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| "Lonely Blue Balloon" by Scott Richards |
EPITAPH FOR A BLUE BALLOON
Here lies Blue,
dear departed
pioneer of skies uncharted.
Friend of downy clouds on high,
an easy breezy kind of guy.
Fearless till the day he lost
his helium—then tempest-tossed,
he realized flight was not his calling
at the moment he was falling.
pioneer of skies uncharted.
Friend of downy clouds on high,
an easy breezy kind of guy.
Fearless till the day he lost
his helium—then tempest-tossed,
he realized flight was not his calling
at the moment he was falling.
© 2018 Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. All rights reserved.
Here are some scenes from Blue's travels . . .
(Best viewed full screen.)
Daily ditties this week included poems by Cynthia Cotten, Dianne Moritz, Randi Sonenshine, and Ellen Leventhal. Liz Steinglass is sharing hers today. To be included in next week's wrap-up celebration, post your poem on our February 2018 padlet.
You rhyme so effortlessly, Michelle!
ReplyDeleteI was thinking the same thing - it flows as softly as the fateful balloon!
DeleteThank you both!
DeleteWhat a fun poem! Love it! "Easy Breezy kind of guy" is funny!
ReplyDelete"Easy breezy" is something I aspire to. :)
DeleteSo much to love here! "Pioneer of skies uncharted" and "easy breezy kind of guy" are my favorites. Another great epitaph poem!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Molly. It's been an amazing month of poems so far, hasn't it?
DeleteFabulous! Poor Blue... I love everything about this poem. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Irene. xo
DeleteWonderful, Michelle. It's a chronicle of a life well-lived! The rhyming is wonderful, fun to read aloud!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. Dancing among the clouds is definitely on my bucket list. :)
DeleteThis is such a fun verse for poor blue. Love the lift of the rhyme while blue is falling. Video is delightful, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. Isn't that video fun? I was so delighted to find it!
DeletePoor blue balloon!
ReplyDeleteYour poem is delighfuly charming!
Thanks, Bekah! Balloons make me happy... especially blue ones. :)
DeleteAt least the blue balloon had a fascinating journey before falling back to earth! What fun rhymes!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay. Yep, it's all about the journey.
DeleteI've been enjoying this whole month of humorous epitaphs! This one was *almost* buoyant but it sank a little at the end :-)
ReplyDeleteHahahahahahaha! Touché, Tabatha!
DeletePoor Blue. At least he flew long enough to earn a terrific tribute!
ReplyDeleteShort, perhaps, but it was a good life. I hope to feel that fulfilled at the end of mine!
DeleteCool epitaph! I love poor blue, though now I feel deflated . . . (great video BTW, charming and whimsical).
ReplyDeleteLOL! Sorry, Jama.
DeleteI was THRILLED when I found that video! Kismet strikes again.
Nice! but sad. Maybe Piglet can pick him up and give him to Eeyore.
ReplyDeleteAwww, I sure hope so, Liz!
DeleteYour epitaph is a celebration of a "life" well lived. I thoroughly enjoyed it. RIP Blue!
ReplyDeleteIt is! Not sure I thought about it that way at the time I wrote the poem, but it definitely is, Sarah. Thanks. :)
DeleteWhat a fun tribute to blue balloon! Wondering, did you write the epitaph first or did the video inspire you?
ReplyDeleteTruth be told, I wrote the poem a couple years ago, Cindy. I was thrilled to find that video this week when I was looking for images to accompany the poem. It's amazing what you can find on the Internet, isn't it? The two pieces were meant to be together!
DeleteStreaked so fast, and fell so far.
ReplyDeleteBut still you can't call him Pop Star.
Sorry, Jane
Haha! Thankfully, no, you can't.
DeleteThanks for popping in to leave a comment, Jane. ;)
This poem floats! <3
ReplyDeleteSo long as there are no cacti around, it does. ;) Thanks, Renée. xo
DeleteWhat a great ditty of an epitaph poem, Michelle. I am going to retrace my steps to read the interview between you, Pat, and Jane. That should be a good one. I have to come up with a go object to write an epitaph for (your video was a great touch).
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you'll enjoy that interview immensely, Carol. It's a hoot! And if you're looking for inspiration beyond that, try the padlet. So many wonderful poems there already!
DeleteAw poor blue, nice poem and I truly enjoyed the virtual travel with blue–accompanying harpsichord and all. Kinda reminds me of the "Red Balloon" here's a small trailer from it: https://youtu.be/KorAPe9TV7E
ReplyDeleteSo sweet! I just requested the film from the library. Can't wait to see the whole thing. :) And I agree, that video would not be nearly as enjoyable without the tinkly soundtrack!
DeleteBye bye Blue... You captured his essence perfectly, Michelle. ☺
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bridget!
DeleteI have to ask about your inspiration for this, Michelle. I loved the "Red Balloon" as a child. Poor Blue Balloon!
ReplyDeleteOh Geez. I wrote this poem a couple years ago, Christie, and I'm not sure I can recall what my inspiration was! Not specifically anyway. I was writing about things that fly and was also reading some of J. Patrick Lewis's epitaphs from another book at the time. I just requested the Red Balloon from the library—both the book and the film. From the clip Michelle Kogan suggested, it looks charming!
DeleteLove this SO much!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mary Lee!
DeleteBlissfully wistful, Michelle! Oh, but what lovely travels he had. :)
ReplyDeleteHe did, indeed! Thanks, Randi. :)
DeleteSo good. It seems that is often when we realize what isn't our calling...
ReplyDeleteYeah, I suppose you're right, Ruth. But sometimes it's worth it just to try, no?
DeletePoor, poor blue! Oh, the fate of so many birthday party balloons. ;-)
ReplyDeleteIt's always sad to see the disappointment of a child who loses their balloon, but I've never really thought about it from the balloon's perspective!
DeleteThis made me smile. Love the rhyming. I am working on an epitaph poem. The books was a blast to read for the CYBILS.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jone. I look forward to seeing what you come up with!
Delete(Sniff sniff...) Now I'm blue...
ReplyDeleteThis week left me feeling a bit blue and deflated. Epitaph for Hope might be next. But how to make it funny?
ReplyDelete