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

[Hana Saemon]

Great write, good description!

[Relic]

Thank you. :)

[Mike Cole]

It is a very good and descriptive poem and I love how it can be very short yet also very descriptive this is very good

[Relic]

Thank you Mike.

[SteveB]

Well done. I loved the image in the final stanza where without directly saying plane crash you describe it so well. This is a perfect example of the wisdom of brevity. You captured the mood and the emotion and anything further would take away form it. An excellent write.

[Relic]

Thanks so much for such a kind review Steve. It's appreciated.

[SteveB]

I am a NY lawyer. I am NEVER kind. I am however honest. You deserve the praise for this one.

[Relic]

~~~~~~~~ :) ~~~~~~~~~

[Goldfrog]

By not defining 3 as AM or PM you have carried two quite different experiences into a precisely integrated and tight-rope managed fusion.

[Relic]

Thanks Doug, glad you noticed my little trickery. ha

[DJ]

Wow, this is amazing! I love the last line the most, it gave me goosebumps. "and the music dies in the cold, silent, snow" What a tragedy. You explained loss and the silence that follows eloquently.

[Relic]

Thanks very much. :)

[TL Boehm]

So sad. He was just a bit before my time but when life is cut short - all that potential talent...
You've captured the exquisite sense of finality - of loss and of remembrance in this piece.

[Relic]

Thanks for reading and your thoughts.

[MsJewel]

Wow...the last line really did it for me...and the music dies in cold silent snow...the silence that follows the tragedy. I am speechless. This is brilliant. :) Julie

[Relic]

You're so kind, thank you.

[MsJewel]

You are very welcome. Your poetry is a delight to read :) Julie

[Relic]

~~~~~~~ :) ~~~~~~~~

[J. Kell]

Fantastic, beautifully done. Takes the reader to the event. I love the urgency and abruptness then the silence that follows.

[Relic]

Thank you Justink. Glad you liked it.

[Ruth]

I like the way this really hits hard...not so obviously so either, this is really beautifully suffocating, if that makes sense, superb! x

[Relic]

I appreciate your thoughts Poppy, Thanks.

[Clockwork]

As soon as I clicked on the picture, all of the pieces of this one fell into place. The song "American Pie" by Don McLean started playing in my head. Your second stanza really stood out for me...it made me think of those last moments in the air, and how they come back every February 3. That is a truly powerful thought you have there.

[Relic]

I appreciate the review and your thoughts, Clockwork, thank you.