Rock a Bye Baby... A Poem Challenge
By josefina
@josie_ (9763)
Philippines
May 27, 2017 8:48pm CST
Ernest Hemingway was once challenge to write a story using only 6 words.
For those who like challenges and poetry, write a poem that evoke the sentiment of Hemingway's famous 6 word short story, "For sale:baby shoes, never worn."
Rock a bye baby
Night stalks the silent room
shadows whisper such hurtful malice
she screams in silent anguish
staring into darkness
a lullaby ripple through her mind
Besides a cradle her hand
rocking it gently to and fro
once it held a bundle of joy
her teardrops fall...
nothing left but a mother's sorrow
Photo: Wikipedia (baby photograph of Hemingway)
10 people like this
9 responses
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
29 May 17
@Linda1234 _ I'm glad you like it. Thank you.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66857)
• Philippines
30 May 17
sad. i am sad. that lullaby song "rock-a-bye baby" i think is a song that creates sorrow and sadness. for how can a sleeping baby fall off the cradle? sad.
2 people like this
@1creekgirl (40636)
• United States
7 Jun 17
My daughter had a doll baby named Tree Top when she was little.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
7 Jun 17
@1creekgirl _I am curious if there is a story behind her naming her doll tree top.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
30 May 17
@ridingbet _ Any mother who put their baby in a cradle on a treetop is off her rocker (insane) with the exception of Jane who lives in the treetop with Tarzan
1 person likes this
@teenspirit (1597)
• Israel
28 May 17
Amazing!
b.t.w am i the only one which thought it might be connected to the song "rockabye"?
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
29 May 17
@teenspirit _Thank you. The song gave me the idea for the title.
1 person likes this
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.@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
29 May 17
@YrNemo _Thank you. I often get ideas during moments when the gossamer fabric of consciousness permeate nocturnal sleep to nudge the dawn of wakefulness. A pad and pen would come in handy to snare those thoughts before they evaporate into the mist of forgetfulness.
1 person likes this
@josie_ (9763)
• Philippines
8 Jun 17
@YrNemo _You must have put in a lot of time and effort in your poem. I enjoy it's lightheartedness in describing a new mother's fussing over her baby. You've ably shown that Hemingway's story need not be interpreted as a tale of sorrow and despair but also one of happiness and hope. Kudos.
1 person likes this
@YrNemo (20261)
•
8 Jun 17
@josie_ Took me a while, but here it is,
She, like many first time mothers
rushed out buying many things, ready for the future
only to find out later, that all babies grow extremely fast
leaving behind untouched shoes, bibs, onesies among others
She has, with time, given away many
and there are times when she has wondered
should mothers be in such a state of worry
about a perfect future.
Shouldn't one just live with the present
and fill it with laughter...
@simplfred (20641)
• Philippines
23 May 18
Beautifully dark. Beautiful because it is written perfectly. Wow, you are a good poet.
