Ode to my Harp Contest

 

Thank you for all the great submissions to the Atlanta Harp Center Ode to My Harp Contest! We had so many wonderful entries and  were blown away by the talent of our harp community. Please enjoy the beautiful poetry below and remember to like and follow us on Facebook and Instagram for future contests and giveaways!

 

**Entries listed in randomized order**

 

My harp is beauty
She sings to all through my soul
My harp she is me

by Lisa

 

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"Love Hurts"
By Burgandy 

Surviving the ages of war and conquest,
Played by sovereigns’ hands from East to West;
Soothing the sick, alleviating pain,
You, an elfin device to put all to rest.

Yet although it still remains
The healer of emotional pains,
The hurt is placed upon me the player;
The calluses you give me, I maintain.

My fingers cry out
With a thundering shout,
“Stop it! It burns!”
They cry with doubt
That I should stop playing you,
And I let them pout!

I try to keep playing you,
But must rest soon and do.
As I take a breather
And rest a few,
I stop to admire you
From your low, deep wire string
To the high ones that go “Ping!”

Harp, you are beautiful.
Without you, I’d be woeful!
Love hurts and can cause distress,
But for tomorrow, I am hopeful.

Hopeful that a while after I dress,
My fingers won’t have so much stress.
So, for tomorrow, I will wait.
I have to play tomorrow, I guess.

 

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"The Lady"

by Maria

The Lady rests in the corner.

Her tendons slack,

Her spine cracked.

Her voice sings no more above a whisper,

Unfocused and out of tune.

But when She sleeps She dreams

Of the days when Her voice had wings

That pushed the notes above the clouds

For the angels to mimic on their tiny lyres.

 

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Ode to My Harp

by Nancy

So many of my yesterdays, I did not know of this love
That would one day wrap me in comfort, serenading tunes from my heart

The first time I laid eyes, so heavenly the sight
Was a golden harp at a friend’s wedding, and somehow, I knew, this was
only the start;

But life and the years moved fast and along, while my dream and me
remained so far apart
I was left with a memory, the sight and the sound, that moved me so
deeply, and captured my heart.

The day finally came, almost out of the blue,
You found a way to me, my harp, my blessing, my dream did come true

I dove in with promise against the many years that had passed me by
I would not let you down, hard work and desire would soon verify

Though my mind and my fingers struggled as we formed our new bond
I was captured by the music that flooded my heart, my soul and beyond

Now the strings ring out, we are now one, and I cherish this love,
Ever growing, ever blooming, this gift from above

Now Claire de Lune, I’m over the moon, with so much more left to play
For all of my tomorrows and for each and every new day.

 

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Cascading showers
From raindrops to surging waves—
Heartspace manifests

by Sarah

 

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 "Em"

I'm beyond captured,
Of the eyes that led to your soul
I'm tortured,
That your completely the wrong man
Has to be lust, I have to believe
In this short brevity of time
I truly couldn't have seen,
His mind and it's true intricate design,
I close my eyes and I see yours,
I search my soul, their yours is also
Traces of you that'll remain for all of time,
They'll always remind me
Of our sudden tragedy
Maybe it's our society,
Unaccepting of these two world colliding
As it eats me in the time being
I'll appreciate the pieces you left
The molded parts I'll have kept
Forever admiring the could've beens
Floating in the retrospect..

                   ~ Yours truly,
                               Salen

 

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Ode to My Harps,
Winnie, Anna Grace and Liesel

You were once a  mighty tree in the forest,
And you had a song within your soul.
You were cut and formed into a harp     
And strung to make you whole.

Each string alone or together played,
Shares your song you hold so true.
A beauty you share with others,
Who hears or touches you.

I feel in oneness with you ,
When I hold you close to me.
My fingers on your strings,
Brings peace and harmony.

The oneness of the woods,
The sky , the rain and sun.
The stars and moon at night ,
Where your life first begun.

The song within your soul,
Speaks to me when I play.       
Your beauty is such a comfort ,
A calming for my day.

So praises to your makers,
God who filled you with  your song,
Then the luthier who gave you form and a voice
For your soul song to be sung.

by Andrea 

 

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Title: When music glows

Style: Free verse

By: Joey