Greetings, Poets
In poetry oftentimes I think we concentrate more on what we see than what we hear. This week I would like you to write a poem in which you concentrate a bit more on sound.
Think of sounds you hear regularly: birdsongs, yips or barks, wind, thunder, sobs, laughter, whispers, appliance sounds, sounds at athletic events, or even the sound of silence.
Your poem can be ABOUT sounds or FEATURE sounds.
Edgar Allan Poe is a master of sound in his poems "The Bells" and "The Raven."
Here is one you probably don't know:
Cynthia in the Snow
By Gwendolyn Brooks
It SUSHES.
It hushes
The loudness in the road.
It flitter-twitters,
And laughs away from me.
It laughs a lovely whiteness,
And whitely whirs away,
To be,
Some otherwhere,
Still white as milk or shirts.
So beautiful it hurts.
Many / most of you are familiar with Paul Simon's song "Sound of Silence." The last time I prompted I featured the Pentonix version of the song. Today I am going to shareI another very powerful version of this song by Disturbed. I really, REALLY like it. If you have time, please listen:
Thank you for the prompt - Jae
ReplyDeleteSo nice to read your poem today, Jae.
DeleteGood day, everyone. I really am looking forward to reading what everyone comes up with for this prompt. I know I am one who has not concentrated on sounds in poetry as much as I probably should. This gave me an opportunity to practice thinking about sounds a bit more. Hope it will do the same for you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the prompt, Mary. It took me back to when I lived away from Tofino and was thinking of all the sounds of this place I love so much - all the sounds I was missing. So lovely to be here again, such a gift. I'm looking forward to reading all the responses to this prompt. I really like the snow poem.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your poem, Sherry! Your environment is really VERY rich in sounds!
DeleteIt really is........not to mention all the man-made noise........
DeleteI love this, Mary. Great idea. This is Shay, it's not letting me be myself for some reason. I will be back later to check out the song.
ReplyDeleteI shared an experience of mine today. I thought it would be appropriate for your wonderful prompt Mary. I love the snow poem especially the last line.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading about your unique experience, Sumana. It amazes me really!
DeleteWell, that was a struggle--I had to trash my first attempt entirely--but I'm happy with the poem I eventually came up with, thanks to this excellent prompt. (And hey, I'm allowed to comment as me now! Blogger is nuts.)
ReplyDeleteI am glad you persevered, Shay! (I think I will make a catalog of sounds. Smile.). Glad that Blogger decided to co-operate FINALLY.
DeleteWanted to share an homage to E.A.Poe that I just completed. Great prompt!
ReplyDeleteVery chilling, Rob! Definitely Poe-ish, even more Poe-ish than Poe. LOL.
DeleteI've been away all day, and now cannot wait to read all the sounds! Thanks for the prompt, Mary, and thanks for reading my silly little poem.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I wasn't able to directly comment on very much!
DeleteNot a silly poem at all, Susan!
DeleteThank you Mary for this prompt - I went back to the original Simon& Garfunkel - I still have the vinyl - It was very enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteAlan, I think I still have the vinyl too! Smiles. Thanks for writing. Your poem was worth waiting for!
DeleteHi Mary, What a great version by Disturbed of that iconic song! Loved it. Enjoyed writing to your prompt too and looking forward to reading everyone's poems when I get a chance tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteWhat an exquisitely worded poem you wrote, Dora! (And glad you liked the Disturbed version of the song!)
DeleteOh Mary - I am so thrilled that I stopped in this evening and listened to this version of the Sounds of Silence - it is especially consonant with my feelings tonight about people needing more than ever to not remain silent. Thank you for introducing me to this powerful, briliant and profounding touching rendition! I will be back to poem, to read and to comment.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you stopped by, Pearl. And also that you liked Disturbed's "Sound of Silence." I was introduced to it by my grandson!
DeleteWhoa this rendition grabbed me and before I could shut the computer down for the night - a poem wrote itself. Back to read and comment tomorrow !
ReplyDeleteWow, amazed that your poem wrote itself, Pearl! As one who is not a fan of flying bugs, well, let's just say I FELT this poem!
Deletethank you so much for the prompts!
ReplyDeleteI know the photo and first line of the poem shamelessly borrows from Simon and Garfunkel's Sounds of Silence :)
DeleteSo happy to meet you here, Sheila! (We have a new prompt every Wednesday.)Glad that you were inspired by "Sounds of Silence." Sometimes silence is the loudest sound of all!
DeleteI have been wanting to participate but my ducks would not line up. So glad to have made it and love this prompt Mary!
ReplyDeleteCarrie, your 'ducks really lined up' with the poem you shared, Carrie. It made me do a bit of pondering myself! So good to see you here.
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