April Lynn James, The PhDiva

I've been composing lately. This is something that I wanted to do as a teen. Back then, I was really into The Beatles (later, Duran Duran) and played guitar more than piano. But even though some good chord progressions came…

It was a love-filled trip even before I boarded the plane. This is a photo of me with my nephew, Jusan.

My nephew and his wife met me where I dropped off my car in Orlando, and then they drove…

I just recorded one of my favorite solo arias from one of my favorite choral works: the “Domine Deus, Rex coelestis” from Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria. At last, I can sing it as a soloist. What do I mean by…

What is music? Johann Sebastian Bach said this in his Instruction on the Thorough-Bass (General Bass): "The ultimate end and final reason of all music should be none other than but the glory of God and the refreshment of…

This sonnet dates from 2011, and yet remains pertinent today. 

I had this dream, but it wasn’t mine, you know--
prim and proper, pretty, neat, all ducks in a row.
I’d believed in it for a good number of years,…

It’s official: my condo is on the market. After nearly four years in Fort Myers, Florida I plan to move up the coast to Sarasota, Florida this summer.

Why? Because after four years of chasing leads all over Lee and…

Another from October 2011. Again, a simple phrase turned round.

Has it slipped your mind or has your mind slipped it?
In either case, if that’s the case, you might try a bit
of glue next time you have something…

October 2011, New York City. Running to this master class and that master class. Taking this training and that training. Expending lots of energy, but getting nowhere fast. Madison comments.

There are many who’ll claim that they can improve you.…

This sonnet started out a a simple phrase that Madison then took on a journey round the bend and back.

In the interest of Time, let us not even start
to do those things that don’t have Time’s interests at…

You know what a birthday is. You may even have celebrated an Unbirthday or two. But, have you experienced a Mirthday yet? Madison elucidates:

I do believe I feel a Mirthday coming on--
a day filled with feasting, laughter, good…

Language is music. Have you ever noticed that? Whether it’s Shakespearean, Victorian, or American English, French, German, Italian or any of the multitude of tongues spoken all around the world, each has its own particular cadence, its on melody. Furthermore…

Another from October 2011. Even though I'd practiced yoga for years, I was still finding meditation hard. Madison, too. 

I tried following my breath, but it ran away.
Exactly where it’s gone, I really couldn’t say.
I looked around the…

If anyone else is going through financial or career crises, take heart! Madison and I are making our way through a very rough patch at the moment. It's not the first time, though. This sonnet dates from October 2011, and…

People have some peculiar ideas about Time. Madison sets the record straight.

Time flies when you’re having fun, they say, but they’re wrong.
Dancing’s what Time does, and most often to a song
of Time’s own composition. Being quite nimble,…

Spirit rules matter.

I’m the complete master of my own density!
Oh. . . I think I meant to say “my own destiny.”
Matter and energy are quite the same, you know.
One travels very fast and the other quite…

During trying times, one must take care not to lose one's enthusiasm.

Enthusiasm? Lost it; it’s gone out the door,
flown the coop, said bye-bye, sailed away from the shore.
Who knows when I shall ever hear from it again?…

From October 2011. Imagine you've fallen down a rabbit hole and gone wandering through some woods. You get to a clearing, and there's a house shaped like a teapot. In front of this, there's table set for many people, but…

Sometimes one needs to be serious. Or does one?

Enough of being whimsical! Time to get serious!
Oops! I had meant to say “slightly delirious!”
Time to let go, start making nonsense of it all.
Time to let the words…

From September 2011:

If you wish to catch a bus, if that is your goal,
best to bring a net along with your fishing pole.
And if you bring Annette, do tell her I said, “hi!”
It’s really been far…

Yes, of course it’s fun to write, but sometimes there's just so much of it to do, and still more, and more yet again! This sonnet is for such times.

We’re done today with writing! We have had enough
of…

How many of you have tried, and failed, at “time management”? This sonnet is for you.

Time will not be managed, but will negotiate
if you are quite sincere and will, at any rate,
be considerate of Time’s sensibilities,
Time’s…

Still in August of 2011. May it bring a smile to your face.

Oh my stars, a marble! Is it yours?. . . No. . .?!
It may be one of those I lost a while ago.
They were in…

A theme once explored is worth exploring again with even more wordplay. Madison is the guardian angel of my sense of humor, after all.

One must take into consideration the Time.
Soothe Time’s ego, that’s the way! Wax more sublime.…

More from August 2011:

Life doesn’t feel at all the way it did before.
No consuming passions, no running out the door
to catch the latest trend, hitch wagon to a star.
Stars, I’ve heard, are mortal and now I…