Challenge: Long-distance dedication

[Tzara]

Annie did not say in the "Poetic Lovers" challenge thread who was supposed to offer the next challenge, but it seems to most often fall to whomever posted last in the thread. Which would be me, I guess.

There is a long-running radio program in the USA called American Top 40, which counts down that week's top popular music hits. For many years, the show was hosted by the late Casey Kasem, who typically featured a couple of "long distance dedications" as part of the program. These were requests sent in by listeners which typically had a short introduction talking about why the person dedicating the song was reaching out musically to the dedicatee--a lover stationed overseas or away at college, a long-lost friend, someone decased, and so on. Something emotionally evocative (or simply sappy, depending on your own sensibilities), in other words.

So this week's challenge is this: write a poem that is explicitly dedicated to someone (or something--"dedicated to world peace" is perfectly OK). Tell us in some fashion who or what the poem is dedicated to (feel free to use a pseudonym or just a label like "my first love" or "my favorite cousin who died in Afghanistan" if you prefer). If the poem references a song (which would be ideal given the nature of the challenge but isn't a requirement), try and link to a video or audio of the song.

Any form (including free verse), any length. Challenge ends at midnight Pacific Daylight Time May 19. Author of the last poem posted during the challenge period gets the option to start the next challenge.

That's all, I think. If something isn't clear, ask.

 

[HarryHill]

Annie did not say in the "Poetic Lovers" challenge thread who was supposed to offer the next challenge, but it seems to most often fall to whomever posted last in the thread. Which would be me, I guess.

There is a long-running radio program in the USA called American Top 40, which counts down that week's top popular music hits. For many years, the show was hosted by the late Casey Kasem, who typically featured a couple of "long distance dedications" as part of the program. These were requests sent in by listeners which typically had a short introduction talking about why the person dedicating the song was reaching out musically to the dedicatee--a lover stationed overseas or away at college, a long-lost friend, someone decased, and so on. Something emotionally evocative (or simply sappy, depending on your own sensibilities), in other words.

So this week's challenge is this: write a poem that is explicitly dedicated to someone (or something--"dedicated to world peace" is perfectly OK). Tell us in some fashion who or what the poem is dedicated to (feel free to use a pseudonym or just a label like "my first love" or "my favorite cousin who died in Afghanistan" if you prefer). If the poem references a song (which would be ideal given the nature of the challenge but isn't a requirement), try and link to a video or audio of the song.

Any form (including free verse), any length. Challenge ends at midnight Pacific Daylight Time May 19. Author of the last poem posted during the challenge period gets the option to start the next challenge.

That's all, I think. If something isn't clear, ask.

..
Congratulations Tzara, interesting challenge. Please link this new challenge to the last post in the old one if you would be so kind.

 

[Piscator]

Same moon

Running with the dog
late this evening
sunset at my back.
Low in the east
a full moon rises
to greet me as
I crest the last hill.

This moon must
be over you too,
shining bright
through your night
perhaps reflecting
a bit of earthshine
bringing my smile
to you.


This was written a while back, but edited a bit because that always happens. It recalls an across the pond affair that ended badly, but is fondly remembered with fond regret.

The music that first came to mind is Neil Young's Harvest Moon. I may be a bit chauvinistic but seems to me he gets along fine without Crosby, Stills and Nash, although I too treasure the harmonies their brief union..

 

[Tzara]

Same moon

Running with the dog
late this evening. . .

Thank you, Piscator. A lovely little poem. And it's always nice to have someone other than yourself respond to a challenge thread that you've posted. So thanks for that as well.

That was a very sweet video of Neil singing "Harvest Moon." I think that might be the first time I have ever seen him smile.

 

[Tzara]

For my first attempt at this challenge, I wanted to write something rather different than I would expect most people would attempt, partly to show that I am hoping the thread won't be all poems about ex-lovers (though if it is, I'm quite OK with that), but also because I'm kind of an intrinsically silly poet.

My long-distance dedication goes out to anyone who has tried to get their writing into print—poets, playwrights, non-fiction writers, but especially novelists. I've been there, though probably not as often as I should have been; I tend to just stop submitting work after too many "We appreciated your trusting us with your work, but feel it isn't suitable for us at this time" responses. Anyway, my musical request is The Beatles' Paperback Writer.

Publication: An Ode
To anyone who has ever tried to publish their writing

This writing thing sure isn't easy
for poets or for novelists,
especially if your writing's cheesy.
(Bad writing breeds rejection slips.)
So if you mean to write a novel
you'll learn to genuflect and grovel
before some unseen editor—
a literary predator
who feeds on authors' mild ambitions
to see their cherised books in print,
not skewered, roasted, ripped, and rent
by some young Publisher/Patrician.
Godspeed, you all who submit work!
I pray your editor's no jerk.
​

A far superior poem on the same subject is here.

 

[UnderYourSpell]

To all the Mums of yesteryear who bought a school uniform for you to 'grow into'
.
When you grow to be much taller,
then your uniform will fit
but till then while you are smaller
slipping skirts fall when you sit.

