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| Christiaan Triebert |
This has been a difficult week—two mass shootings to begin with, followed by the loss of Toni Morrison, and today, the heart crushing news that Lee Bennett Hopkins passed away. I had already written this post before hearing about Toni Morrison or Lee, both of whom deserve more than a passing mention. While I'm not going to revise my words now, I did want to say what a devastating loss Lee's passing, especially, will be to the children's poetry community.
The sky will be filled many times over with our tears, Dear One,
but you will live on in our hearts and our poems.
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| With Lee at his induction to The Florida Artists Hall of Fame, 2017 |
As I pondered Jesse Anna Bornemann's new DMC challenge this week:
I realized that guessing the songs that inspired these poems is not going to be easy!Pick a Beatles song (or, if you're not a Beatles fan, a song by your favorite band), write down as many words from the song as you can, then compose a poem that uses at least three words from your list. Don't tell us the song that inspired your poem—see if we can guess! (Read her entire spotlight interview HERE.)
Granted, I'm not very good at guessing games anyway, but as I examined the three poems on the padlet right now, I was reminded of just how many Beatles songs there are to choose from. (Duh!) Angelique Pacheco appears to have pulled from a few different songs, Linda Baie's poem... beautiful, but I have no idea what song it sprung from. I did figure out Linda Mitchell's, but only because I cheated and typed her selected words into a Google search bar! (I'm not going to tell you which one so you can have a chance to figure it out on your own.)
To help you choose a song for your poem, here are two libraries of Beatles song lyrics organized alphabetically or by album.
So what did I do this week? I didn't write a poem for this month's challenge. I did, however, play with lyrics and photographs as a form of poetry therapy. So much chaos in the world! So little compassion! Too much violence! Every so often I need to take time to regroup and allow my muse to process it all. The Beatles are a wonderful go-to for offering perspective and rekindling hope.
Here's the poem I found pairing photos and lines from "Eleanor Rigby," "Fixing a Hole," "Blackbird," "Hey Jude," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Imagine," and "The End."
All the lonely people
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| Krocky Meshkin |
fixing a hole
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singing in the dead of night—
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| Keith Trice |
"take a sad song and make it better"
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| Michelle B. |
"take these broken wings and learn to fly."
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| Kevin Conor Keller |
Gonna try with a little help from my friends.
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| CasparGirl |
With every mistake we must surely be learning!
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| Sarah Horrigan |
You may say I'm a dreamer but I'm not the only one—
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| Matthias Ripp |
And to send you on your way, some straight-up Beatles therapy:
You've paired these lines and photos beautifully, Michelle. Each line resonates, but especially "take these broken wings and learn to fly." If only...
ReplyDelete"Blackbird" is one of my favorite Beatles songs—so simple yet so poignant.
DeleteYour post is like a warm comforting hug. The words and photos you chose are beautiful and the perfect salve. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the hug back with your comment, Kimberly.
DeleteI hear you, Michelle. Just when we think that there can't be a worse day or week...there is. I spent today cleaning out kitchen drawers. Something about sorting is very, very soothing. Making order. Your lyric and photo pairings are so positive. Even the ones with tears. It's OK to cry to feel the emotion. And, we can still be dreamers. Hugs to you, friend. I need a little help fom all my friends these days.
ReplyDeleteI think we all need that little bit of extra help these days, Linda. One of the reasons I'm so grateful for this PF community! Hugs backatcha. <3
DeleteMichelle, this is a lovely visual poem accompanied with music. I did ready last week's post with Jesse Anna Bornemann. I even found a Beatles' song that I have always loved. Yes, I am thinking of how to pull this together with the myriad of tasks on my to do list. I have the very first book signed by Lee during my 2nd year of teaching. He has always been an inspiration to me.
ReplyDeleteAn inspiration to you and so many others, Carol. Lee will be sorely missed.
DeleteIt has been such a terrible week, then the news of Lee's death feels like the final sting. Earlier after the shootings, I waded into a couple of books, did only other things I had to do. I love how you used music and pictures to help, Michelle. And I will never tire of listening to the Beatles. Just one hint for you. I did not use a Beatles song, perhaps should give the words? Thanks for this lovely post.
