The Writers’ Nook is a place where we, as a group, can provide a safe and positive environment in which to encourage one another and hone our own writing skills.
For the enjoyment of poetry
Have you explored poetry recently? Do you sometimes spend lazy afternoons reading poems? Shelley once said that poetry “lifts the veil from the hidden beauty of the world, and makes familiar objects be as if they were not familiar.”
We’re not going to spend this precious meeting time trying to learn how to interpret poetry — we’re just going to sit back and enjoy some of it, together, maybe learn something from one-another. Hope you can join us.
This meeting was held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 9th, Blind Bay Time (aka Vancouver Time).
THE CHALLENGE to be completed before our next meeting on June 24th. Choose a song that you know well — then use it’s tune and meter write new lyrics — on any topic.
OR just write a story, or an essay on any topic.
NOTE: These “old song” links below will open into a new separate window so you can move it over and listen to the old song while reading the new.
New lyrics to an old song: Are You There by Kevin Gooden
New lyrics to an old song: Oh My Children by Karen Bissenden
New lyrics to an old song: A Day Without Rain by Phillis Jeffrey
A poem I’d like to share, Canada Day 2017 by Joyce Adrian Sotski
New lyrics to an old song: H O L I D A Y by Shirley Bigelow DeKelver
New lyrics to an old song: The Call of the Free by Joyce Adrian Sotski
Kevin, Are You There: I appreciated the sentiments. I am so happy that these issues are starting to unravel and that, we the people who have not been involved, are finally starting to understand what has happened in the past of our fine nation. I visited the link you provided in a separate window and while I listened to the song, Flying Sorcery, I read the words that you had written. The sentiment is there, the metre is true to the song and in my mind I sang along, using the original tune and your words. Well done!
KEVIN: Excellent work, and thanks for the prompt. I was at a loss on how to begin.
KAREN: A difficult piece to write, it is well-written, now to hear you sing it!
PHILLIS: Wow, amazing job. Poetry (or songwriting) is definitely your forte.
JOYCE: Your poem brought back memories, I must have been there on the same day, I remember a delightful elderly woman swaying to the music and you captured her well.
Karen, Oh My Children: You made a few points in your song that I can certainly identify with! And, I love the song you chose. I think it helped me to sing your song because the tune was so familiar.
Phillis, A Day Without Rain: Nice! Your lyrics and meter matched the beat perfectly and I identified with the words in your song. Well done, you are a talented lady.
Shirley, H O L I D A Y: Such a fun song you chose, just makes a person want to get up there and shout it out! You’ve captured the feeling.
And, to all of you: Whose crazy idea was this challenge? It was very hard for me to succeed but I learned some things — can’t wait to talk about it at our next meeting.
Karen – “Oh My Children”
Lovely sentiments—with a dash of humour—and a great song choice.
Phillis – “A Day Without Rain”
Nicely done. This one feels a bit “deep” to me, symbolic, but not overly so. Also works well with the song choice.
Joyce – “Canada Day 2017”
I like the mix of memories and sensations past and present leading to the wisdom (acceptance?) of the conclusion. “feels the same as it did back when… the dance goes on… the passage of time changes… nothing.” Great write.
“The Call of the Free”
There’s a fun spirit to this one and it certainly is a celebration of hiking and the local trails. Per my other comments, your writing also fits well with the song choice.
P.S. Thanks for your work on this challenge, you did a great job arranging the materials. Clap-clap!!
Shirley – “H O L I D A Y”
This is a fun one! Great lyrics in your version with a combination of fun and summer romance.