It’s very hard for me to write this article, because it is probably my favourite song of all time. It sends chills up my spine every time I hear it. Every note and sound is very well composed, and The Drifters with Ben E. King sing so passionately, yet so tenderly.

Doc Pumus had written the words for the song and Mark Shuman wrote the music on piano. Who produced it, I don’t have any idea? Though the Drifters are mostly noted for their work with the legendary music producers Mike Stroller and Jerry Leiber—who introduced the powerful use of string orchestra’s into popular music.

Doc Pumus was a white blues man, who decided to get into rock n roll for momentary benefits of being a songwriter for the brill building. The lyrics strike a chord with the collective human soul, I believe.

This magic moment
So different, yet so new
Was like any other: until I kissed you

The orchestra is used lushly and tastefully along with the acoustic guitar, which seems to run its feet along one’s heart with:

Sweeter than wine
Softer than the summer night

Than it fades off, and what you hear is Ben E. King and The Drifters and strings forcing you to remember the magic moments of your life. No matter how bad it is, most of do get those moments. Adding to the song’s power is King’s MM’s and OH’s, and the magical lyrics.

This magic moment
While your lips are close to mine
Would last forever
Forever till the end of time

How many of us don’t wish those magic moments could last longer than they do?

Damion Hamilton is twenty seven years old and lives in St. Louis Missouri. He works in a warehouse you know, so that he can pay for stuff. He had few friends in high school; so he would spend his lunch hour in the school library reading Edgar Allen Poe and encyclopaedias. He didn't really become serious about writing poetry until he was twenty. That's when he read Arthur Rimbaud's, ‘A Season In Hell’ and he's been writing poetry ever since. He walks the streets, or drives around the streets of this city at night: seeing, hearing, feeling and thinking about things. Sometimes he's fortunate enough, to get these things down in a notebook or on a typewriter. To read a selection of Damion's poetry on the showcase section of this site, click here.

© 2008 Laura Hird All rights reserved.