FACE THE DAY

Here's one that came almost full-fledged this morning after trying to get the dogs to calm down in the kitchen where they don't usually spend the night...

Despite the inspiration, it's not about them...

FACE THE DAY (c) 2016 G. Smith (BMI) ------------------------------------------- Just lie down, Go back to sleep; We have dreams and promises, Yet to keep. When the sun comes up, And the stars fade away, Then you and I, Can face the day. Just lie down, Here by my side; Let me dry, The tears you’ve cried. When the sun comes up, And the stars fade away, Then you and I, Can face the day. How I love you, I don’t think you know; But it’s true I do, And even though, I understand why, You feel you must go; But how I love you, Won’t you let me show? So just lie down, Here in my arms; I never meant, You any harm. When the sun comes up, And the stars fade away, Then you and I, Will face the day.

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5 SONGWRITING PITFALLS TO AVOID (from a Jason Blume blog posting)

From a blog posting I stumbled across t'other day:

The bullets:

1. Don't write for an audience of one - If your goal is to share your music with the world, write in a style that speaks to your audience and clearly communicates the message you intended.

2. Show, don't tell- Use this tool, AID: A (action/verbs) I (images/nouns) D (detail/adjectives)

3. Support the song’s title - Ideally, the title is the heart of a song – the focus – and every line of lyric will contribute to leading your listener to the title.

4. A redundant second verse Many developing songwriters fail to bring new information into their second verses. An easy way to find your second verse is to answer: “Then what happened?” or “What else happened?”

5. Settling for “pretty good”- It’s self-defeating to believe that the very first thing that pops into your mind, or comes out of your pen, is such sheer perfection that not even one word could possibly be improved.

Read more: How To Write A Country Song – Avoid These Lyric Pitfalls http://blog.discmakers.com/2015/11/how-to-write-a-country-song-five-lyric-pitfalls-to-avoid/#ixzz3uFHc9Emz

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SHE'S GOIN' SHOPPIN'

Well, now that that November challenge is over, the same blog (writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides), is back to posting weekly prompts on Wednesdays.

This week's was SHOPPING.

Here's a slightly different take...

SHE'S GOIN' SHOPPIN' G. Smith (BMI) --------------------- It's that time, Of year, When she, Says, "Dear, I need to find Me something new, To wear." Well the old, Won't do, You feel, It too, Won't be long Until she's, Not there.

You know what it means, When she puts on her skinny jeans, She's goin' shopping, Bar hoppin', Non-stop and, She won't go home alone, alone, No she won't, Go home alone.

That's how You met; Back then, And yet, You're not ready, To make the change You know she needs; So the old, Won't do, When did that Mean you? Won't be long Till your broken Heart bleeds. And you know what it means, When she puts on her skinny jeans, She's goin' shopping, Bar hoppin', Non-stop and, She won't go home alone, alone, No she won't, Go home alone.

You know what it means, When she puts on her skinny jeans, She's goin' shopping, Bar hoppin', Non-stop and, She won't go home alone, alone, No she won't, Go home alone.

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LET THE MOMENT BEGIN

Here we are, the final prompt for the November Chapbook Challenge: LET THE MOMENT BEGIN

Given that, let's...

LET THE MOMENT BEGIN (c) 2015 G. Smith (BMI) --------------------- How long will this go on? When will the getting ready end? I can almost taste the joy to come; Let the moment begin, begin; Let the moment begin.

How I've waited, anticipated, How you've made my poor head spin; Got my pulse rate syncopated; Let the moment begin, begin Let the moment begin.

There's a time, That marks the start; That splits forever From what's come before, And that time, Will mark the heart, For ever more, for ever more.

How high will we fly? Count down from ten, Let's take the leap and Let the moment begin, begin; Let's take the leap; Let the moment begin.

****|****

All 30 prompts and even more responses can be found at: writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

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DEAR ME

The next-to-the-last prompt for the Poetic Asides November Poem-A-Day Chapbook Challenge is an OPEN LETTER.

I wrote an open letter to myself.

DEAR ME G. Smith (BMI) --------------------- Dear me, What's going on? I haven't heard from myself, In I don't know how long.

Dear me, What's new? I haven't had a chance, To know what I should do.

She left when I wasn't watching, I didn't hear her leave, I never saw the signs, That's what I believe, Dear me; dear me.

Dear me, How's work? I guess I really ought to know, But it's made me such a jerk,

Dear me, How are things? Guess I'm all tied up in knots, From my tangled up heart strings.

She left when I wasn't watching, I didn't hear her leave, I didn't want to see the signs, That's what I believe, Dear me; dear me.

Dear me Why can't I see, That she And I weren't meant to be?

Dear me, Why lie? I think I know the truth, But I don't wanna cry.

She left when I wasn't watching, I didn't hear her leave, I saw the signs, but didn't care That's what she believes; Dear me; dear me. Dear me.

-*-*-*-

This, all 28 previous prompts can be found at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides.

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IT WAS A BRIGHT AND QUIET NIGHT

The 28th prompt is "Fill in the blanks: It was a ________ and ______ Night."

In anticipation of Advent, which starts tomorrow:

IT WAS A BRIGHT AND QUIET NIGHT G. Smith (BMI) ---------------------- It was a bright and quiet night With only moon and stars, Shepherds watched their flocks in fields, When greeted by angelic choirs.

"Do not fear, We have good news That will bring great joy For all of you.