ReplyDeleteIndeed, Linda. I thinking we're all just struggling to get by right now! If you want to reveal your selected words as a comment on the padlet, I'm sure it would be appreciated by more than me!
DeleteWonderful pairings, Michelle. Thank you, my friend.
ReplyDelete<3
DeleteMichelle, thanks for sharing your recipe for healing. I sang "Blackbird" to my grandsons yesterday; it seemed appropriate to the day.
ReplyDeleteOh, how beautiful! I'm so glad you told me that, Diane. VERY appropriate.
DeleteMuch needed therapy, Michelle - thank you! (Been thinking of you SO much since yesterday; we'll all get through together.) XO
ReplyDeleteYes, I imagine we will, Robyn... one day at a time. xo
DeleteA touching response to the challenge, Michelle, and quite an apropos way to honor Lee's memory: with poetry.
ReplyDeleteIs there any other way?
DeleteMany hugs to you, Michelle. When I created my prompt, I thought it would just be silly fun, but now I'm realizing (or maybe remembering) how deep and powerful many of The Beatles' songs are. "In My Life," in particular, always reminds me of people I've loved and lost. I was surprised and so saddened to hear of Lee Bennett Hopkins' passing. I'd never met him, but through reading his poems and watching many of his video interviews, I felt as if I knew him. Sending my love to all of his friends and mentees here.
ReplyDeleteI think a lot of people felt that way about Lee, Jesse. It's kind of like he was the sun that we, in the children's poetry world, were all orbiting. Thank you for your kind thoughts and love.
DeleteSo beautiful, comforting, and loving, Michelle. Thanks for this much needed balm for all the sadness this week. Losing Lee on top of everything else was just too much. Thinking of you, Robyn, Matt, Renee and other PF friends whose lives were touched in many profound ways by his.
ReplyDeleteHugs to you too, Jama! I imagine his loss isn't easy on you either. xo
DeleteSo perfectly paired - just the lines and visuals we needed to be thinking about this terrible week. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tara. And thank you for your beautiful post that took my mind off of things and reminded me of simple pleasures like the change of seasons and the power of a ripe cherry tomato!
DeleteBeautiful. Thank you, Michelle. x
ReplyDeleteSending you a big hug, Amy. xo
DeleteWhat a warm hug and keeper this post is Michelle thank you for lovingly preparing and sharing it with us! Wish we could universally… "let it be."
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Michelle. I wish this with all my heart.
DeleteBeautiful. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure, Jilanne. Thank you for dropping in and leaving a comment.
DeleteOh Michelle, this is so beautiful. We need love. We need each other.
ReplyDeleteYes, indeed. If the rest of the world could feel as much support as we do in this little Poetry Friday community, imagine the changes that could take place!
DeleteWe needed your linking of photos and lyrics today, I am so very sorry for your loss regarding Lee. How fortunate to have met him. Sending love.
ReplyDeleteHe had the most infectious laugh, Jone. It was a delight. Love backatcha for this tough, tough week.
DeleteYour photo/music poem makes me realize how ingrained these songs are in my deep memory. As I read each line, the music played in my head. It was magical. Thank you. (Also for Let It Be.)
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful description, Mary Lee—magical is right! Their songs were the soundtrack of so many of our lives.
DeleteI love the way you approached this challenge, Michelle! The photos you chose are exactly right for the lines. Even though few faces are visible, there is so much emotion packed into each image. I especially love the dreamer releasing the doves. Thank you for these.
ReplyDeleteYou know what I especially love about that particular photo, Catherine? If you look closely, those aren't actually doves. It's a child reaching for flying hands. But both interpretations work beautifully!
DeleteI'm glad it helped, Sydney. I know all these loving comments have certainly helped me!
ReplyDeleteYour pairing of words and images create a beautiful found poem. Thank you for it.
ReplyDeleteI love it!
ReplyDelete