The Sunday Muse 150 — Forgotten Melody


Photography by Romain Thiery 

 

abandoned song in forgotten keys
vacated premises, melodies
now dust, residue from golden days

when love tuned each corner with music;
when the muse brought life to clay; now an
abandoned song in forgotten keys

windows wide we welcomed night, dancing
rustles, whirling heat; now cold with still,
vacated premises; melodies

half-recalled, they play in the shadows
yearning for the time that is no more;
now dust, residue from golden days

This offering is in the form of a cascade.

Carrie is today’s host of The Sunday Muse.

48 Comments Add yours

  1. Dora's avatar Dora says:

    Wow. This is so lovely, Lisa! I especially like the repetition of “residue from golden days” – the form fits the tone most wonderfully.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Dora. The picture reminds me of some scenes in the film, “The Shape of Water,” where the whole apartment is submerged. Thinking this is what it would look like once the water subsided.

      Liked by 1 person

  2. This is beautiful. I’m so glad I found you again. 🙂 Glad to be reading your words now.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Jennifer. Now you have me curious about the again part. Do we know each other from another place?

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I used to have a blog under Pretty Kool Dame, but I took a couple years off of writing due to health issues. I was a follower of yours then. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

        1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

          Oh yes, I knew your name sounded familiar but couldn’t remember from where. Nice to see you :) Glad you are blogging again.

          Liked by 1 person

    2. Carrie V. H.'s avatar Carrie V. H. says:

      Lisa these lines bring the wistful memories to life. A lovely Cascade indeed.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

        Carrie, thank you. The photo made it easy to tap into that feeling.

        Like

  3. Carol anne's avatar Carol anne says:

    a beautiful poem! I loved it! <3

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Carol anne!

      Liked by 1 person

  4. Beverly Crawford's avatar Beverly Crawford says:

    Your poem captures the essence of the photo so well. So many questions left unanswered…..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Beverly!

      Like

  5. Alexander De's avatar Alexander De says:

    Such excellent writing! The form is well-executed and the name of the form (cascade) fits with the image and your images. You imbue your poem with a haunting and melancholy tone with words like forgotten, half-remembered, abandoned and vacated. This swirls about like a distant melody in a summer dream.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Zander. It looks like a place that flooded, which seems to happen more and more with the climate changes.

      Liked by 1 person

  6. Portofino's avatar Portofino says:

    The Cascade is so like a song played on a piano (he said, having no musical talent or training whatsoever), and your words are perfection. This is really well-written, and an enjoyable thing to read aloud.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Charley.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Judy, thank you.

      Like

  7. Cool, Lisa. I also like the photo!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you. I do too! Easy to write to it :)

      Liked by 1 person

  8. qbit's avatar qbit says:

    A cascade or something that reaches a crescendo?

    Liked by 1 person

  9. hdwoonie23's avatar Helen Dehner says:

    Gorgeous cascade … and a lovely interpretation of the photography.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Helen!

      Like

  10. Gillena Cox's avatar Gillena Cox says:

    Wow the dust and the decay of music is so well resonated in your poem. You even included the windows. Bravo

    Happy you dropped by to read mine

    Much💜love

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Gillena, glad you like it.

      Like

  11. Truedessa's avatar Truedessa says:

    Wonderful use of form and your words play a wistful melody of a time that once was. Repetition works well in this piece.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Truedessa.

      Like

  12. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

    You’ve expressed your thoughts so beautifully Li.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thanks much, Sadje. The photo had a story to tell. Trying to imagine what it was like before the decay.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje's avatar Sadje says:

        You’re welcome! Yes, spot on with that.

        Liked by 1 person

  13. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

    Love the first stanza Lisa…I guess that is what you call it. I like all of it but the first three lines really got to me.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Many thanks, Max, glad you connected with it.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Badfinger (Max)'s avatar badfinger20 (Max) says:

        it fit the picture like a glove

        Liked by 1 person

  14. Bravo! the cascade form adds much to the melody of this poem and I especially love that opening line

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Many thanks, Laura!

      Liked by 1 person

  15. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

    When I was growing up, most people owned a piano, and could play at least a melody or two. My father used to play and the whole family would sing along. You’ve really captured that world, lost forever. (K)

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Kerfe, I’m imagining you and your family singing around the piano while your dad plays <3

      Liked by 1 person

      1. memadtwo's avatar memadtwo says:

        Those were good times.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. When you leave something behind, you separate from every memories that ever existed with it like abandoned songs in forgotten keys.
    Brilliant!

    The melodies, now dust are residues of a golden age.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Biko, thank you.
      Question: is your name Kenyanito or Biko? I want to make sure I’m addressing you properly.

      Like

      1. You are welcome, Lisa.

        Haha. The name is Kenyanito Biko.
        Any of them is proper! 😆

        Liked by 1 person

  17. Susie Clevenger's avatar Susie Clevenger says:

    Beautiful in form and poetry. The music is now memory, covered in dust and muted colors.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Thank you, Susie!

      Like

  18. selizabryangmailcom's avatar selizabryangmailcom says:

    I love the lilt and flow of the words…
    I can imagine that room under water. The photo makes me feel sad, but your poem feels pretty and
    uplifting……..so interesting where we get our inspiration from!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Yes, it is interesting!

      Liked by 1 person

  19. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

    Such a great collabortation of photo and words! Well done, Lisa!!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Lisa or Li's avatar msjadeli says:

      Dwight, thanks much! I look at some of these poems and think, did I write that? Poetry seems to come from some other place and we are the transmitters.

      Liked by 1 person

      1. rothpoetry's avatar rothpoetry says:

        I know. I look back and am amazed sometimes!

        Liked by 1 person

Your thoughts matter.