SONNET TO A SONGWRITER
I decided to write a sonnet to the so-often unsung heros of music, the composers, or songwriters. I tried put words to the process of creating a song, or what I would imagine the process would be like.
This is a Shakespearean sonnet in iambic pentameter with a rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. It’s basically a rewrite of the previous poem of the same name. The original is at the bottom of this post.
Very interested in hearing feedback of any kind on it.
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What name shall crown this air, borne fresh from air
Fragrant, infused by Muse with joy to be
Misted questions posed in timeless despair
Folly turned fair, bedecked whims spun, seem free
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For hearts, once lead, shall rise to beat, not quitting
Witch tree on which your woes, loosened, be shooed
Which sea to dive to bring up pearls befitting
Lyrics for which the sun and moon be wooed
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Plucking notes from seasoned aesthete’s garden
Union’s flavor presents begging to savor
Ears taste the song, aural intake heartens
Adored psalm tweaked, ready to sing for favor
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Muse’ child, ignored, injured, withers, and dies —
or heard and liked gives lift… to hit zone and flies
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Original post and poem:
Fandango’s FOWC is compose. Word of the Day Challenge is bedeck. What came to mind is writing a sonnet to the so-often unsung heros of music, the composers, or songwriters. Honoring Shakespeare in the first line, as this is a Shakespearean sonnet, I tried put words to the process of creating a song, or what I would imagine the process would be like. At the bottom of the post is a link to Rolling Stone’s The Hundred Greatest Songwriters of All Time.
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What will I title thee, air pulled from air
Sprung whole from Muse’s dispersed alchemy
Nebulized questions of timeless despair
Niggling bedeckment of mood’s soiled laundry
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Which skeleton will you swirl through, dear ditty
Witch tree on which your name will be tattooed
Which sea dived to bring up pearls befitting
Velvet yards, sequined bodice, and gilt shoed
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Tiptoe-ing melody’s secret orchard
Seasoned discerning for curried savor
Tweaked felicity, lest aural torture
Glorious Frankenstein now seeks favor
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Love’s infant abandoned, languishes, dies —
or adored, and coos, crawls, walks, runs…. then flies.
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Rolling Stone’s The Hundred Greatest Songwriters of All Time
I don’t agree or disagree with the list, and of the listed, I don’t necessarily agree with the ordering. The reality is that these are 100 people out of millions of songwriters. On the list or not songwriters have my undying respect and appreciation. Here’s to YOU, songwriter.
Tao Talk 
Hard to argue with Dylan as no. 1 but some of the others….
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I see that John Lennon and Paul McCartney were way higher on the list than George Harrison and that just isn’t remotely accurate. It looks like it’s a narrow group from which they have chosen so it is very limited…
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Yeah it was interesting to read but some of the decisions made me want to throw my mobile out the window
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lol, that’s Jann Wenner (sp?) for ya. i subscribed to RS for years, but some of his editorial decisions ticked me off so much I stopped.
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It’s all subjective really. I do agree with Dylan though number 1 no doubt.
It’s hard to judge it…for me, Lennon is my favorite because of his raw honesty…Like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame…how do you judge it? By sales, importance, influence?… Neil Young though deserves to be much higher to me.
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Beautiful poem.
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Thank you
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Pleasure
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Beautiful song and performance by Joni Mitchell that I’d never seen before.
I enjoyed reading your poem too.
Sonnet to a Songwriter: good name
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Thank you, Marleen, glad you enjoyed the song, poem, and name :)
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Joni Mitchell is looking a lot better than Neil Young does.
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Joni singing from 1971 or so and Neil from Farm
Aid in 1995, so yah :) I purposely chose an older Neil video as he was so hot when he was younger it was difficult to pay attention to the song. One thing I don’t like in the Neil video is that dude that was not supposed to be part of the act with his harmonica. Spoiled the perfection of it imo.
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I like the way you follow and try to walk in the ways of the songwriter… to me I think they come in all shades from those who are poets like Dylan to those who write ditties that only sounds well….
My favorite Dylan Song is Desolation Row.
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Thank you for the feedback. You like those marathon songs, eh? :) Dylan has sung quite a few political songs. I like Masters of War and The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll for the political songs of his. Tangled Up in Blue and Hazel are my “heart” favorites though. Bjorn, do I have the rhythm right on the sonnet? I did have to add a few extra syllables in there to have it come out right.
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Nice sound: “Witch tree on which your woes”
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Thank you very much, Frank.
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Enjoyed the sonnets and thank you so much for the Joni clip – I am her biggest fan!
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Kim, thank you, glad you enjoyed the sonnets. Joni’s at the top of my list also. Such a talented person in so many ways.
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Sorry, but I like the original better. To my ear it flows better and is more song-like, which seems fitting for both the theme and the sonnet (‘small song’) form.
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:) sonnets have been a real challenge to me. practicing and polishing will be continuing for some time before they get where they need to be, I’m sure…. I appreciate you looking at them and giving your feedback very much.
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Thank you.
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You are welcome.
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I like the original better too. It has a wonderful simplicity and rhythm. (K)
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Thank you for your feedback :)
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