This week’s Friday Fictioneers challenge just cried out for a poem rather than prose, so I’ve told my story in verse this time. The photo is compliments of our hostess, Rochelle Wiseoff-Fields. My story is below the picture.
REQUIEM
What? You ask how did it happen?
Torn asunder piece by piece?
I admit it was my doing:
Thought perhaps my pain ‘twould ease.
For I cannot find my music;
Cannot hear the melody.
Cannot feel the beat, the rhythm;
And, of course, no harmony.
Still, my soul keeps searching, reaching;
Won’t believe the gift is gone.
It once coursed throughout my being;
Every breath exhaled a song.
Every heartbeat set a tempo;
Notes cascaded from my mind;
Even in sleep, my dreams invaded —
Nocturnes delicate, sublime.
Now, I’ve only fleeting memories
Of creating symphonies.
Tragedy beyond my bearing:
There’s no music left in me!
~~~
(Author’s note: For the sake of my wonderful friends who might worry about whether I’m going through such a tragedy personally, the answer, gratefully, is “No.” But I can imagine how devastating such an experience would be for any musician/composer.)
Join in the fun:
http://rochellewisofffields.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/25-october-2013/
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The Happy Wordcrafter 
That would be heartbreaking and you wrote it so I could feel it.
Thank you for letting me know that it was a success, Gilly. And yes, I’m very grateful that I haven’t had to experience so much heartbreak.
I dread to think if there was no music left in me…. 😉
I agree with galan12 heehee! like New York had to visit twice….
So glad you did visit twice. I love to have you drop by. Wish we lived in the same country so we could visit in “real life.”
I would have loved that as well.. 😉
That would be terrible. I chose a poem this week, too, although of a different type. You did well!
janet
Thanks, Janet. I’m technically five words over the limit, but I figured that wasn’t too bad since I had to work with the meter.
Dear Sandra,
I’m not a huge fan of rhyming poetry because it can come across as singsong. Yours did not. In fact this was deep and well layered. The last line left me aching with hollow loneliness for the narrator. Simply beautiful.
shalom,
Rochelle
PS. That should read “usually not a fan”…your poem may have changed my mind. 😉
Thank you so much, Rochelle. I value your comments very highly.
Dear Sandra,
What a beautiful and heartfelt poem. Not a stanza out of place nor an emption untapped. It flowed effortlessly off of my tongue (I read the poems aloud as this often uncovers unintended dissonance in lesser offerings.)
Even had I not known your history and background as a musician I would have been able to tell it from the way your words told this tale of love and loss. Mark this one down as one of your best in a long list of excellent offerings.
Aloha,
Doug
Those are very kind words indeed, Mr. Doug. I appreciate your taking the time to respond in so much depth.
Oh what a beautiful poem. I’m glad you aren’t going through this yourself, but what a horrible feeling to have one’s creative well run dry. Especially a musical one!! I just have to say I also love the name of your blog title and your banner with the horse and the tagline! Very cool!
Thank you very much. And thanks for taking the time to let me know.
A heart wrenching poem…
My favorite line: Every breath exhaled a song.
It’s one of my favorites too. Thank you, Dawn.