Monday, November 26, 2012

IGWRT's Sunday Mini-Challenge & Poetry Jam "Getting to Happy"

Doll by Dionne Daniel
Getting to Happy

Getting to Happy
by way of the blues
was a long journey

of blue licks; strummed,
ivory; tickled, and lyrics
sung by a people
livin' the good,
survivin' the bad

in Mississippi's Delta
where twelve-bar blues
and repeated woes
defined the times.

Some say we're
still travelin' this road...

I'm yearnin' for a time
when notes,
bent and stretched,
float within a smokey room,
tell of a time, reminiscent.

by Margaret Bednar, 11-26-2012

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's Sunday-Mini Challenge, "dolls" and for Poetry Jam "Best Sellers" - use a book title from the New York Times Best Seller List.  Mine was "Getting to Happy" by Terry McMillan.

Also linked with Open Link Monday over at Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's.

27 comments:

Ben Ditty said...

Gorgeous! I loved your take on the blues.

Amrit Sinha said...

A brilliant idea !!!

Susie Clevenger said...

You are singing the blues down to its roots. Love it!!

Unknown said...

Down in the Delta n Ill meet you at the crossroads n sing ya dem ol tunes... liking ya Blues :)

Jinksy said...

I yearn for a time
when notes,
bent and stretched


Oh, yeah!

Ginnie Hart said...

What a fabulous title for this poem!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, blues cust straight to the truth. Even when it hurts you always want to hear more.

You are incredibly prolific.

Mary said...

Enjoyed this, poem, Margaret. (And the doll.) Indeed, I think many people have to get to 'happy' by first experiencing the blues!

Marian said...

ahh, very nice! i'm still hopeful to respond to the doll prompt... those are some truly amazing creations!

Kerry O'Connor said...

This doll gave rise to some gorgeous bluesy numbers!

Abin Chakraborty said...

the last lines clinched it.love it when poems speak to us about something more than our personal selves.

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Fantastic! Getting To Happy is usually a long journey. Love the way your words so aptly complement the wonderful doll art. Those kids are SO talented!!!!!!! And what a great project - smart teacher!

Teresa said...

This is just beautiful! You really created an amazing poem to go with the great artwork.

Grace said...

Love the cadence and pulse of your blues specially the last stanza ~

Great prompt on the dolls Margaret ~

Shawna said...

I love your first two lines.

Brian Miller said...

smiles...fun...spent a good bit of my time earlier in life listening to the live music in bars...played around a bit myself as well....love some good blues music....

Unknown said...

This, Margaret, this, is good writing. Allusion and reference, subtlety and weaving of the words. Really good writing.

my heart's love songs said...

LOVE the flavor of this, Margaret! VERY cool!

thanks for joining in at Poetry Jam!

Mystic_Mom said...

I can imagine it being sung...so well crafted.

Unknown said...

A great combination of title with the doll! The dolls were such a great art project!

Unknown said...

A great way to get to happy - through music!

Helen said...

Great pairing of the NY Times best seller and that spectacular doll!!!

Hannah said...

The way you describe the notes in the last stanza...so visual...I enjoyed your poem and prompt, Margaret!! Wonderful!

Ella said...

I love blue licks and ivory; tickled!
Wow, all of these poems are amazing....
Hope you like mine :D

Susan said...

I especially love the last stanza, tho I also liked getting there too through your bluesy poem. I did something similar, tho I didn't think about 'til later how I gave her all white European heroes. Really! I should've known better--but no one has actually complained yet.

Ella said...

Thank you Margaret and thank the kids, too :D

Jim said...

Very nice, Margaret. This reminds me of Preservation Hall in New Orleans. Back in the olden days we were there.
..