Hello fine poets! This is Mish behind the bar serving up today’s Poetics. Grab a chair. Do you hear the music in the air? I’m taking requests.
A couple of days ago I returned from an action-packed road trip from Colorado to California to visit family. The grand finale of this “vacation” was attending a concert on our last night before flying home the next day. Nahko Bear and Medicine for the People is one of my favorite artists. Not only do I like their diverse musical style but I am especially moved by their meaningful lyrics that drive home social consciousness, awareness and hope for change. Their music is not for everyone, but I have to say for me…. it is spiritual.
Aloha Ke Akua, Nahko and Medicine for the People
Today for Poetics, I am asking you to choose some lyrics, preferably one line from a favorite song and grow your own poem from it. You are not limited to the original theme of the song. Instead, forge your own poetic path. Be serious or silly. Just be sure to highlight the line(s), giving credit to the song and artist. If you are not much of a music buff, you can choose from the lyrics below or research your own.
“You may say I’m a dreamer.” ~ Imagine, John Lennon
“And I think to myself what a wonderful world.” ~ What a Wonderful World, Louis Armstrong
“I only want to see you laughing in the purple rain.” ~ Purple Rain – Prince
“She acts like summer and walks like rain.” ~ Drops of Jupiter, Train
“So wake me up when it’s all over. When I’m wiser and I’m older.” ~ Wake Me Up, Avicii
“Let’s pretend we’re dancing in the streets in Barcelona.” ~ Barcelona, Ed Sheeran
“I am colorblind. Coffee black and egg white.” ~ Colorblind, Counting Crows
“And I feel like I’m clinging to a cloud” ~ Misty, Johnny Mathis
“Once I rose above the noise and confusion” ~ Carry On Wayward Son, Kansas
“Chasing dreams with fishing nets” ~ Rain Delays, Crash Parallel
“Silence like a cancer grows” ~ The Sound of Silence, Simon and Garfunkel
“Amidst the chaos, find your peace.” ~ Great Spirit, Nahko and Medicine for the People
To join in:
- Write a poem that includes a line from a song.
- Post it to your blog or website.
- Click on Mr. Linky and add your name and direct URL to your poem.
- Include a link to dVerse in your blog post. Spread the word!
- Visit and read the work of your fellow poets.
- Have fun!
I leave you with this….
dVerse 
Hello all, this was a real challenge… so many great songs, so much to chose from… Hope you will find your musical muse
Good evening Mish and Bjorn, and the rest of you fine dVerse poets. I’m early today because I’m waiting for a call from my daughter and have a few things to do this evening. But I will keep my eye on the poems!
Great to have you here tonight… let the music play and that meaningful lyric is something to use.
Ooh, “Drops of Jupiter.” I love that song.
A long time since I heard train …
It comes up for me as a youtube suggestion from time to time.
Ha,… I just checked which song I had played the most according to my last.fm profile… I hope you like Lykke Li
Oh yes, she’s always the star of your page. 🙂
Thanks for the introduction to Lykke Li…just had to search her on youtube. Very interesting !
Great prompt but oh so wide. I’ll see what I can do amidst the holiday vibes.
When streaming music you will always get suggestions becuase your’re listening habits are tracked…. 🙂
Hi Paul…I agree, the prompt is very broad so I understand it may be time consuming to narrow it down. Still working on mine…
Enjoying some holidays? Nice!
Let’s see…I have to start with thinking about Beatles songs and Puccini opera….oh the choices!
Thank you Mish for this intriguing prompt! Hello to everybody. I wonder (as did Mish) how many of us out there play an instrument or sing? I can’t carry a tune but I play the violin and the oboe and when I’ve had too much Jameson’s, the penny whistle.
I played the piano as a kid… cannot do anything any longer… and no song either… but Paul play the drums, so maybe we have a start of a dVerse orchestra.
With Kim as lead singer!
Piano and guitar. My mother was a piano teacher, so that was predictable.