"In Bethlehem, A Savior is born, The Messiah, the Lord., This very morn."

It was a bright and quiet night With only moon and stars, Shepherds watched their flocks in fields, When greeted by angelic choirs

"This will be a sign to you: A Baby in a manger; The very Son of the living God Greeted as a Stranger."

It was a bright And quiet night With only moon and stars, Shepherds watched their flocks in fields, When greeted by angelic choiras

"Let us go and see this thing Let go and worship the King. Let us go to Bethlehem, Let us go to Bethlehem."

It was a bright and quiet night With only moon and stars.

------ writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

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LEFTOVER LOVE

The Black Friday (Day 27) prompt is: LEFTOVER (S)

Here's a sort of bluegrass response.

LEFTOVER LOVE G. Smith (BMI) ---------------------- Something's being cooked up in the kitchen, Something's being cooked out on the grill; I know I won't be sitting at the table, When your backdoor man comes 'round to have his fill.

I always serve up, The best that I can do, Why do I get leftover, Love from you? Whybdo I get leftover, Love from you?

There's a big old bag of groceries on the counter, And another one to come in from the truck; I can put 'em all away here in the pantry, But it looks like once again I'm out of luck.

And I always serve up, The best that I can do, Why do I get leftover, Love from you? Why do I get leftover, Love from you?

You know I'll wash and put away the dishes, Wipe the table and clean off the stove; Make sure everything is nice and tidy, And keep denying what everybody knows.

I always serve up, The best that I can do, Why do I get leftover, Love from you? Why do I get leftover, Love from you?

::::•::::: The original prompt is at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides.

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LIVIN' IN THE LAP OF LUXURY

Happy Thanksgiving~ The day 26 challenge prompt is LUXURY.

My reply:

LIVIN' IN THE LAP OF LUXURY G. Smith (BMI) --------------------- Some people have diamonds, Some people have pearls; Some people have mansions All over the world.

Some people party, All night and all day; Some people don't work, They just play, play, play, play.

And we may not live, In Downton Abbey, It may be just, A double-wide, But it's still, The lap of luxury, With you right, Here by my side; Yes it's still the lap Of luxury, With you right here, By my side.

Some people have fast cars, Some people have planes; Some people have fur coats, And thick golden chains.

Some people travel To far away lands; But it's an adventure here, Just holding your hand.

No, we may not live, In Downton Abbey, It may be just, A double-wide, But it's still, The lap of luxury, With you right, Here by my side; Yes it's still the lap Of luxury, With you right here, By my side.

Shiny things Flashy rings, Exotic clothes I hope you know;

While we don't live, In Downton Abbey, And it may be, A double-wide, It'll always be The lap of luxury, With you right, Here by my side; Yes it's still the lap Of luxury, With you right here, By my side.

°°°•°°° The full prompt is posted in all its luxurious splendor at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides.

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SAY IT AGAIN

Day 25's prompt in the Poetic Asides Poem-A-Day challenge is an ECHO (echo) poem (poem).

Here's what I heard... SAY IT AGAIN G. Smith (BMI) --------------------- I've spent my whole life, Doing the right things, And sometimes a wrong thing or three, or three; Working two jobs, looking after my mama, Trying to be the best I could be.

I never though I'd find the right one, Let alone she would find me, find me. But low and behold, while minding my business, I looked 'cross the counter and who did I see.

Just, Say it again, 'cause I can't believe it, Believe it; Tell me again, 'cause it can't be true, Be true. Say it once more, 'cause you couldn't mean it, Mean it; Tell me again, what I mean to you, To you, to you; Tell me again, what I mean to you.

I used to go to bed and pray it was over; Then wake up each morning with the same plea, the same plea; But since I met you my prison's been opened, My chains are undone and now I am free, I am free: My chains are undone, and now I am free.

So, Say it again, 'cause I can't believe it, Believe it, Tell me again, 'cause it can't be true, Be true Say it once more, 'cause you couldn't mean it, Mean it Tell me again, what I mean to you, To you, to you; Tell me again, again, What I mean to you. °°°°° Just like yesterday, find the source for this nonsense at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides

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THE REASON

The final two-fer-Tuesday prompt in the November Chapbook Challenge (Day 24 for those keeping count), is either a LOVE poem or ANTI-LOVE poem.

I chose the former (for my oldest boy and his fiance).

THE REASON G. Smith (BMI) ----------------------- I love you means you get the first cup of coffee; I love you means you get the last piece of pie; I love you means I'll laugh along with you, I love you means I'll hold you whenever you cry

I love you means you're the first one I think of, I love you means you're last on my mind. I love you means you're my why and my wherefore, You're the one and only reason I find.

Faith hope and love, Love's the greatest of these, Faith, hope, and love, It seeks to please, It's never jealous, It never fails, It always rejoices, And carries no tales. It's patient and kind, Keeps no record of wrongs, Love is the reason I wrote you this song.

I love you means you get all the hot water, I love you means the covers are yours; I love you means you can drive if you want to, Love means I always open your door.

Faith hope and love, Love's the greatest of these, Faith, hope, and love, It seeks to please, It's never jealous, It never fails, It always rejoices, And carries no tales. It's patient and kind, Keeps no record of wrongs, Love is the reason I wrote you this song. ••••• This prompt, along with repliesbon both sides of the and/or, can be found at writersdigest.com/editor-blogs/poetic-asides.

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