5 CIHTD?: Traffic Light ("It's over!")

Title:  Red Light
Artist:  David Nail
Album:  I'm About to Come Alive
Genre:  Country

Notes:  I mentioned in my last post I wanted to write about traffic lights....  So I went out and found a song that had a traffic light in it to lend inspiration for this week's CIHTD?.

A Form Aside:  Over at dVerse Poets Pub they have introduced a short little number called the cinquain.  I thought I'd give it a whirl.  I'm not the only one...so if you get a chance, check out some of the talents that chose to walk through the pub doors for this event.

Traffic Light ("It's Over")

stopped dead—
blood drains with words
no lies—no fight—just words
crashing down. light turns green; still I
can't move.

3 CIHTD?: A little sunshine...

Title:  Oh, Mr. Sun
Artist:  unknown
Album:  unknown
Genre:  Children's

Notes:  It's been a trying couple of weeks; so much so that even my typical tricks of music and breathing.  When things get this bad, I have another little source of pleasure.  I texted my friend and told her I could really use a picture or video.  She sent me a picture of her little one with a cucumber for lips.  A few seconds later, I texted her again asking where the older one (my goddaughter).  As I was doing so, she was recording a video with my goddaughter singing Oh, Mr. Sun at the top of her lungs.  I watched it multiple times and slowly (for me) the sun did begin to shine.  I have a feeling that I'll be playing that video several more times before the end of this month.  Hopefully April showers will help to wash away some the craziness pressing down on me.

1 CIHTD?: Silence

The music is silent today...

8 CIHTD?: Self-Loathing

Title:  n/a
Artist:  n/a
Album:  n/a
Genre:  n/a

An Aside:  So I'm going off script again with this week's CIHTD?.  I figured I could get away with it since I incorporated musical notes in this piece.  Plus, over at dVerse Poets Pub, they are talking about graffiti poetry.  So, I took a tweet(oetry) and graffiti-fied it.  Note, no walls were actually marred in the creation of this piece; I went the legal route and used the computer.


Self-Loathing

4 CIHTD?: G(r)in & Tonic

Title:  You and Me & a Bottle Make 3 Tonight (Baby)

Artist:  Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Album:  Live
Genre:  Jazz

Notes:  It's been about 10 years since I was introduced to Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.  I had a student who had learned I liked big bang music and told me I should check them out.  He definitely wasn't wrong.  There is part of me that when I listen to this song am not 100% sure who the "you" is in this.  I can't decide if he's talking to someone or if the you is the drink in his hands.  Either way, it definitely is a catchy tune.

G(r)in & Tonic 

I drank away my sorrow
drown my dreams of tomorrow
focusing on you -- only you --
and what might be tonight  

Pour me another 

We click our glasses together
clear our minds of whether
there's more to us -- to this --
than what might be tonight 

Just leave us the bottle 

You steal away my troubles
stir an emotion that bubbles
around me -- surrounds me --
and what might be 

You're my last drink of the night

5 CIHTD?: Methods...

Title:  n/a

Artist:  n/a

Album:  n/a

Genre:  n/a

An Aside:  I've been sick...still sick technically...and my brain has been a bit too fuzzy to compose.  Every time the music plays I want to close my eyes and fall asleep.  So I am taking a different approach to this week's CIHTD?.

Notes:  I can remember coming in late on a debate between my brother and cousin about whether it is the lyrics or instrumentals of a song that were more powerful.  Each was on a different side of the fence.  I, myself, have always found myself in the middle.  

There is definitely something to the lyrics that touch the mind and heart.  They can stick with you and follow you around.  You can relate to them.  And sometimes having words that you can sing out (whether you actually know the words or not) as the music plays can be very cathartic.  

Now the instrumentals ..the instrumentals have a way of getting under your skin--syncing with or altering your internal rhythm.  I have always found this to be very therapeutic.  A couple of years ago I wrote (and posted here) the poem below.  Eventually this turned into a bit of series where each of the poems that followed incorporated music as an entity to soothe.  

So with out further ado...

