Rhythm of Music and Poetry

B lyrical

(da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM)

I feel that poetry has a bad rep. Unless surrounded by other writers, when I tell people, "I write poetry", I can almost see them cringe! Traditional forms of poetry can be painful to read. Themes of love, longing, and loss can be overly sentimental, antiquated, and even cliche. While there is nothing wrong with tradition or sentimentalism, poetry need not be painful or cringy. Traditional forms aside, we can't all be Shakespeare, master of the Sonnet.

One way to reframe poetry's bad reputation is to view poems like they are song lyrics,. Much like traditional poetry, songs can have an agenda or a underlying message, or they draw out memories, or they simply entertain. The key is, both lyrics and poetry evoke feelings. These are different based on perception, perspective, and what each individual finds relatable. In other words, as art, both are subjective.

No Rules

I prefer creating poetry using the less confining form of free verse. With free verse, a poet is free to explore formatting options while selecting lyrical language and applying literary devices like alliteration, slant (imperfect) rhymes, and enjambment. But, being challenged to create a poem that adheres to rules does come with a beautiful satisfaction when met.

This rather lengthy explanation of uniting music and poetry has been the introduction to my traditional 14-lined sonnet about my love of music

Bet you didn't see that coming.

da-DUM | da-DUM | da-DUM | da-DUM | da-DUM *

I don’t love you as I do the Lily

velvet blooms ooze your periwinkle scent

I love you, my lingering purple dream,

as chords resonate, vibrate, yet unspent

I love you as I do the churning sea

your waves quiet the chaotic tempo

sonorous sighs bring me tranquility

as one eternally, we ebb and flow

I love you as I do warm autumn days,