Take This Tune
Posted: Monday, March 15, 2010 by Travis Cody in
Take This Tune is a feature hosted by my pal Jamie at Duward Discussion. Jamie puts up a video prompt complete with lyrics to the song, and the task is to find another song or to write something inspired by the title of the song or something in the lyrics.
I really enjoy participating in Jamie's feature because of where the prompts take my thoughts and emotions. This week's prompt is Volcano from Jimmy Buffett. The question is, What is your idea of the ultimate place to spend your final years (or hours)?
Well, this one kind of has me stumped. I can't think of any place that holds such meaning for me that I'd try to be there if I knew the world was ending. I think I'd want to be with as much of my family as could be collected in one place. No matter where you are, family is the comfort that makes the place special.
So I tried my hand at a limerick. After all, I do have a little bit of Irish in my genealogy. Not so much that I claim the Emerald Isle as my home of homes. I do live outside of Seattle though, and they call this the Emerald City. I guess that combination is enough credential to be going on with, eh?
I might choose to spend it many ways
For with the girl I hold dear
No disaster do I fear
So in her arms for all time would I stay
That went reasonably well, don't you think? I mean, I know most limericks are funny or raunchy or silly. But I can make a sweet limerick if I want, right?
Wait, I'll throw in a haiku as well.
We're together, you and I
No more could I want
Now that leads me to a little 6-word story.
I guess I'm not so stumped after all, at least in terms of something to write. Here's a poetic form I've recently encountered called the American Sentence. It's a 17 syllable linear haiku in the form of a sentence, first introduced by Allen Ginsberg.
Well, if I'm going to write poetry then I might as well be bold and try my hand at a sonnet. I haven't written one of these since high school, so I'm not sure how successful my attempt is here. The rhyming scheme is Spenserian.
To marvel at the majestic expanse
Of color and motion before my eyes?
Mighty birds of prey soar in deadly dance,
While intended victims escape by chance.
The spectacle of the sky is boundless
And beautiful, delighting ev'ry sense.
Still, danger often lurks from deep recess
Of space, old rocks that never coalesced,
Hurtling toward the earth at top speed.
If such threat were imminent, I confess,
If this earth's destruction were guaranteed,
Each man alone must find his own solace,
For my last hours belong in your embrace.
OK...solace and embrace...it's a rhyming stretch. But even Shakespeare cheated a little when he wrote sonnets. He gave us spelled-alike rhymes like "love" and "proved". I'm no Shakespeare, but I like an unconventional rhyme. You can catch me on ev'ry as well. So call me a cheat if you must.
But please don't grade me! I'm just rediscovering some of the classic poetic forms after 20 plus years of writing verses as they formed in my head.
The preceding poetry forms have been a tribute to my blog pal Julia from A Piece of My Mind, who participates in a weekly feature called Poetry Train Monday. I haven't had an opportunity to officially participate, but anyone reading here regularly knows that I consider myself a writer of poetry.
So I guess I've combined two excellent features this week, along with opening my writing up to the structure of classic poetry styles. Thanks to Jamie and Julia!
These have been original poems by Travis Cody, copyright 2010.
You never cease to stun me. That was a true tour de force and now I have to check out the poetry page. BTW, how about a song suggestion for some week soon.