You know the best laid plans aren't always completed. I finished my poem much earlier today, but if you've been reading my crazy meanderings for awhile you'll know that my family requires a lot of time. Also the people next door were having a birthday party for their little boy. He's two years old today and that is kind of a miracle. When he was born he had respiratory problems and he was on a respirator full time until he was a year old. Now I think they only use it once and awhile and he is growing and healthy looking. So people kept ringing our bell, because ours is the first door they came to and we'd look outside and they'd be gone. Then kids kept running up and down the stairs and banging on the porch railing all night long. It was hard to do anything but watch TV.:)
So today's poem was much harder to write, since it was about an object. Since I have about a million different objects in my place, including at least thirty or forty Betty Boop statues I couldn't figure out what to write about until I decided to write about the object that probably has the most meaning for me. Here is the prompt:
"I want you to write a poem about an object (or objects). Though you don't have to confine yourself to straight up description, I do want you to focus on object and/or make it a central piece of your poem. One of the more famous poems of contemporary literature does this wonderfully in William Carlos Williams' "The Red Wheelbarrow." (from Poetic Asides with Robert Brewer)
Mom wanted to keep it
in her living room to hold
her picture frames
Our photos stared at me
each time I sat on her
gold couch always covered
by the green couch cover
I’d beg her to give the piano to me
each time I sat on her
gold couch always covered
by the green couch cover
I’d beg her to give the piano to me
She never placed her hands
on the ivory keys –kept the
on the ivory keys –kept the
cover closed and the objects
on the top of it
dusted. The legs of the piano
bench moved so there wouldn’t
be a mark in the gold carpet
I’d visit from across the street,
where we landed after Buffalo,
to play. My fingers moved
over the keys wanting to be better.
Amusing myself in an hour stolen
away from children’s prattle and
endless tasks.
I’d play my favorites, “Arragonnaise” and
“Fur Elise” improvising and dreaming
The music moving me beyond her small
Kew Gardens living room into a world
filled with peace and the crisp sound
of major and minor chords as my
right hand tapped notes harmonizing
with the dreamy pleasure found when
I opened the cover and music floated
over and through me obliterating
sirens and doors slamming. Again
I’d ask when will this be mine?
Never wanting to hear the answer
Knowing the sad day
That day came and we moved
the piano everywhere we lived
Though it is not played
Once more mute, untuned
Again a display piece.
She didn’t want the piano
all those years ago
The tune she wanted was me.
copyright 2009 by Barbara Ehrentreu
bench moved so there wouldn’t
be a mark in the gold carpet
I’d visit from across the street,
where we landed after Buffalo,
to play. My fingers moved
over the keys wanting to be better.
Amusing myself in an hour stolen
away from children’s prattle and
endless tasks.
I’d play my favorites, “Arragonnaise” and
“Fur Elise” improvising and dreaming
The music moving me beyond her small
Kew Gardens living room into a world
filled with peace and the crisp sound
of major and minor chords as my
right hand tapped notes harmonizing
with the dreamy pleasure found when
I opened the cover and music floated
over and through me obliterating
sirens and doors slamming. Again
I’d ask when will this be mine?
Never wanting to hear the answer
Knowing the sad day
That day came and we moved
the piano everywhere we lived
Though it is not played
Once more mute, untuned
Again a display piece.
She didn’t want the piano
all those years ago
The tune she wanted was me.
copyright 2009 by Barbara Ehrentreu
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I'm putting some links here for you.
The first is to Internet Book Database where you will find people who love books and a great free offer.:)
The second is to a wonderful article by Penny Ehrenkranz who will be a guest author on this blog toward the end of this month with the Red River Writers Blog Tour. Her article was published in Funds for Writers and if you are a writer this article will be very worthwhile for you. :)
The third is to a new blog all about books by a woman who owns a bookstore near Philadelphia. Her blog is called Sweet Reads. She has something called The Lollipop Book Club. If you have young children who love picture books or if you are a children's author or a grandmother or grandfather you will love this blog. Karen has just become a member of the Women's Blogger Directory of which I am a part of too.:) I hope people have scrolled down to the badge here to find out more about this great network.:)
Also wanted to let you know about two great monthly newsletters. The first is the SFC Newsletter or Stories for Children Newsletter, which accepts fiction, non-fiction and poetry for children and young adults. When you send them an email they will subscribe you to the newsletter.
The second newsletter is Long Story Short Newsletter. They also accept fiction, non-fiction and poetry, but not just for children. So if you write for adults this might be better for you.
To sign up for this newsletter, send a blank email with Subscribe Me as the subject.This month they have limited the story length to 1000 words or less.
Just wanted to say how wonderful it is to be a part of this blogging world.:) Please leave a comment and feel free to send me your own poems all through April. Until the next time,
Happy Easter to everyone who celebrates.:)