Methods to Soothe Raging Emotions

gritted teeth
hold tears at bay
a flimsy dam of sticks
bombarded by raging emotions
longing to pour freely

rioting music
course throughout
a volatile tidal wave
melding with raging emotions
longing to find rhythm

breath moves
slowly in, slowly out
a soft gentle breeze
releases the raging emotions
longing to suffocate

Followed up by four additional poems with music playing in the background:

• Methods to Soothe Raging Emotions:  Music Echoes
• Methods to Soothe Raging Emotions:  Rage On
• Methods to Soothe Raging Emotions:  Perscriptive Drug
• Methods to Soothe Raging Emotions:  Out of My Misery

15 CIHTD?: Tune (Stuck Inside My Head)

Title:  Day that I Die
Artist:  Zac Brown Band (feat. Amos Lee)
Album:  Uncaged
Genre:  Country

Notes:  There is something about the way he sings "a guitar in my hands."  I don't really know why but I do. I had thought I might use that as my 'radif' (see information on form below), but I found myself instead utilizing a phrase from the line "I just kept chasing that melody."  I even initially used 'that', but 'our' just felt a better fit by the time I uncovered the first stanza.  Yes, in the scheme of things, I wrote four stanzas prior to coming back to the one that used the 'radif' in both lines.  A couple of other lines from the song played into the poem, but for the most part the topic is not aligned with the song.

A Form Aside:  This is a ghazal--more specifically it is intended to be a ghazal sonnet.  This was not my first attempt at a ghazal.  I tried one (back in August 2011).  Normally I try to give a form several goes before I make a decision on it, which is why when it popped up at dVerse Poets Pub for their FormForAll, I thought I'd give it another go.  Still not really sold on it, but...

Tune (Stuck Inside My Head)

I never shall erase our melody
nor could I dare replace our melody.

You are the only tune I care to know,
though I might have to chase our melody.

My fingers long to graze your skin
allowing me to trace our melody.

How long, I wonder, must I wait for you
to finally embrace our melody.

I know how fear can still the beat,
but please do not deface our melody.

Until the very end I'll sing of us
and strum across my bass our melody.

Guitar in hand with roses at our feet
together we'll retrace our melody.

---

my humble offerings for dVerse Poets Pub FormForAll.  If you get a chance, check out what some amazing talents are doing with the ghazal form.

3 CIHTD?: Tied Together with a Smile

Title:  Tied Together With a Smile

Artist:  Taylor Swift
Album:  Taylor Swift
Genre:  Country

Notes:  I can't tell you how long I have had this album, but honestly until recently it seems this song has never 'shuffled' across my path.  The title drew me right from the get go and then came the words.  The first verse into the course really struck a chord for me.  It use to be much easier for me to maintain / sustain a smile no matter what was going on behind the scenes.  Nowadays I find it much harder to do so and the idea of finally just letting it go...

Tied Together with a Smile

The thread just hangs there
teasing and taunting

a needle could help sew things back up--
maintain appearances 

a pair of scissors could keep things in limbo--
bordering on becoming undone

and a tug
               a tug could unravel it all--
setting me free

I'm tired of holding it all together--
putting on a pretty face

This smile is all I've had to keep
me from falling apart at the seams

But each day it gets harder and harder
to stitch up this facade

The thread just hangs there
at the corner of my mouth
daring me to release the smile

9 CIHTD?: It Brings Me To My Knees

Title:  Over and Over
Artist:  O.A.R.  (of a revolution)
Album:  King
Genre:  Rock

Notes:  It is the following lines that captured my attention, though really the whole song spoke to me:

     Why do I draw these line 

     They keep me out of reach 

     It's not what I wanted, no 

     but it brings me to my knees

I've talked about building walls in the past (in a poem or two); the idea of drawing lines--boarders so to speak--seemed to hit the same chord for me.

It Brings Me To My Knees

Stuck--as one tire spins in the mud
the other does nothing--that's me
stepping on the gas and going no where;
I'm baked and caked in this crud
with no way of escaping this cell.

I itch to break free
scribble outside the lines
drawn by my own hand;
this is no way to be
stuck out of reach.

Lost--that pesky rabbit's turned the signs
this way and that--my sense of direction
no longer pointing due north leaving me
no where; I'm sitting on the sidelines
of my own life watching it pass me by.

My destination
eludes my grasp
so turned around
in frustration--
lost to my own self.

