Listen to Omaha Beach!

Recording of Omaha Beach, by Dennis Maulsby on the 60th anniversary of the D-day landings. Set to music and broadcast by National Public Radio’s Themes and Variations. https://dennismaulsby.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Omaha_Beach.mp3   6th June, 2004 Omaha Beach Against the moon rests sharp-cut shadows of bluffs and scrub trees. An inbound breeze unleashes the memory of gun oil and wet canvas. The wandering voice of Judy Garland creates throaty notes. A milky tide pulls sand from beneath my bare feet. Around me, spirits cluster, field strip weapons, chew gum and talk in Jazz patois. More gather, arriving from all the compass points. From the high ground comes a tinkling piano version of Lili Marlene. Reaching critical mass the spirits burst out of the surf, run, crawl, and twist across the beach. Hundreds fall – scattered shredded leaves. The rush breaks and hesitates at the foot of the bluffs. Gathering strength, clawing, pushing, lifting each other, they flood over the top to vanish in the sunlight of a new day, drawing in their wake, the crashing triumphant boogie of a thousand Big Bands. ©Copyright 2004 by Dennis...