Poets United Midweek Motif ~ MUSIC

“Everything in the universe has a rhythm, everything dances. ” 

― Maya Angelou

“If you cannot teach me to fly, teach me to sing.” 
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan

Midweek Motif ~ MUSIC

What are you listening to?

What do you hear?

And where?

For holiday celebrations?

For love, remembrance?

For the end of the year?

For the return of Light?

Resounding through atmos-spheres?

~

Your challenge:  Match the mood 

of your poem to the music in it.

~

Music by Mary Oliver

I tied together
a few slender reeds, cut
notches to breathe across and made
such music you stood
shock still and then

followed as I wandered growing
moment by moment
slant-eyes and shaggy, my feet
slamming over the rocks, growing
hard as horn, and there

you were behind me, drowning
in the music, letting
the silver clasps out of your hair,
hurrying, taking off
your clothes. . . .    (Read the rest HERE at Famous Poets and Poems.com)

Langston Hughes' "The Weary Blues" begins at @ 1:44. 

From You Tube: African-American poet, Langston Hughes recites his poem, "The Weary Blues" (1925) to jazz accompaniment with the Doug Parker Band on the CBUT (CBC Vancouver) program "The 7 O'Clock Show" in 1958. Host, Bob Quintrell introduces the performance.

I can't wait to read your poems!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!  

This is the last MidWeek Motif until January 2015.

"The International Year of Light"

~

For those who are new to Poets United:  

1. Post your new music poem on your site, and then link it here.
2. If you use a picture include its link.  
3. Share only original and new work written for this challenge. 
4. Leave a comment here.
5. Visit and comment on our poems.

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Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Melody

". . . and let your very existence be your song, your poem, your story. 

Let your very identity be your book.  Let the way people say 

your name sound like the sweetest melody.” 

― Charlotte Eriksson

“Every moment in the river has its song.” 

― Michael Jackson

“A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, 

swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship. 

But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, 

their songs never cease. ” 

― John Muir

                Just a Simple Melody

Midweek Motif ~ Melody

If you want to compose a poem about melody itself or a specific melody, go ahead.  

Or think about melodies that move with you like ear-worms and cannot be shaken.   Would your friends know your melody?  Do you know theirs? Do you have a song?  Does the world?  What melody do you sing most? What melody sings you?  

YOUR CHALLENGE:  Reach in this bag of choices and pull out one for your poem.   One rule:  Try not to use the word melody in getting the melody across.  

(Optional: Here's a video explaining Melody in music.)

(How Music Works 1 - Melody - Part 1)

For those who are new here:  

1. Post your MELODY poem on your site, and then link it here.
2. If you use a picture include its link.  
3. Share only original and new work written for this challenge. 
4. Leave a comment here.
5. Honor Poets United by visiting and commenting on our poems.

(Next week's midweek Motif will be Hildegard von Bingen.)

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Poets United Midweek Motif ~ The Key

This kid may be the key not just to all human potential, but to all spiritual unexplained paranormal phenomena.  

The key to everything in The X-Files.

~ Chris Carter, in The X-Files episode "The End" [5.20] (17 May 1998) Mulder to Scully

We receive His peace when we ask Him for it.

We keep His peace by extending it to others.

Those are the keys and there are no others.

~Marianne Williamson

Key signature A major /F♯ minor

Midweek Motif ~ The Key

Keys in movies that find their locks, 

Keys in cryptography that are the codes, 

Keys to life and 

Keys to heaven:

Keys are real or magical or symbolic.

Your challenge is to write a poem in which your narrator either gives or asks for a key.

What does the Key open?

Three Poetic Inspirations: 

Lament

BY EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY

Listen, children:

Your father is dead.

From his old coats

I'll make you little jackets;

I'll make you little trousers

From his old pants.

There'll be in his pockets

Things he used to put there,

Keys and pennies

Covered with tobacco;

Dan shall have the pennies

To save in his bank;

Anne shall have the keys

To make a pretty noise with.

Life must go on,

And the dead be forgotten;

Life must go on,

Though good men die;

Anne, eat your breakfast;

Dan, take your medicine;

Life must go on;

I forget just why.

Music

BY JUHAN LIIV

TRANSLATED FROM THE ESTONIAN BY H.L. HIX & JÜRI TALVET

Read the translator's notes

It must be somewhere, the original harmony,

somewhere in great nature, hidden.

Is it in the furious infinite,

in distant stars’ orbits,

is it in the sun’s scorn,

in a tiny flower, in treegossip,

in heartmusic’s mothersong

or in tears?

It must be somewhere, immortality,

somewhere the original harmony must be found:

how else could it infuse

the human soul,

that music?

Source: Poetry (June 2011).

The Past

BY RALPH WALDO EMERSON

The debt is paid,

The verdict said,

The Furies laid,

The plague is stayed,

All fortunes made;

Turn the key and bolt the door,

Sweet is death forevermore.

Nor haughty hope, nor swart chagrin,

Nor murdering hate, can enter in.

All is now secure and fast;

Not the gods can shake the Past;

Flies-to the adamantine door

Bolted down forevermore.

None can re-enter there,—

No thief so politic,

No Satan with a royal trick

Steal in by window, chink, or hole,

To bind or unbind, add what lacked,

Insert a leaf, or forge a name,

New-face or finish what is packed,

Alter or mend eternal Fact.

~

 Please:  

1.      Post your Key Motif poem on your site, and then link it here.

2.      Share only original and new work written for this challenge. 

3.      Leave a comment here.

4.      Honor our community by visiting and commenting on others' poems.

(Next Week's Midweek Motif will be Snakes)

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