Falling--like Alice Through the Looking Glass
plunges down the hole--I seek
to find hold of something - anything -
the smallest bit of hope to blast
away the lines, to clear the path ahead

The sky is bleak
but somewhere
up ahead I know
the sun will peak
lighting my way.

At least that's what I tell myself, for I dare
not allow myself to live in utter despair
when I can fall to my knees in prayer.

---

An Aside:  The final stanza was suppose to be a couplet.  At first the last line was "not allow myself to fall to my knees in prayer."  But then I wasn't so sure about going there (with praying).  So I changed it to the current second line of the stanza.  It wasn't until I went back to write the note above that I thought the line "but it brings me too my knees" kind of fit the idea of prayer.  So I debated between the two for a bit before deciding (for now at least) to let them both stand.

An Form Aside:  With the exception of the final stanza, the above was an attempt at a Weave.  This form was introduced by its creator over at dVerse Poets Pub along with another form called Karousel.  To read more about either form and to check out some Karousels and Weaves from the talent dVerse pub-goers, stop on in for a pint or two of delicious verse.

A Final Aside:  My Cousin Vinny (stuck), Bugs Bunny (lost), and Alice in Wonderland (falling).  Quite honestly in my current frame of mind I can't even guarantee that the above poem makes sense, let alone explain how these three references made there way into this piece.  I don't really think this is where I had expected to end up when this song first struck a chord--I may even end up revisiting the song again once my head clears--but I've learned never to question inspiration.

4 CIHTD?: The Trouble Is

Title:  All About the Love
Artist:  Sister Hazel
Album:  20 in 10:  Digital Collection
Genre:  Rock

The Trouble Is

The puzzle lays scattered about the table;
brilliant shades of pink collecting dust
wait patiently for fingers to turn them over
and over and over and over searching for
the perfect fit.  Piece after piece yields nothing.

The candle light flickers with only my shadow;
an all consuming darkness shapes my form--
perpetually moving--lost in a sea of golden hues
threatening to swallow me whole with just the slightest
ill placed breath.  Sigh after sigh, my silhouette distorts.

The world just laughs knowing there's no perfect fit.
The sun refuses to shine knowing it too will cast
a solo shadow across the emptiness of my spirit.
And so here I sit waiting and waiting for enough.

Notes:  I first thought to name the poem Enough; even had it set before the first words spilled.  I hit the second to last line and I just couldn't make the connection.  So I glanced back at the song and the second line sparked the a new title.  The problem of course was that I still felt there needed to be something more to the poem.  And so the last line sprung up until "waiting and waiting."  Still I felt like I need to say what was being waited on, which is where enough crept back in.  I'm not sure about it.  I hear its meaning and understand its intent (particularly as it relates to the song), but I'm not certain it makes sense on its own or outside of my head.  Of course that won't stop me from employing it nonetheless.

4 CIHTD?: I'm Still Waiting for My Storybook Ending

Title:  Keep Believing 

Artist:  Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband
Album:  Brand New Shoes
Genre:  Rock

Notes:  So I got to the third stanza at the "of magic..." part when I felt a little itch of familiarity.  A quick little search and I discovered that this is not the first time this song brought inspiration; I wrote a poem, How much darker can it get?, back in September.

I'm Still Waiting for My Storybook Ending

I find it hard to believe
in love at first sight
when love is blind.

I find it hard to believe
that everything will be alright
when sometime alright is not being alright.

Still I dream
with every bone in my body
with every breath that I take
I still dream
of magic and love
of angles and family
of friends and miracles

I find it hard to believe
anyone will ever read my story,
open me up, and find the beauty
lying within.

I find it hard to keep fighting
when every bone in my body
says to let go.

Still I dream
in the pitch black that engulfs me
waiting for the dawn. 

---

An Aside:  I had intended this to occur during my Time Capsule post on Sunday, but I got sucked into writing some lunes after being introduced to them over at dVerse Poets Pub.  I even had a poem in mind for Sunday's post.  (Who knows, maybe I'll still use it.)  Anyway, this is my 500th post (WooHoo!!), which I'm making just shy of ...don't open...don't throw away...'s three year anniversary.  No worries, I have another "the past... the future..." post planned out for that day.  Smiles!!