Little People From Les Miserables

 

[Lyricalli]

To every writer of every song that fills the soundtrack of my life:

It was in the dark corner
of an early-eighties roller rink
watching my unrequited crush
couple-skate to a song
which still returns that memory
when I first understood
how music can tattoo a moment
into your soul

Decades of melodies
are now my time machine
taking me from heartache to joy
and all that lies between
those familiar chords and lyrics
can transport me
somewhere in my yesterday
and new songs are recorded
as timestamps for my todays
in the mix-tape of emotions
started by a kid
sitting in a corner
singing along quietly
with tears in her eyes


Dedication song: A Song for Everything - Maren Morris

 

[todski28]

To that woman who was a moment I will never forget...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tOaQsNa5Js

closer

we move in this constant
beat
approach on marionette strings
dragged by the crawling in our centres
low creatures infected with
the essence of fuck
connected to the animal
in each other

I want the raw taste of your flesh
to consume your sex
to take it as holy communion
bring me closer to heaven

I want to fuck you
not this lustless-bound slow "love"
I want to have handfuls of you
I want you to hit my heart
with electricity and sex

(help me)

pin you to the wall
so you can rip at me with nails
that feel nine inches long

I break apart
at the seams
help me
get away from senseless monogamy

let me lead you down on your knees
down past temptation
below earth
till we burn like lava must

until I can feel you on the inside
until your lust bleeds over every thrust
words mean nothing
your cries are night-heat
baying out

darkness is gasping
and we drip wet
drops of sweat
my muscles locked tight
dense, rippling
with the tension
I attack you with
my teeth
pin your head to the floor
as you let me violate you
open your soul to me
clasp me in your darkness
before I spill mine

into your depths

 

[UnderYourSpell]

To the one I can't own in words (only one of our friends knows) but is mine nonetheless, neither of us is young and I never thought at my age I'd ever get to feel like this again. With a wry smile I wonder why it's taken this long and is it a prize or a punishment? Whichever, I wouldn't miss it for the world, love is grand

I don't know what hurts the most,
the distance 'tween our coast to coast,
or lying lonely on my bed
whispers of love they fill my head.

But comes the daylight you are gone,
from dreams, a shoulder to lie upon.
I remember sweetness you have said
whispers of love they fill my head.

Don't cry, there's beauty in your smile
I like your fire, I love your style,
leave the tears and laugh instead
whispers of love they fill my head.

Fingers to fingers across a screen,
he takes me where I've never been,
his are the words, by him I'm lead
growls of love explode my head.

Martina McBride - My Baby Loves Me

 

[Tzara]

Unless you're very, very lucky and hit it out of the park on your initial at-bat, first relationships are kind of rocky. Mine was simultaneously wondrous, irritating, fascinating, clingy, boring, and ultimately a dead end. We were, at an essential level, completely wrong for each other, but try telling that to a smitten nineteen-year-old who read poetry and Jane Austen novels. This is for my first serious girlfriend—hope things eventually worked out as well for you as they did for me.

The song is by the late Elliott Smith, who had his own problems with relationships.

Breaking Up with Miss Misery
To CLM

Later I tried to write you some poems,
but the words submerged into depression
and I couldn't prevent them from drowning

on the page. Nothing is worse than drowning,
even a suffocating love. Poems,
even songs, are no cure for depression—

as if I wanted to cure depression
for you, for me, for anyone drowning
in lost love. So why must I write poems,

poems that shriek depression and drowning?
​

I was going to attempt a sestina, but chickened out. Besides, this one is probably enough of a downer as it is.

 

[HarryHill]

School's out for Summer
..
Graduation comes once a year,
wildlings hitting the streets, no fear,
peel out.
Summer time road trips,
out to the lake, beach, sunburn,
honey warm nights, heated skin,
romance, sin, and then,
the long week's end; classes on life begin.
Graduation times may vary in your area.

 

[Piscator]

Pretty Picture Postcards

I get pretty picture postcards
from faraway places,
not many, but over time
they accumulate
on walls, fridges
and marking pages in books.

Mostly from old girlfriends
writing to prove they are still alive.
"Amazing scenery, wonderful people,
haven't had a decent cup of coffee since Montreal,
watch out for the water in ice cubes.
Wish you were here (Not!)
all my love xxxx"

Still on a dull grey morning,
a message from Mexico, Italy,
Vietnam or New Zealand
is at least intriguing.

Me, I never send postcards
as I never go anywhere
but I get pretty picture postcards
from faraway long ago bitches
every now and then.


Long ago piece dedicated to girlfriends abroad as I remained in nowheresville listening to Bob express the same sentiment much better.

 

[Tzara]

Business Rule Number 1 is probably Do not sleep with your customers. I knew that, but I was young and hadn't even dated anyone for some time and Kay was intelligent and funny and also lonely and (unfortunately) on the wrong side of the country, living in a place I had no desire to move to.

My long-distance dedication song is Badfinger's Baby Blue.

Terzanelle for Kay

I didn't mean you any harm.
We drank too much, walked on the beach,
and ended in each other's arms.

