Elizabeth Barrette (ysabetwordsmith) wrote,
Elizabeth Barrette
ysabetwordsmith
  • Mood: busy

Poem: "The Song of the Elements"

This poem came from the March 2, 2010 Poetry Fishbowl.  It was inspired by a prompt from xjenavivex and sponsored by janetmiles.  This is just one set of possible correspondences between elements and musical instruments; I had fun with it.


The Song of the Elements


Drums are the Earth,
wood and skin turned to tumbling sound.

Flutes are the Air,
breeze become breath become music.

Violins are the Fire,
gut and hair and cry of hot-blooded beasts.

Oboes are the Water,
long wet reeds weeping their hearts out.

Voices are the Spirit,
the only musical instrument made by God.

Tags: cyberfunded creativity, fishbowl, magic, music, poem, poetry, reading, spirituality, writing
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  • 6 comments
jenny_evergreen

jenny_evergreen

March 5 2010, 12:57:25 UTC 11 years ago

Violins feels like a bit of a reach, though you do a good job with it.
I'm going to be thinking now about what might fit better. :)
That last line feels a bit trite to me, but otherwise I love it. :)

Deleted comment

jenny_evergreen

jenny_evergreen

March 5 2010, 16:44:36 UTC 11 years ago

That was janetmiles, not me! :) (I'm saving my pennies for the epic poem I prompted. :))

Deleted comment

jenny_evergreen

jenny_evergreen

March 5 2010, 17:30:51 UTC 11 years ago

No apology necessary! :)
ysabetwordsmith

Well...

ysabetwordsmith

March 5 2010, 17:42:40 UTC 11 years ago

This is not the exact same set that I usually use. I wanted to do something that would use pieces from the prompt I got. I liked violins for fire, not because they are made with it -- as horns are, from my usual set -- but because they sound like it, to me. The sharp thin cry of a violin reminds me of passion and burning.

By all means, come up with your own set! Correspondences vary because people think of different connections, and that's cool.
jenny_evergreen

Re: Well...

jenny_evergreen

March 5 2010, 19:12:57 UTC 11 years ago

Ah! Horns! Yes, they make much more sense to me, thank you. :) I do appreciate the reason for using violins here. :)

Deleted comment

ysabetwordsmith

Thank you!

ysabetwordsmith

March 5 2010, 17:50:15 UTC 11 years ago

I actually picked up that idea from the Baha'i faith, though the exact phrasing is mine. It seemed to fit here.