4 CIHTD?: Take Care, Honey

Title:  Hate Me

Artist:  Blue October
Album:  Foiled
Genre:  Alternative

Notes:  There are three little words that use to come out of my mouth unhindered; they spoke to my poor self-worth and in complete contrast to the words I longed to hear (from myself as well as others).  It took awhile, but I finally trained those words out of my system.  Well, not completely,  but the no longer plague me the same way that they use to.  I'm certain it is those three little words that attracted me to this song.  Even though this is not a self-loathing song, there are elements of that in it I would think.

As I began to listen past the refrain, I found a multitude of interesting lines that feed the imagination quite well--several that strike home in ways not intended by the song.  I'm not sure who the 'she' is, if there are more than one 'she', or even if there is a 'she'.  There are many ways I can take this verse, both on a personal level and depending on the 'she'.

Take Care, Honey

the war isn't quite over yet,
just a simple battle won.
and while I wish I could stay--
continue this fight with you,
you've made this goodbye quite clear.

so here I stand miles away
while your war still rages on
and though you hope to protect--
pushing me away from you,
my heart will never let go.

I will continue to cry
for you--for the us that could
have been; and I will hate you
for today, for tomorrow;
I will hate you for always.

but I'll never, no never,
stop loving you; you will fill
my dreams as you always have
and I'll find what's good for me
whether it be you or not.

just promise you'll continue
to fight--look in the mirror
and see all that you are, all
you can be; all you couldn't
see reflected in my eyes.

2 CIHTD?: Sound of Healing

Title:  Stand Up
Artist:  Sugarland
Album:  The Incredible Machine
Genre:  Country

Notes:  The first time I heard this song was in concert.  It was just as powerful and beautiful then as it is every time I hear it.  As I listened to this song that very first time, I thought about how perfectly it would fit as a background to a montage of students expressing their thoughts and experiences with bullying.  Today I watched a group of eighth graders present a series of skits to each grade in their school (6-8).  Working in conjunction with the guidance counselor they identified different scenarios they found to be prevalent in their school as it relates to HIB (harassment, intimidation, and bullying).  And so it is no surprise this song found its way back into my head.

Sound of Healing

Allow your words to break the silence--
a fire shedding light to banish the darkness.

Allow your voice to rise above the noise--
a beacon of light to guide the lost home.

Allow your love to steel the pain and sorrow--
an aura of light to surround, comfort and heal
the hearts that beat in each of us.

10 CIHTD?: My Dear (Your Lion Heart)

Title:  Little Lion Man

Artist:  Mumford & Sons
Album:  Sigh No More
Genre:  Alternative

Notes:  I had a really long ramble planned, but I've decided to curtail it and just stay focused on what lead me here.  A couple things came into play really.  (In order as best as I can relate.)  Every other Friday (or there abouts) I post -- what I call -- a "Postcard Pondering" for fourth and fifth graders to ponder and think about.  The theme this time was courage.  Of course I can't just ask, "What's the most courageous thing you've ever done?"  That would be too simple; so instead...

Then on my way home yesterday, looking for the next song inspiration, I heard Little Lion Man.  I mean really how perfect was that.  And then, over at dVerse Poets Pub their meeting on writing in the second person.  If you've listened to Little Lion Man, the song (aside from the refrain) is in second person (though I'm pretty sure the you is the I).  If I hadn't already been convinced this was the way to go, at this point it all just seemed like a sign.

Anyway...enough rambling (and yes that was the short [on topic] version).

My Dear  (alternate title:  Your Lion Heart)

There's no need to touch
hand to chest
to know the rhythm
is off.

you can feel the stu(ut)ter
throughout your whole body;

a constant internal strum
reminding you how your heartstrings
dangle while you play on through

reminding you how you put yourself
out there on the line ready to fall
                       ready to give your all.

What courage you showed!
What strength
         desire
         determination
         openness you embodied?

You were so willing
                so ready to put your heart
                                              on the line

But it's not your fault...
      it's not your fault your lion heart
      was torn to shreds by mine. 

1 Can I Have This Dance?: Missing Lyrics

Title:  What Makes You Beautiful
Artist:  One Direction
Album:  Up All Night
Genre:  Pop

Missing Lyrics

I'm still waiting
'cause while I hear you
loud and clear
bop my head to music
tap my toe to the rhythm
hum along to your lyrics
the answer never comes.

