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The Moment

By Matt Myslinski
Posted January 2011

Have you ever spent months--or even years--working hard just to experience a single magical moment? And when that moment comes, will it live up to your childhood dreams? A high school sophomore shares a personal poem about one marching experience and all of the emotions leading up to it.

The sun, hot on my back
My heart, pounding inside my chest

The moment is coming, I thought
The moment I have been working towards
Ever since I first picked up
the small brass instrument

30 seconds! shouts the man
I knew not his name

We assemble in our formation
My adrenaline is going off the charts
And the moment is growing ever closer

Tweet tweet, goes the whistle
We go to parade rest,
mentally bracing ourselves for the task ahead

10 seconds! the man cried
Had it only been 20 seconds?
It had felt like 20 years

My heart beats faster and faster
As the moment inches closer and closer

Tweet tweeeeet tweet, goes the whistle again
MTH! We shout at the top of our lungs,
filling the air with that single, resonating cry

I take a look around in those final, solemn seconds
The calm before the storm
A silent prelude to the moment

GO! yells the man
And the world slowed to a halt
as the whistle sounded a third time
Tweeeeeeeeeet tweeeeet tweeeeet tweeeeet
UP!

The drum line started playing
The unit started marching
And as we turned the corner,
the crowd burst into applause

As we turn the corner,
I see it
My eyes lead me down the street
going to that magical castle
that every child dreams of seeing

And as the whistle sounded a final time
and we started playing our incredible music,
I knew

I knew that this was the moment
The one I would remember forever

About the Author: Matt Myslinski is a sophomore attending Mt. Hebron High School in Ellicott City, Md. He plays first trumpet in the marching band and in the symphonic winds band and had the opportunity to march at Walt Disney World in the spring of 2010. This poem was written for an English assignment in the fall of 2010. Matt chose to write about his experiences playing trumpet. Marching at Walt Disney World, however, took up about half of the poem. So he then decided to start from scratch and write the poem solely about this fantastic, singular experience and all of the emotions leading up to it. Matt plans to become an engineer and to continue playing trumpet on the side, hopefully in the Baltimore's Marching Ravens or in another local band.

Comments

Rene Carter says:
January 21st, 2011 at 03:34
Fabulous poem! As I read it, I could feel the tension, excitement, and anxiety you were feeling. And then, the THRILL of marching down Main Street USA at Disney World! You convey how magical it was, and I could feel your excitement of this once in a lifetime experience.
Lisa Feinberg says:
January 21st, 2011 at 04:02
Such a beautiful, heartfelt poem by a young musician. Seems like all those practice hours paid off well & help create a memory for a lifetime.
Lisa Vitali says:
January 21st, 2011 at 16:35
I teared up the first time I read the poem, got chills and cried with my own memories of Disney World and Main Street when I graded it, and shed a few tears of pride just now, seeing it in print. Way to go Matt!! (Guess we'll be writing more poetry in class from now on...)
Norris says:
January 21st, 2011 at 19:47
Nice job man!
ann drager says:
January 21st, 2011 at 20:59
WOW! What an awesome poem! Your description of the experience is amazing, it made me feel as though I was right there with you. You should definitely continue to write as you are a natural!
Joyce Brose says:
January 22nd, 2011 at 15:31
Great poem, Matt. I teared up as I remembered both of my sons' marching band experiences (not at WDW, however). My oldest, Jesse, also played trumpet and my youngest, Justin, played snare on the drum line. You are an excellent writer, which is rare for male engineers! Best of luck and continued success with your writing, music and engineering education/career. Way to go!!!!!
N. Myslinski says:
January 23rd, 2011 at 00:25
Superb, Splendid, a Wonderful Work of Poetry.
Marie Chudzinski says:
January 23rd, 2011 at 22:34
A double accomplishment. Poetry AND motion. Kudos, to you!
Michele Wallace says:
January 24th, 2011 at 14:55
You really poured your heart out in the poem. Good luck and keep up the good work.
Kayla Whitehead says:
February 10th, 2011 at 04:04
This was a fantastic piece of poetry. I can attest that it truly captured the essence of the moment, as i am highly passionate about band, and have also been graced to march through Magic Kingdom as well. This poem really hit home, and is absolutely moving. Marvelous.
Christal Simmons says:
February 13th, 2011 at 18:51
What emotion - What feeling it evoked...It's as if I was there experiencing the excitement myself, Matt! -Great work-
Lynn Cummings says:
May 24th, 2011 at 03:54
Matt, this was a wonderful poem! I felt like I was right there in your shoes. I hope all your dreams come true and enjoy this wonderful time in your life.

The Moment

Have you ever spent months--or even years--working hard just to experience a single magical moment? And when that moment comes, will it live up to your childhood dreams? A high school sophomore shares a personal poem about one marching experience and all of the emotions leading up to it.

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