Friday, August 2, 2013

Fireblossom Friday: the book within the story within the poem

Darlings. It's me, Fireblossom, with a Russian doll of a challenge for you this month. You know those matryoshkas, the little nesting dolls with one doll inside another inside another? 

I've been thinking as I've read everyone's favorite poems over the past few weeks, and here is what I would like you to do: first, pick out a poem you particularly love. Then, write a poem which tells a story in which someone is reading that poem, or carrying a book containing that poem, or thinking about that poem while doing other things, or maybe that poem is on the bedside table or packed in a suitcase somewhere within the story your poem will tell.

To illustrate: one of my favorite poems is Byron's "She Walks In Beauty" which can be found HERE. Now, to tell a story in poem form, in which it plays a part. Like this...

She rolls, on her back, and not of her own volition,
because of the boy, the boy with books,
the smile and the rare editions.

She never thought herself beautiful, never thought herself rare,
until the boy who read her Byron,
who said that every word...was her.

He was a sun unto himself, like the bright lights above her now,
too concentrated and harsh for loving,
and the anesthetic needle in her cheek reminds her how

he wouldn't let her go, wouldn't release what he had collected,
and the volume of Byron wasn't enough
to keep his rage from her face, deflected.

Her parents' insurance will keep the damage impermanent,
God willing, and if all goes well
for a pretty girl who fell in love paid for it with her innocence.

______

See? A story within a poem, referencing one of my favorite poems by someone else.

Some ground rules:

Let us know what poem you are using. Be careful of copyright if you quote anything directly. In that case, public domain poems are best. Write an original new poem specifically for this challenge. You may keep the mood of the poem you reference, or turn it on its head, as I have done in my example. Then link back to Toads and sign the linky so that we can come see what you've written!



  

16 comments:

Kay L. Davies said...

Ooh, I think I could handle this. I think I could even enjoy this. Thanks, Shay!
K

Unknown said...

Hey thanks. this is very interesting. Working on it right away!

Susie Clevenger said...

What a challenge! It certainly got me to put on my thinking cap!!

Maude Lynn said...

Whoa! This is very cool!

hedgewitch said...

As always a serious challenge, and one I will do my best with Shay. Off to put the cauldron on full boil.

Unknown said...

what a great poem - powerful!

Kerry O'Connor said...

What an excellent challenge, Shay, and your example is quite brilliant - it has made my head spin.

hedgewitch said...

Phew--the whole thing had me spinning, Kerry.

I've written something, but when you're dizzy it's hard to tell just what you've done. ;_)

I'll be back after chores, which are languishing undone.

Unknown said...

Took me back to one of the classics that still serves as a hinge to both my reading and my writing.

Now off I wander to enjoy the poems with stories of poems recalled by everyone else here. Thanks for a great prompt!

Fireblossom said...

I'm pleased to see all the enthusiastic comments! I promise to come visit each and every one of you before the weekend is out. :-)

Anonymous said...

Thanks Shay - I took this in a comic direction that may not quite fit your bill, but I was either going to do that or tragic, and thought maybe comic was preferable! k.

Maggie Grace said...

Am so glad I remembered to check for challenges today. This got my mind churning right away. Thank you for the diversion from Candy Crush!

Sherry Blue Sky said...

Sigh. Late, as always - this summer is BRUTAL and I am exhausted.

Sarav said...

No link, just wanted to say you did an fabulous job with this poem--Amy sent me ;-)

Margaret said...

How very creative and intriguing! Wow. I am back from vacation and doing a bit of catch up. I won't be able to do all the prompts I missed, but this one is so unique. I'll give it some thought and post late if I do... and your poem, Fireblossom.... talk about a twist! Nice.

Anonymous said...

Wow. What a powerful poem, Shay.