The ground may not hold
the answers, but it easier
then seeing that word
shine in your eyes when
you look at me.

That look hurts--knowing
I don't see what you see
and so I wait listening
but you never really say,
what makes me beautiful.

Notes:  I'm cutting it close; Friday is almost at an end.  I kind of threw this one together.  I suppose it has potential, but...

6 Can I Have This Dance?: We Feel So Good

Title:  Reunited
Artist:  Peaches & Herb
Album:  The Best of Peaches & Herb
Genre:  R&B/Soul

We Feel So Good

I let you go before I realized
we were pieces of the same puzzle;
so perfectly we fit together.

I long to once again be close to you,
feel the contours of your smooth curves
brush up against my own.

You are the dream
I never knew I wanted--needed--
until you were gone.

Our foolishness has passed
and now all I wish for is you
to love me and hold me tight.

2 Can I Have This Dance?: I Fell Too

Title:  Apologize 

Artist:  OneRepublic
Album:  Dreaming Out Loud
Genre:  Rock

I Fell Too

Our love burned bright blue;
so brilliant was the flame,
fear gripped my heart anew.

If I could explain
what took control of me,
it might lessen the pain

and maybe you'd see
the rope was seared not cut.
Though you might disagree,

I did this for you
unsure I could ever
accept a love so true.

2 Can I Have This Dance?: Quinzaine: Mistake

Title:  God Doesn't Make Mistakes

Artist:  Carolyn Dawn Johnson

Album:  Dress Rehearsal

Genre:  Country

Quinzaine:  Mistake

#1
I heard You don't make mistakes.
Why did you make me?
No, really?

#2
I'm perfect just as I am.
Why do I feel like
a mistake?

4 Can I Have This Dance?: Don't Let Go

Title:  Can't Take My Eyes Off You
Artist:  Lady Antebellum
Album:  Lady Antebellum
Genre:  Country

Don't Let Go

I just can't take,
nor forsake, how
you make me feel;

should I reveal
your gaze steels me--
appeals to base

needs to embrace
your sweet face while
I brace myself

scared I'll rebel--
say farewell--or
this spell that shades

your eyes will fade.
I can't wade in,
afraid to love.

Notes:  I often struggle with what song to pick; it's not because lack songs that inspire, but rather I focus on the inspiration having to hold true to the meaning of the song.  Sometimes it's just a single line that inspires and yields a thought far from the songs meaning.  I'm doing my best to get over the whole thing.  Because if a line from a song inspires than it should count.  Anyway, in the end I can't say that this hits the meaning of the song completely, but it does hold some of the overall meaning.

A Form Aside:  I have this thing about not deciding on a new form until I've given it a couple of goes, so I gave the Than Bauk a second go...well sort of the first go round I went for a "chained" than bauk while this time I tried the "staircase" than bauk. Still I'm not 100% sure of this form which was introduced to me over at dVerse Poets Pub, but definitely not ready to give up on it just yet.

4 Can I Have This Dance?: Sick of Being

Title:  Extraordinary Girl
Artist:  Green Day
Album:  American Idiot
Genre:  Alternative & Punk

Sick of Being

I saw your reflection in the mirror;
my breath caught while the faintest of smiles
crossed your lips as our eyes met - so transfixed
by those beautiful glistening eyes full
with unshed tears - fears that tear at your heart. 

You're an extraordinary girl
trapped in an ordinary world
with no way for you to escape. 

That smile so rare steels my heart to the core
as it fades as quickly as it appeared.
So lost, for a split second, knowing (nay)
believing in the beauty that reflects
back - a thought so foreign, so out of sorts. 

You're an extraordinary girl
trapped in an ordinary world
with no way for you to escape. 

I saw your refection in the mirror,
caught the pain escaping your eyes - haunting
your essence.  How is it that the idea
you might posses - embody - such a word
like beautiful rips your insides apart? 

You're an extraordinary girl
trapped in an ordinary world;
Oh how I wish to finally
      escape my own reflection. 

Notes:  So I heard the first lines of this song and didn't really need to hear anymore to know what I was going to write.  Strangely I also found home for words that long ago came to mind:

Reflection

I saw your reflection in the mirror and had to catch my breaththe faintest of smiles crossed your lips as our eyes metyou transfixed me with those beautiful eyes glistening with unshed tears