February 3rd's ghostly tune.

On February 3rd, of this year

the idea of sleep will horrify me.

I'll be visualizing a terrifying sight

I know will haunt me as it has

for years. 

There'll be a whistling breeze. 

Then, with its eerie melody, 

a voice will come fleeting by. 

His southern drawl will be 

unmistakable:

"You say you're gonna leave, 

you know it's a lie 'cause 

that'll be the day that I die."

The recurring words echo each year

orchestrated as notes playing

to a troubled, sputtering engine 

descending above the cornfield.

Sweat will form on my face. 

A trickle will run down my cheek.

My bed will feel like a tomb.

Panic will set in

there'll be a quick series

of sickening thuds

then, like it always does

the music will die--

in the cold, silent, snow.

Author's Note

On February 3, 1959, rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with the pilot, Roger Peterson. The event later became known as "The Day the Music Died", after singer-songwriter Don McLean so referred to it in his song "American Pie".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Music_Died

Reviews

[GgTellsYou - Keep Smili..]

This was a really beautiful poem. Its so concise and the "day the music died" was such a huge moment for our time. You caught it with passion in very few words. Loved it.

[Relic]

Glad you liked it, thanks very much.

[An owl on the moon]

Profoundly moving... the heart and soul... the voices.. the music... gone... What a tragic moment in time... a heartbreaking poem here that freezes this haunting day.

[Relic]

Thank you Craig.

[Ren Grace]

mysterious yet obvious I love your writing.

[Relic]

Thanks very much Lauren. I'll be by your way soon.

[Ren Grace]

You're very welcome!

[redzone]

I was 12 when that plane went down, and just beginning to get into music... I always wonder what the world would have been like if they hadn't died and we could have heard their creative music up til today...

it was a nice tribute Relic, thanks for this... ~~redzone

[Relic]

Thanks very much Redzone. I myself have wondered the same thing not only about these three but also about many artists who have left too soon.

[John Jackson (El Juero)]

"Don't get on that plane..."
Only the goo die young.
Beautifully written tribute.
Thank you.

[Relic]

Thanks for noticing this one John.

[Sheila Kline]

Dates and moments of time as this are those that often plague my thoughts as they at times consume me with memories of when a person as these greats have left us to meet others in eternity!
You have honored their memory by writing this and allowing us to be part of "their ending". It was a sad time for many, and they deserve to be remembered!

[Relic]

Thanks so much Sheila.

[Clouded in Hopeful Illu..]

I would have liked this piece better if it wasn’t connecting to an actual event. Since the beginning line and the title make it seem like it could be 3 am and not February the third, I didn’t get that this was a poem about the death of the rock musicians until your comment at the end saying to look at the picture. To me, if you want this piece to be about that crash in particular, then you need to incorporate something that would allude to it more specifically besides the date. I do understand that there are things that could be in connection with them: a southern drawl, love song for a girl, music: but you have to remember not to isolate who your readers will be. This could be connected with tons of things including farmers, country, anything.

As an example: I am very fond of reading literature, poems and songs from slaves before and after the civil war, so for me, personally, this could be about a slave who was field hollering and possibly received retaliation from it with a “quick, sickening thud”. I hope that makes sense.

[Relic]

Thanks for your input. I'll keep what you said in mind.

[Kenaz]

Fate is a cruel mistress. Holly will forever whisper around this poem, engraved here. Makes it sort of feel like a haunted page

[Relic]

Oh yeah, Buddy has been here every now and then. I feel him. Thanks for the review.

[stars are far]

Seriously this is amazing piece ,worth reading ..
well done :)

[Relic]

Thanks so much for the review.

[CoraZanini]

one word-awesome,this is seriously awesome

[Relic]

Thank you very much.