Inspiration: People say that music is the universal language. It’s the one language everyone can understand, regardless of whether you speak English, Spanish, or Chinese. Think about the role of music in your life, and maybe use one of the following questions to get you writing.
*How does music make you feel?
*When do you need it the most?
*What does the music you listen to say about you?
*Imagine the world without it…
Challenge: Include a link to a song you want us to listen to as we read your poetry!
As always, you are free to choose your own source of inspiration. We are so proud of you for being brave writers and getting your words out there!
The Music of Our Family
Our family of thirteen.
From Monday through Friday,
we mostly sought privacy —
hiding away in the bathrooms or basement
for a moment or two of time to just be.
Our family of thirteen,
On the weekends,
our father would make use of the
phonograph —
calling us together
for a song,
for a dance.
The LPs in the cabinet below
the dials of treble and bass
housed the vinyl
grooves and tunes of our family.
When I was just a babe,
Carly Simon and James Taylor’s “Mockingbird”
became my jam.
After dinner, my bigs
line danced to the Bee Gees.
I’d sit next to the speakers
studying their steps and turns,
their smiles and laughter.
And on Sundays before church,
my dad would break out some
Gregorian Chant to accompany
our breakfast and tea.
We’re all grown up now.
We have all found our space,
but a tune like
Johnny Cash’s “My Name is Sue” or
Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Troubled Water”
reminds us of the melody and rhythm of family.
Music
brings us
together,
back to a time
when an old phonograph
and an LP
helped us
to just be
together.