*The following poem is offered in response to the One Stop Poetry Sunday Picture Prompt Challenge. All poets are welcome to take part in the challenge. Click on the link to check out the rules.
I was young when fever swelled
Heard this band no friends could tell
Summoned through shrill trumpet sound
Pleas for God to fix our house
Tracks of tears, crushed off course
Blaming self and not divorce
Roaring, ringing, childhood blue
Whooshing, rumbling, making up tunes
Alone with thought each afternoon
All my fault that they were through
Reality did not show glee
At dinner sat between their screams
Imagined music I can’t sing
Pretending life might turn happy
As marching bands cross mute daydreams
No song would save a broken family
This entry was posted on December 26, 2010 at 12:19 am and is filed under Image Poetry, One Stop Poetry with tags Blog, dustus, Imagined Music, New York City, One Shoot Sunday, One Stop Poetry, photograph, picture prompt chllenge, poems for, poet, Poetry, poetry online, Rockefeller Center. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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Dustus Blog 
December 26, 2010 at 12:57 am
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December 26, 2010 at 6:03 am
Yep I get this one. In it’s entirety.
December 26, 2010 at 6:38 am
[…] Imagined Music (One Stop Poetry Challenge) « Dustus' Blog […]
December 26, 2010 at 8:08 am
My folks divorced when I was five…with nine siblings the efeect was muffled by the commotion of a big family…and yet there were days when music would be a close friend. I understood this too. Thanks.
December 26, 2010 at 8:19 am
This was powerful in the history it brings. I enjoyed it and feel the power of it. Thank you.
December 26, 2010 at 8:21 am
A lament for every child of divorce. This one tears at the heart, Adam. Well done.
December 26, 2010 at 9:08 am
I lived this, too. You’ve captured it to a tee, but coming from you, Adam, that doesn’t surprise. Thank you for digging deep.
December 26, 2010 at 9:39 am
would be great if songs could save broken families…
strong and heartfelt piece adam. my parents were fighting so mad all the years, and i sometimes prayed they would divorce..but they never did..
December 26, 2010 at 9:53 am
Heartfelt piece… imagined dreams of songs healing families broken. Would be wonderful, wouldn’t it?
December 26, 2010 at 10:07 am
Now that is beautiful
December 26, 2010 at 11:12 am
A very strong poem about a very common occurence in our society.
December 26, 2010 at 11:39 am
A song of brokenness that children hear all too well. Well-written, Adam.
December 26, 2010 at 12:10 pm
It’s so weird that we carry this guilt as children about what happens to the ones we love. I remember wanting so much to protect them from each other’s anger and make things right, it was beyond anything I can feel now as an adult in its purity and intensity. Your poem goes right to that place, and deals with the scars of a failure beyond our control. Excellent write, as always, dustus.
December 26, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Not the observer, but the perpetrator was I. No fights, just walk away. A true shame this self-centered deterioration of the family. We read each day about terrorism, but seldom are allowed a glimpse behind the closed family doors, where unstoppable terrorism exists
Dustus, I admire your work so much. It humbles me.
December 26, 2010 at 3:36 pm
It’s so sad when children take on the blame for something that in no way could be their fault, so sad… Your poem shows the hopelessness, the futility, the burning desire to fix what is beyond the child’s ability to mend, never mind understand. Well done!
December 26, 2010 at 4:21 pm
This is strong because it is honest– wonderful writing that builds beautifully to that last line…xxxJenne’
December 26, 2010 at 5:38 pm
Clear peals of the strain – sadly
painful my friend
best to my compadre
December 26, 2010 at 6:38 pm
Sad ending… but those sounds can be so well heard as one reads- great
December 26, 2010 at 7:38 pm
Wow, your words made me feel a mix of things, compassion, tenderness, sorrow, but hopeful too. Music can not repair a broke family, but I can imagine that kid smiles listening to a beautiful song, then music can fix a heart broken, I think.
I love the snow falling on your blog.
Thanks for sharing it.
Soraya
December 26, 2010 at 8:15 pm
Wow this is powerful, full of emotions and has a lot of depth.
I can’t imagine how hard it must be for a child growing up in a broken family.
I hold myself very lucky in that respect.
Family is probably the most important thing in any ones life.
I certainly hold mine in very high regard
December 27, 2010 at 11:02 pm
so much sadness in a childs life. we all wish…..
Dustus do you still listen to that music? that music pulled that child through, and that music will safe us over and over again.
December 29, 2010 at 10:05 am
This works well. It is both powerful and sad, but the emotion is well controlled. Impressive.
December 29, 2010 at 11:48 pm
Adam, that sounds all too familiar…not good memories but I’m glad those of us who endured the dark ages of divorce can share it creatively. Thanks for sharing this, bro.
January 12, 2011 at 1:16 am
Ok, I’m blinking fast and my nose is stinging.