Saturday, December 19, 2015

Take Two and Sing (We); the Weekend Mini-Challenge




Hi Toads.  

It is (supposedly) a holiday time of the year.  I understand this whenever the date flashes up on my computer screen; I have particularly strong evidence when I walk through the streets of New York City (shown here in some pics I took.)


















Still, there's a kind of disconnect.  At least for me, and I suspect for many out there.  I just have a very hard time summoning up "holiday spirit."   (I suspect it has something to do with the terrible materialism of it all.)


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As a result, I wanted to come up with a prompt that both (i) honors the season; and (ii) honors, or, at least gives a little respect to, that disconnect.

So, here it is.  Think of a song--preferably a song of the season, a Christmas carol, Hanukah or Winter or truly any other song--and pick two consecutive words out of it.  This can be any two words as long as they come one after the another.  They do not have to be words particularly central to the song or the season and certainly your poem does not have to relate to the song or the season. 

Use those two consecutive words as the spring board for your poem.  Ideally, the words should be included (sequentially) in the title or at least the body of your poem.  But, I stress, the poem does not have to be informed by the choice of song.  (Please, however, do tell us what the words are, and what song or carol was used.) 

To make this easier for you in a busy time, I have set forth some two word choices below, but please please please feel free to choose your own.  (For example, I'll likely use a pair not listed below.)

"Let Earth" - (from Joy to the World)

"Front Teeth" - (from All I Want For Christmas is My Two Front Teeth)

"The Housetops"  - (from Up on the Housetops)

"All Is"- (from Silent Night)

"God, Rest"-  (from God, Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen)

"Following Yonder"- (from We Three Kings)

"Fa La" -  (from Deck the Halls)

"I’m Dreaming" - (from I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas)

"Of Clay"  (from the Dreidel Song)

"Among The"  - Wassail Song

"How A Rose" - (this is a cheat - three words- you can use “ a rose” if you prefer - from Lo, how a rose e’re blooming.)

"The Herald" - (from Hark the Herald Angels Sing)

"Lovelight Gleams" - (From I’ll Be Home for Christmas)

"Better Not" -  (From Santa Claus is Coming to Town)

"He’s Loaded" - (Also from Christmas Song - in that case about Santa and his sleigh)

"Bleak Midwinter" - (From Mid winter.)

"Snows Lay" - (Good King Wenceslaus

"Sing We"  - ( from The Wassail Song)

These are just examples.  Feel free to use them, but feel free to use a pair you come up with on your own.   Above all, feel free.  (Keep in mind that you ABSOLU"TELY should feel free to use traditional word pairs such as “Santa Claus” or “Virgin womb,”  “O Star, “ “Holy Night,”  “the red-nosed,” "figgy pudding" etc.)


And says the lady with the QE-doo--do visit your fellow poets!

Finally, this is Outlawyer who is really Manicddaily and really really Karin Gustafson, wishing you all a safe, healthy and joyous holiday and the best of new years.  As always, many thanks to Kerry and to you all for the many gifts you have and give.














22 comments:

hedgewitch said...

I love your pics, Karin. Thanks for the challenge, a very original one.

Outlawyer said...

Thanks, Joy. I don't know why the spacing gets so weird when I am posting on blogspot, but I don't seem to be able to get the extra spaces out! If anyone is interested, the top pic is Rockefeller Center--the tree and the building; the ones below are (with the star) 57th and Fifth - Tiffany's, then mainly Saks Fifth Avenue (the bluish windows and the lights behind the police van), Bergdorf Goodman - the alligator and the lady with the red hair, and the Chase building on Sixth Avenue around 50th (with the big red ornaments.)

The elephant is my drawing.

k.

Jim said...

Thank you, K. These are wonderful pictures. I my find time to try your challenge, it looks fun.
I envy you for living in NYC. Does your firm have an opening for a Texas lawyer, and old one? Just kidding but I keep my Bar membership up and would love to live there for a couple/three years. The winters would be tough though. I never have come for those.
..

Jim said...

(One who doesn't check spelling very good?)
..

Outlawyer said...

Ha. We all rely on spell-check now--although it doesn't always recognize legalese. I am lucky, Jim, that I actually "live", as in reside, upstate, but I spend a couple of nights and a few days in the City itself. I am very happy for the break but there is a lot going on there (the City) in terms of cultural life, for sure-- k.

Outlawyer said...

I meant a couple of nights and few days per WEEK. Too much! k.

hedgewitch said...

Sometimes the delete key will help with awkward spacing--it removes some line break codes. Anyway, your pictures are very evocative and gorgeous, k, however placed. I have linked-in my effort, but afraid it is not as seasonally positive as your photos.Will be around tomorrow to catch up on everyone else's take.

Fireblossom said...

I love the photographs! And *of course* the elephant (and Pearl!) are yours! :-)

Outlawyer said...

Ha. Thanks, Shay. k.

Angie said...

I too, love the photos and am gawking. They show what a grand production NYC makes of Christmas.

brudberg said...

Enjoyed the prompt... sometimes it only takes two words to get you going... :-) Christmas lights look lovely in NY... Though sometimes all you long for is a single candle...

Gillena Cox said...

fun prompt and enjoyed your holiday scenes

Happy Holidays

much love...

Outlawyer said...

Thank you, Angie and all. New York does make a big deal of Christmas--I actually only put in a small number of the windows I took pictures of--there seemed to be a lot of energy expended on it all this year. k.

Kerry O'Connor said...

What glorious photos! New York is so festive at Christmas time. And my thanks to you, Karin, and to all toads and good friends for making the Garden the place to be in all seasons.

Outlawyer said...

Thanks, Kerry. K.

Bekkie Sanchez said...

I'm not in the mood this year but your lovely pictures helped show me it still exists. Lol! I picked 3 words "Lump Of Coal" I hope it's ok and combined it with Magpie Tales. I hope all of you are having a good holiday sometimes a happy one is too much to ask in these times. Much Peace and Relaxation this year friends!

Bekkie Sanchez said...

My link didn't show up if I linked twice sorry!

Marian said...

Didn't make it to NYC this season so really enjoyed your photos, Karin. Thank you & xoxo to all. Marian

Susie Clevenger said...

What beautiful photos and such a unique challenge. Thank you Karin!

Outlawyer said...

Thank you, Susie. K.

Anonymous said...

The materialism takes away from the spirit of this time. Thank you, Karin for your wonderful prompts!

Hannah said...

Thank you, for the challenge, Karen!

I'm late AND I'm posting and running. Apologies. I will catch up as time allows but I had to write something.

Experiencing the busyness of the season AND I'm having computer troubles. :(