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Thursday, April 15, 2010

DAY 15 - COST OF LIVING

NaPoWriMo Day 15

For Read Write Poem

Do you have the courage to attempt today’s prompt, written by RWP member Dale? If you haven’t practiced being silly in a while, this is the perfect assignment for you:
In a nice private place, pick out a stanza, or a few lines, that you like from a poem that you don’t otherwise feel was very successful. Say them over to yourself.
Now hum them. See if you can find the tune.
And now sing them aloud. (Who cares if you can sing? You’re in private. And this is poetry!)
Throwing away the rest of the poem, write two more stanzas (stand-alone or connected) that go to the same tune.
No fair doing it silently!

My wife said: "I guess you're going to sing it then?"
I said: "Have another guess"

A one, a two, a one, two, three, four...


COST OF LIVING

I had this verse I couldn’t add to:

In life’s no-win situation
No control
Make a pact with scheming Satan?
Sell your soul?
Life eternal, or damnation
In the fiery flames of Hell
Mortal life-span; short vacation
Spend it well

Until now…:
Tune…? How about –

CCCC FFGG CCC
CCCC FFGG CCC
AAAA FFGG
CCCC FFG
CCCC FFGG
CCC

2 NEW STANZAS

Is it worth the outcome? Are you
Satisfied?
Terms, conditions in your favour?
You decide
Don’t allow constraints to bar you
From the choice you’d rather make
Made in haste, decisions scar you
Give and take

All the world knows death is certain
Life’s unfair
Count your blessings, not your money
Be aware
Tolerate your circumstances
Many others worse off still
Invoice due, no second chances
Pay the bill



20 comments:

  1. OH, I like this tune, Stan! Very well done. Will now have to find one of my own!

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  2. Thanks Derrick; It's a tune that's been buzzing through my head on and off for years. If anyone recognises the tune, can they let me know so I can credit the author?

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  3. Good tune - good song to sing today, April 15.

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  4. Thanks Wanda; Last day of the Songkhran holiday, here in Thailand.

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  5. Nice bit of verse, great post overall Stan -- brilliant to include the melody...
    ...rob
    Image & Verse

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  6. Thanks Rob. Some tunes just stick, even though you don't know where they came from...

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  7. Thanks for the catch on the typo in "Love's Serenade" -- but where the hell are you, mr. editor, when I'm writing these damned things? ... ;)

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  8. Hark!...would that be the tune of flight of the bumble bee by Rimsky Korsakoff?

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  9. I wasn't 100% - sweet sounded ok but just not quite... dunno... right?

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  10. Thanks Rallentanda; Would it ...? If it fits then Rimsky Korsakof is the man... Now I have to check it out...

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  11. Nice job!! I am not musically inclined, but I think this works!

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  12. Thanks Lori; Inclined to agree...;)

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  13. Love the rhythm of this piece. Just trying to think of the tempo and to what tune this might go to. Can you name that tune, Stan? Nice job nonetheless!

    ~Mark

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  14. Thanks to:
    Briarcat; Best I could do...
    Mark; Short and simple...
    Wayne; Don't ask me to sing it!

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  15. Good one Stan! I had a horrible time with this prompt myself.
    Pamela

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  16. Thanks Pamela;I would normally - I just had this verse, and this tune, and this prompt...

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  17. Phew, I just managed to sing it, I had to take a couple of deep breaths, but yeah!

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  18. Thanks Andy; You should get Jack and the lads to perform it.

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