The Progressive Poem–Day 28!

Progressive Poem 2019

Endless summer; I can see for miles…
Fun, fun, fun – and the whole world smiles.
No time for school- just time to play,
we swim the laughin’ sea each and every day.

You had only to rise, lean from your window,
the curtain opens on a portrait of today.
Kodachrome greens, dazzling blue,
it’s the chance of a lifetime,

make it last forever–ready? Set? Let’s Go!
Come, we’ll take a walk, the sun is shining down
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
Tomorrow’s here. It’s called today.

Gonna get me a piece o’ the sky.
I wanna fly like an eagle, to the sea
and there’s a tiger in my veins.
Oh won’t you come with me waltzing the waves, diving the deep?

It’s not easy to know
less than one minute old
we’re closer now than light years to go
To the land where the honey runs

…we can be anyone we want to be…
There’s no stopping curiosity.
What’s so amazing that keeps us stargazing
Looking for a sign of life

You’re simply the best
Hold my hand and we’ll be free
Have faith in you and the things you do

Multiply life by the power of two.

 

This was hard! I confess I’m not someone who listens to a lot of music, especially music with words, perhaps because my head is so often full of my own words or searching for just the right word. Thus, I have followed the progression of the poem with some trepidation as it has meandered from summer to sea. Now coming to an end, the poem seems to be settling in on a relationship, which got me thinking of some old favorites and to my line from the Indigo Girls. Good luck to Irene and Donna as you bring this baby in for a landing. Thanks as always to Irene for organizing us celebrate poetry and community each year.

 

Here is a list of line sources:

L1 The Who, ‘I Can See for Miles’/The Beach Boys, ‘Endless Summer’
L2 The Beach Boys, ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’/Dean Martin, ‘When You’re Smiling’
L3 The Jamies, ‘Summertime, Summertime’
L4 The Doors, Summer’s Almost Gone’/Led Zeppelin ‘Good Times, Bad Times’
L5 Ray Bradbury, “Dandelion Wine”
L6 Joni Mitchell, “Chelsea Morning”
L7 Paul Simon, “Kodachrome,” “Dazzling Blue”
L8 Dan Fogelberg, “Run for the Roses”
L9 Spice Girls, “Wannabe”/Will Smith, “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”
L10 The Beatles, “Good Day Sunshine”
L11 The Carpenters, “Top of the World”
L12 Lin-Manuel Miranda, “Underneath the Lovely London Sky” from Mary Poppins Returns
L13 Carole King, “Hi-de-ho (That Old Sweet Roll)”
L14 Steve Miller, “Fly Like An Eagle”
L15 Don Felder, “Wild Life”L16 Nowleen Leeroy, “Song of the Sea” (lullaby)
L 16 Nowleen Leeroy, “Song of the Sea” (lullaby)
L17 Sara Bareilles, “She Used to Be Mine” from WAITRESS
L18 Stevie Wonder, “Isn’t She Lovely”
L19 R.E.M., “Find the River”
L20 Carole King, “Way Over Yonder”
L21 Mint Juleps, “Groovin” by the Young Rascals
L22 Jack Johnson, “Upside Down”
L23 Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson) “Rainbow Connection” from the Muppet Movie
L24 The Foo Fighters, “Learning to Fly”
L25 Tina Turner, “The Best”
L26 The Partridge Family “Summer Days”
L27 The Pointer Sister’s, “We Are Family”

L28 Indigo Girls, “Power of Two”

 

April

2 Kat @ Kathryn Apel
4 Jone @ DeoWriter
5 Linda @ TeacherDance
6 Tara @ Going to Walden
8 Mary Lee @ A Year of Reading
9 Rebecca @ Rebecca Herzog
10 Janet F. @ Live Your Poem
13 Doraine @ Dori Reads
17 Amy @ The Poem Farm
18 Linda @ A Word Edgewise
20 Buffy @ Buffy’s Blog
21 Michelle @ Michelle Kogan
22 Catherine @ Reading to the Core
25 Jan @ Bookseestudio
26 Linda @ Write Time
27 Sheila @ Sheila Renfro
29 Irene @ Live Your Poem
30 Donna @ Mainely Write
14 replies
  1. Carol Varsalona
    Carol Varsalona says:

    Liz, despite your trepidations your line was a great close for the stanza and an interesting line that leads us onward to the final words. We are back to the relationship theme. I ran through the endings of each stanza and see the wonderful progress to your line. Thanks for keeping the momentum up.

    Reply
  2. Mary Lee Hahn
    Mary Lee Hahn says:

    So many of us were worried about finding a line inside music lyrics, but we did it! YOU did it! Great line!

    Reply
  3. Kathryn Apel
    Kathryn Apel says:

    A splendid line, Liz! (And I can definitely relate to your comments about quiet and head full of words. I was having just that conversation with a friend – about how I rarely listen to music/radio/podcasts. I just like the quiet. (And am very happy to READ words!)

    Reply
  4. Matt Forrest Esenwine
    Matt Forrest Esenwine says:

    The poem definitely has changed tone, and your line helps us to start wrapping it up as we near the end…thanks, Liz!

    Reply

Trackbacks & Pingbacks

  1. […] phrases merged to get us going. Today’s line comes from Elizabeth Steinglass. You may find her line here on her blog. Participants are having fun using song lyrics. I was excited to provide the 14th line on April […]

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