Hi,
It’s been a while, over a year, since I’ve posted a new poem or participated in a challenge. I am slowly getting back to writing after a reflective poetry break. This is for the Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge, Music Inspires, and here are the instructions:
Hello everyone willowdot21 here, welcome to Tanka Tuesday.
Now I have made this style up and I do not have a name for it but I have used it more than once. It’s quite simple so here are the Rules.
- Chose a piece of music.
- The music can have lyrics or not as you choose.
- The music can be of any genre.
- Then write a syllabic poem about how the music either makes you feel or what it suggests to you.
I was intrigued by the idea of writing a poem to a song. This is a haibun which is prose poetry connected to a haiku. This isn’t a haiku but written in that format. The song is the instrumental of “Imagine.”
Imagine the End
The words reverberated over the strewn bodies from the discarded radios. The war was over, but who won? Shay’s gaze met her enemy’s steely blue eyes. Guns still pointed at each other, she gently lowered her weapon and dropped it to the ground. Exhausted, she bowed and held her breath, waiting for the expected pain, but none came. The enemy’s gun fell with a tinny clunk next to hers. Gasping in the coppery air, she studied her enemy. The young man covered in the death of tarnished ideals reached out his hand. She hesitated, assessing their surroundings. They were the lone figures remaining, the only souls to have escaped the devastation. Shay accepted his extended hand with a nod.
hands tightly clasped
advanced into the unknown
imagining peace
Excellent haibun!
Thank you, Priscilla 🙂
Hi D.L. thank you for joining in today and thank you for choosing Tuesday Tanka to come back to poetry.
Imagine is such a beautiful song and this instrumental version is beautiful and matches your thought provoking Haibun perfectly. I am glad the prompt took your interest.💜💜💜💜
It was a great idea, Willow. I was reading some other posts and began thinking of a song and it took off. I do love the song and found the instrumental verison very inspiring. Thank you!
Wow, Denise. So powerful and intensely moving. Beautiful, my friend.
Thank you, Diana 🙂 Never written a poem to music before and this came pretty easy. xo
Well, you need to do more of it, for sure. It was great.
How perfect, Denise! I’ve always loved Imagine, and with your haibun, it is extra special. ❤️
Thank you, Gwen. It’s a great song. Your post and Balroops inspired me to give it a try. xo
A purrfect song for our times and purrfect prose to go with it. Poignant.
s.c ox
Thank you, Sandra. It’s one of my favorites. xo
Yes, Yes, YES!!!!
Thanks, Liz xoxo
You’re welcome, Denise.
Wonderful poem, Denise! I hope it doesn’t truly take all that carnage before we find our way back to peace.
Yvette M Calleiro 🙂
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com
Thank you, Yvette 🙂 I hope we never get there and we can all live in peace. xo
This really got to me, Denise. John Lennon’s instrumental sure is a good lead-in for your wonderfully talented writing.
It’s a powerful song. I tried to do it justice. Thank you, Timothy.
Great choice of music and wild imagination, Denise! I love your haibun.
Thank you, Miriam 🙂 It’s a favorite.
Wow! Denise, I am deeply moved by your poem prose and haiku – all inspired by one of my favourite songs, this is a beautiful instrumental of it. One line stands out for me: ‘The young man covered in the death of tarnished ideals reached out his hand.’ A glint of light and hope in the midst of devastation. Superb!
Thank you, Annika 🙂 One of my favorites, too, Annika. Yes, always have to have that glint of hope even in this devastation. What keeps us moving forward.
“Imagine” is a powerful song, and you’ve written a dramatic story-poem to go along with it. The strong emotions of Shay and the young man come right though. With a hopeful ending 🌞
Thank you, Dave 🙂 It’s a favorite, and I try to do it justice. I’m glad the emotion came through.
LOVE and I feel John smiling BIG
Thank you, Annette 🙂 I hope so! Xo
That is truly lovely, Denise. Hugs.
Thank you, Teagan:) Hugs right back!
That is excellent. I can feel the emotion.
Thanks, Darlene 🙂 I’m so happy that comes through.
I know I already mentioned how much I liked this, but to reiterate, this is really, really good. One of your best.
s.c ox
Thank you, Sandra 🙂 I wanted to give this song my very best! Xo
Wow, what an excellent and moving response to the challenge, Denise! Love this! I’ve always loved the haibun/haiku format too. ❤️
Thank you, Lauren 🙂 it’s my favorite format. I love a story can be told in it.
Hi Denise, an incredibly compelling poem.
Thank you, Robbie 🙂
My pleasure
Well done, Denise!
This made me think of a Twilight Zone episode, starring Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery.
It is the hope of all who seek a peaceful existence; that the hand be extended before it picks up a gun.
Thank you, Resa 🙂 Funny you mention that Twlight Zone episode, I thought of it too. Yes, always the extended hand over the gun.
I love that you are promoting peace. Thank you, Denise! 🤍🕊
Lovely and hopeful.
Thank you, Dawn 🙂
Music is always a great inspiration. It’s great to see you back, Denise! 🩷
It certainly is, Colleen. Great to be working my way back. Xo
It’s a good break from story writing. xxx