute for someone who selflessly gave to others but now need others just to live. I’d wish Marques Bovre all the love and affections from those around him and the strength to overcome! Best wishes for the future!
Hank
Sharp Little Pencil
Hank, I cannot wait until Marques reads the words you wrote. I love your spirit and your good wishes! Amy
gautami tripathy
I was in a whirlwind, reading it. Too too good..
elemental pulsations
Sharp Little Pencil
Gautami, so nice to see you on my blog! I will follow your link right away! Peace, Amy