Ghazal poetry was traditionally a sung form, invoking other traditional symbols like the gazelle (an image often used to suggest the graceful, beautiful Beloved).
Poetry Prompt
Invoke the central image from an old love song. Feel free to use not only the image but also a few lines from the song. Put these in your ghazal poem, to either celebrate or mourn a lover, a place, or a friend (Need a reminder for how to write a ghazal? Go here.)
Thanks to our participants in last week’s poetry prompt. Here’s a ghazal we enjoyed from Monica Sharman. Says Monica, “One morning I woke up with ‘Celebrate Me Home’ (1977) playing in my head, and it did me in for several days. The one I heard in the store last week was ‘What a Fool Believes’ (1979). It has the words ‘He came from somewhere back in her long ago, ‘ which fascinated me, and which I used in my ghazal for this prompt.”
From her unbroken days the music, a song,
played in Motown sound—a bruising song.
In the rhythm and blues of blue-eyed soul
she mishears the words, confuses the song.
The catch of a phrase progressing the chord,
repeating to find the clues in the song.
Loose syncopations tighten the driving
beat, a nostalgic noose of a song.
From somewhere back in her long-ago
she finds the lyric. She won’t lose the song.
Photo by Julius Reuchel, Creative Commons, via Flickr.
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Megan Willome says
You did it, Monica! You found your way in. I just love what you did with this!
Monica Sharman says
Thanks, Megan! I had some trouble with the part about each stanza being stand-alone. But trying any new poetry form is always a fun challenge.
Monica Sharman says
Thank you for featuring my ghazal, but thank you even more for giving the “childhood loss” prompt!
L.L. Barkat says
You’re very welcome, Monica 🙂 It seemed to converge nicely with your current experiences. And? You have a talent for song-like forms!