Each month, we compile a musical playlist that corresponds with our monthly writing-prompt theme. It’s our hope that you find a little inspiration in the lyrical turns, the rhythms, the musical nuance.
This month’s poetic-prompt theme is “Swans, Swallows, Phoenix.” Using the prompt, I’ve assembled some of my favorite artists. R.E.M., Nat King Cole, Willie Nelson, George Jones, and Yo-Yo Ma–they’re all here. Some of my favorite lesser known folks are here, too. Welcome Andrew Bird, The Wailing Jennys, and A Fine Frenzy. And what phoenix themed playlist would be complete without a little Tenacious D?
It’s a more laid-back playlist this month at Tweetspeak, one that’s not hard to swallow. (Pun intended.) What do you think? Have we missed any of your favorites?
Poetry Prompt: Plug in your headphones, listen to the Tweetpseak playlist, and write. What do the rhythms and lyrics conjure? What words come? Pen your Swan, Swallow, Phoenix poem and share it with us in the comments below.
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Tweetspeak’s May Swans, Swallows, Phoenix Poetry Prompt:
This month we’re considering Swan’s, Swallows, Phoenix, and we’ll be composing poems around the theme. How do you participate?
1. Consider a swan, swallow, or Phoenix (the bird or Arizona; we’re open to all interpretations). Listen to our monthly prompt-themed playlist. What images, emotions, metaphors, or allegories do they conjure? Do the birds (or does the city) stir any memories?
2. Compose your own poem around the theme.
3. Tweet your poems to us. Add a #TSSwan hashtag so we can find it and maybe share it with the world.
4. If you aren’t a Twitter user, or if you’d rather, leave your poem here in the comment box.
5. At the end of the month, we’ll choose a poem to feature in one of our upcoming Weekly Top 10 Poetic Picks.
Last month’s theme, Dragons and Creatures, produced some good works. Our favorite was this piece of light verse by Tammy, titled “Sandman.” In it, she writes, in part:
What bedtime tale
would any good parent speak
to strike fear
so a child would sleep?
Oh, I ain’t a-sleepin’
‘though my covers quake
I’m holding out
’til there’s no sand to shake.
Move right along
and don’t stop here
bringing your “f” that ends in “ear”.
Do you want to have your work highlighted here at Tweetspeak? Join us this month as we explore the theme “Swans, Swallows, Phoenix, ” and maybe we’ll highlight your poem in the coming months.
Photo by ashraful kadir, Creative Commons via Flickr. Post by Seth Haines.
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Buy a year of Every Day Poems, just $5.99 — Read a poem a day, become a better poet. In May we’re exploring the poetry theme Swan, Swallow, Phoenix.
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L.L. Barkat says
“Chorus of the Swan” by Andrew Bird? That is just making me smile 🙂
Seth Haines says
Andrew Bird is one of my favorites. You should listen to his “Bowl of Fire” album.
Lynn Morrissey says
Thanks for all the swan pieces. Of course, there is the brilliant piece by Camille Saint Saens, “Le Cygne” (or The Swan). Here is a swan poem from me, since you said it is fine to post in the message box…
The Swan
for Mieko in memory of her father-in-law
by Lynn D. Morrissey
Porcelain-skinned and perfectly postured—the elegance of a swan—
she sits erect, palms down-turned,
cupped over ribboned ebony and ivory,
as if bestowing blessing—a laying on of hands.
Fingers glide effortlessly across the polished surface like water.
Then … suddenly … comes an irrepressible stirring,
an arising,
a rush,
a flourish of wings …
Fingers, now impossible to constrain, whir breathlessly over keys
like a ruffling zephyr tinkling wind chimes.
Keys, once staid and dormant, spring lively
at the touch of her artist’s hands.
Silken sounds arise
and freely fly.
***
On a not-so-distant morn, will come great trumpeting blasts—
at last,
an irrepressible stirring,
a flourish of angelic hosts,
the rush of mighty wings.
Bestowing blessing, God will lay His Artist’s hands on
ivory bones and ebony ashes, long since dormant.
Now impossible for the grave to constrain,
the dead in Christ
will arise
and freely fly.
floyd says
Stunning and powerful… and brimming with the Truth all will confess… Beautiful, Lynn. You’re writing never ceases to amaze me…
Maureen Doallas says
Prelude to Demise
What divine spark
makes the phoenix
burn to rebuild its aerie
from ash, start again
for the hundredth time
a heart first stopped
with death’s dark gaze
and the handiwork
of swallows putting
down feathered markers
to abandon abode.
The echo of a swan song
pings like shiny copper
coins against the dulling
dun clay of a Greek vase,
etched seven-string lyre
playing a false story hidden
in the prelude to demise.