Moonlight Sonata

Posted on 2024-04-17 by Bartholomew Barker

for both Ludwigs

Beethoven only gave it a number,
Piano Sonata Fourteen.
Years later the poet Rellstab
named it Mondscheinsonate
and I will not dispute his license.

For when Selene rises at sundown
behind the darkened trees
and casts a porcelain dagger
across the surface of the lake,
faint ripples from the breeze
tickle the pebbles on shore
then poets and composers alike
are reminded of your charm
and get to work.

Today, we’d like to challenge you to write a poem that is inspired by a piece of music, and that shares its title with that piece of music.

This was obviously inspired by the Moonlight Sonata, not Clair de lune.

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About Bartholomew Barker

Bartholomew Barker is an organizer of Living Poetry, a collection of poets in the Triangle region of North Carolina where he has hosted a monthly feedback workshop for more than decade. His first poetry collection, Wednesday Night Regular, written in and about strip clubs, was published in 2013. His second, Milkshakes and Chilidogs, a chapbook of food inspired poetry was served in 2017. He was nominated for a Pushcart Prize in 2021. Born and raised in Ohio, studied in Chicago, he worked in Connecticut for nearly twenty years before moving to Hillsborough where he lives and writes poetry.
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17 Responses to Moonlight Sonata

  2. luisa zambrotta's avatar luisa zambrotta says:
    2024-04-18 at 06:29

    Great poem for a wonderful photo!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Cassa Bassa's avatar Cassa Bassa says:
    2024-04-18 at 23:32

    👏👏👏

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. abykittiwakewrites's avatar abykittiwakewrites says:
    2024-04-19 at 23:14

    Beautiful!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Laura's avatar Laura says:
    2024-04-21 at 11:35

    Beautiful 👏 👏

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. luvgoodcarp's avatar luvgoodcarp says:
    2024-04-24 at 20:53

    That’s beautiful.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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