Cobbles have been laid over paradise
With stables for carriages and horses,
Bawdy taverns, markets, court masques and plays.
Life does not follow preordained courses,
Cherishing what you have is good practice
For tomorrow may well be its demise.
Cobbles have been laid over paradise
With stables for carriages and horses;
They have taken an axe to the forest
And displayed trees in an arboretum,
Where one pays gold coinage just to view them.
Cherishing what you have is good practice
For tomorrow may well be its demise:
Cobbles have been laid over paradise.
Kim M. Russell, 2017
Image found on Amazon
My sonnet for dVerse Poets Pub Meeting the Bar Form for All: Pop Sonnets, where I am the tavern wench for today, serving ale, sack wine, malmsey and mead.
I think I’ve managed the iambic pentameter but I’m not sure about the rhyme scheme – it was a tricky one to tackle. Can you guess the popular song? Write your answers in the comments, please!
Big Yellow Taxi without a doubt.I’m of the wrong age group to ask about a song like that either time round.
xxx Hugs Galore xxx
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You’ve won first prize, David! I was tempted to choose something a little more unusual but it had to be a pop sonnet!
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I believe the song is BIG YELLOW TAXI by Joni Mitchell. The prompt was daunting. I got the form alright, but passed on the iambic pentameter & Shakespearian wordsmithing. I adore what you did with this; rocked the hell out of the prompt.
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You are dead right it is, Glenn! Thanks for playing along and for liking my sonnet! I love yours too.
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I remember that song! I probably wouldn’t have guessed it right, but now that I know it makes sense.
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You’ve got me with yours. It’s going to take a while!
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Good thing the guesses were correct, ha..ha.. ~ You evoked the times of the olden years:
Bawdy taverns, markets, court masques and plays.
Life does not follow preordained courses,
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🙂
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I didn’t get it, I’m afraid, not a Joni Mitchell fan, but I did like the cobblestones 🙂
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Thanks Jane! Are you posting one?
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Done it. I wasn’t sure I’d be able to do it though.
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A fav! Once this song is in my head it is there for days! (and gladly). Bravo!
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Thank you, Jilly! I’m still trying to fathom your pop song!
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Thnik 21st C. When you said modern, I went modern. Hoplefully not too much so!
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The cogs are grinding, albeit slowly. I’m still stuck on Frank’s sonnet!
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Me, too… working on that one!
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I knew what is was when I saw the title 😉
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You’re a music man, Paul, I wouldn’t expect less. 🙂
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It was just the arbutus rustling
And the bumping of the logs
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🙂
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Okay….well, I tried and tried to figure out the song — without looking at folks’ comments. Gave up — and found out why I didn’t get it….not familiar with the song! BUT — do love the sonnet you’ve done. Especially this modicum of truth:
“Life does not follow preordained courses,
Cherishing what you have is good practice
For tomorrow may well be its demise.”
Enjoyed the read……and enjoyed being challenged by the prompt too! So glad you’re a host here, Kim!
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Aw, thank you so much, Lillian! I love being part of dVerse!
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I’m not familiar with the song, so I wasn’t able to guess but I enjoyed your poem regardless. I’ve always been fond of cobblestones, and that was a nice image your poem portrayed ^_^
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Thank you, Jade!
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Doesn’t it always seem to be…? I was laughing with the first line. Loved it!
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Thanks Charley!
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Kim I had to come back and read again just because this is so brilliant 🙂 Thank you for hosting – this much fun should be illegal 🙂
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Maybe it is! 🙂
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Great rewrite of Joni Mitchell’s song
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Thank you, Bryan!
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over paradise got me straight away o think yellow taxi cab! this form is new to me too and I struggled a little this morning, I hope to give a another try soon. I loved your bar tending Kim, gave me a wonderful lesson on creativity and into the sonnets. This was the highlight of my tired week!
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I’m so pleased you enjoyed the prompt, Gina. I’ve had great fun and there are more pop sonnets to read!
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I enjoyed it very much. I will check that book out and want to try my hand at another sonnet. Thanks Kim, I do love learning about writing and challenging myself. you hosted a lovely evening, I hope to return always when you are at the pub!
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Thank you so much, Gina! I’ll see you at the dVerse pub on Monday. 😊
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Such a dark-twisted tragedy. 😎🌹
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Thank you!
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I’m impressed at how well you managed such a difficult challenge.
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Thank you, Bev!
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I’m terrible at guessing these, but your sonnet goes beautifully with the song. Enjoyed the imagery. “Cherishing what you have is good practice”…sound advice.
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Thanks for reading and commenting1
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Kim, yours is the only one so far where I’ve instantaneously recognized the song. So much fun!
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A wonderful job! Since I’m reading on Easter the comments are kind of ruining it for me. Lol!
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👏🏼👏🏼
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One of my favorite songs, I love this!
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Thank you!
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Ah, for the halcyon days of cobblestones and arboretums!
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🙂
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