We worked together, and with each
succeeding day our friendship grew—
we drank too much, walked on the beach,

our business sense went quite askew,
and then we kissed. Our first mistake,
exceeding friendship's bounds. We grew

incautious, frantic with the ache
of love, but it was only sex.
But still we kissed—our big mistake

for, of course, what happened next
was that we ended up in bed.
In love? No, it was only sex

where, cautious as two newlyweds,
we ended in each other's arms.
But that was all, just that shared bed.
I never meant you any harm.

​

I'm not sure I have the form quite right, and the rhymes are pretty simplistic, but hey, I only spent forty minutes on it.

As many of you know, this was the soundtrack song for the finale of Breaking Bad.

 

[Piscator]

Sorry repeat post

 

[butters]

i dedicate this to you
the one who not so much got away
as eluded me for many many years
lost as we were
in distance and thought

who knows
what we would have made of things
should we have come to be
before sweet time reeled in our loopy threads
bringing us face to face for the first time
apart for the last
flew me here across time zones and hormones

but i do know

the magic of science
the crackle of electricity
the opening of your heart
your thoughts
divided space
and time
distance would dissolve

two separated bodies
conjoined awareness
phosphorescent trails
as we travelled in the cosmos
of one mind

 

[UnderYourSpell]

For my much loved Brother in law, lost not only to bastard cancer but from not being able to survive the chemo.
.
You were the brother I never had,
teasing and obnoxious I used to say
and you would laugh,
Even when you were very sick
it brought a smile when no-one else could,
and I loved you.

and when you were leaving this world,
all your siblings that never
bothered before came and brushed
me aside, took over
but they only saw the grey old man,
not the vibrant brother
I had bothered to know.

"May I kiss your bald head Henry?"
"No you may not, away with you!"

Love and miss you Henry, my brother

Dedication NEEDTOBREATHE "Brother feat. Gavin DeGraw"

 

[Angeline]

For TMMC
Imagine my steps walking backward far enough to find you again.

So Far Away

 

[UnderYourSpell]

For TMMC
Imagine my steps walking backward far enough to find you again.

So Far Away

Tag you're it Sis

 

[cascadiabound]

Tag you're it Sis

I am still planning to post something for this challenge...obviously late, but intentions remain.

Congrats Angeline

 

[Angeline]

Tag you're it Sis

Ok. It's up!

I am still planning to post something for this challenge...obviously late, but intentions remain.

Congrats Angeline

Thanks Cassie.

 

[HarryHill]

Congrats Angeline the new challenge is HERE

 

[Angeline]

Congrats Angeline the new challenge is HERE

Oops! Thanks Harry for adding the link.

This is the first time I've ever "won" for being last.

 

[champagne1982]

Til Death Do Us Part

My words and dreams have lost a voice
they all sound like droning noise
thoughts were spinning filigree
around your soul as it went free
and I couldn't find a trace
of what remains of your warm embrace
I know I listened to your song
but you didn't hear me you were gone.
So now I can release my emotions
I've cried enough to fill up all the oceans
I remember your heart going boom, boom, boom
just before you grabbed your things and let them take you home.

Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel

 

[cascadiabound]

For Nina

A long time ago
In a place far far away
There was a girl
Serious and bright
With a laugh like a bell

I didn’t choose her
She didn’t choose me
But there we were together
Every day. Every night.

I was mesmerized by her
Even as she smoked
Cigarettes she had sworn to quit
And by her delicate hands
Fluttering of their own volition
As her words sharpen with intensity
Leaning forward
Positing theories with passion
Eyes rivet my soul
With each nuance

Late at night we would go dancing
Dancing in dark halls,
Blue light over the bar
Women shimmying
Kissing in shadowed corners
Ebullient and free
Her sweet red mouth
Upturned in an easy smile
Dark eyes shining in dim light

I can still taste strawberries
and clotted cream
samosas in greasy paper
spring air on the Thames

strangers became friends
in my blood, like holy wine
for not just those months
but forever after
dancing in our socks
Joni Mitchell croning
oh so bitter, and so sweet
oh yes, my sweet friend
I could still drink a case of you
And I would still be on my feet

Embracing you and your heart
Inhaling your dark hair
Your frame so small in my arms

Come dance with me
Laugh with me
Be fearless with me
Challenge me again

Our souls touch across time and space
A love so pure and true
Our souls have been shaped
By each others’ love
Dancing in the dark
Dancing in our socks
Dancing dancing dancing


A Case of You

 

[Mrtenant]

She is far away
Miles upon miles
Measured but lord so far
How often have I wished
And wondered
Would that I could reach her
To see her, touch her
Experience her presence
Her vibration

Show her my haunts
In my lonesome land
Teeming with millions
To pick a rose
And offer it to her
Picnics every other day
By the seashore
Listening to the steady waves

Take in a show
A live jazz band
Down at the Mercy Wine Bar
On the upper balcony
Overlooking the bar and dancefloor
Whispering and kissing
Deep in the shadows

Another turn on the ferris wheel
There at the wharf
The cool Summer air's caress
Against my skin
Draws us closer together
Snuggles and warmth
Twirling a lock of her hair
While I look in her eyes

Just down the street
Around the block
Is it the next town over
A county away
Or across the state
Past the Great Divide
A world away
And yet so close in my heart