Yes, I think we could start a dVerse band.
That would be fun!
Toni…the violin would be a beautiful addition to our dverse band. 😉 I nominate you for the solo part of our theme song.
I have never heard of Jameson’s OR a penny whistle.
Jameson’s is good Irish whiskey. A penny whistle is like a tiny recorder – wind instrument made of metal. It has a high pitched sweet sound. You often hear it in Irish music.
Oh I love it already…
It can be wild or dancing or soft and melancholy – it depends on the player.
I enjoyed the video Great Spirit. I am working on something related to the Bee Gee’s Heartbreaker.
Glad you enjoyed the video, Frank. 🙂 Looking forward to reading your poem.
I just happened to write a music-inspired poem right before looking at this post! I’ll post it promptly. 🙂
Hi revivedwriter! Sometimes timing is everything. Will be by soon to read.
Thank you. Also, I listened to “Great Spirit” and loved it so will check out more music by that artist. Thank you for sharing.
Hallo this made me cry. I was originally looking for No time to say goodbye by Tom Paxton…..but then went with “the last thing on my mind.”… Then ended up listening to the streets of london…no idea how I got there….mum was always saying she could fit all that was of meaning to her into two carrier bags,,,,so I cried all over again…should have been drinking gin…lol. XXXXXX
Thanks for joining in Alison…music is so powerful with our emotions, isn’t it? I”m sorry for your tears and hope that writing gives you some release.
It was fine…ironically I was already part way through the poem using Tom Paxton’s No time to say goodbye…as the title before you posted. But it made me go on youtube and start listening to the songs and that was good too.
Yes it does and it is getting very close to an anniversary and it is my first year back home near Dad. XX
Hey everyone! Hope your day or night is going well. Welcome to Poetics. I really appreciate your patience with my work hours as I stumble in late for my prompt nights. After working with 5 toddlers today, I am ready for any style of music other than nursery rhymes. Looking forward to hitting the poetry trail soon. At your service for tunes and beverages of your choice. Enjoy! 🙂
Great poetic prompt tonight, Mish! I really enjoyed Great Spirit – that one is new to me. I went with a Nickel Creek song that has always struck me as the ultimate in irony and conundrum. I’m drinking Scotch tonight; neat, and make it the good stuff, please.
Thanks Jilly. Glad you enjoy the prompt and video. I listen to Nahko’s music on a Friday night and it feels like therapy after a long week. Scotch on the rocks coming right up. Nice and smooth.
Oh you said “neat”….taking back the ice. Not much of a bartender am I.
LOL! Than Q!
Greetings! Barkeep… a Shirley Temple! …in a dirty glass! Love the prompt! Hope you all enjoy the offering.
Hello Charley, nice to see you. Shirley Temple coming your way, complete with tiny umbrella. Enjoy! 🙂
Thank you! Don’t want anybody raining on my Temple. Nice to be here.
Hey, Mish… can you fix my link on Mr. Linky? I posted something on Jillys where we put in two names and it held over on here. Make it just read “Charley,” please.
Ok..I’ll look into that for you.
Done.
Thank you!
Thanks for the prompt – my muse was really feeling a song – it’s a melancholy tune.
Hi Truedessa…so glad you joined in. 🙂
music and poetry mash up! loved it! 😀
This is a great idea for a prompt.
Hi kids, am away from home, with just my tablet, not good at linking with it. If i didnt do it correctly, my response to this prompt is Ripples at High Tide. Thanks!
Hello everyone and thank you for this lovely prompt Mish! I am late to the bar and have linked a haibun and song that is one of Pearl’s favourites. I wish you all a great new day and will swing by later to read :o) xxx
What a lovely challenge!
This fell right into place for me and got me to write about something I probably would have put off otherwise.
Great prompt, Mish. Thank you for the inspiration!
I missed the linky time, but here’s mine (I always need days to do anything…)
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