Poetry, Shadorma, Theme Prompt, Writing Prompts

On Mute: A Shadorma

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for David’s W3 Prompt #202: Wea’ve Written Weekly

I am so incredibly proud to be your PoW! Thanks to David,
O’Nika, and all of you who read and liked my echo poem.
I was deeply moved by your gracious comments.
For this week’s challenge, I have chosen the shadorma,
with the theme being “Sensory Details”.
I hope all of you are enjoying the challenge!

Image by Me & ChatGPT

on mute

dust settles
soft on white and black;
my fingers
know each curve
yet hover, trembling above
in the gray stillness

sheer curtains
sway in soundless dance;
sheet music
sits, waiting
for a language i once spoke,
now a foreign sound

the stool holds
the shape of someone
who would sit
and create.
i stand at the muted edge,
hearing the quiet                

one pressed key
will splinter silence,
but the room
remembers
more than my hands can forget,
the last chord i played

NAR©2026
#W3

*Nancy’s Notes: A shadorma is a six-line non-rhyming poem of Spanish origin with a specific syllable count per line: 3/5/3/3/7/5. A shadorma may have one or more stanzas.

This is “Baby Grand” by Billy Joel ft. Ray Charles

W3 Prompt #202: Wea’ve Written Weekly

Everything on The Elephant’s Trunk was created by me, except where otherwise indicated. Thanks for your consideration. NAR©2017-present.

34 thoughts on “On Mute: A Shadorma”

  1. absolutely lovely Nancy. The fingers have a mind of their own—remember that. Give in Let them have their way dear one. Let them amaze the waiting room and the keys that have waited long already. Lovely write.

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  3. Oh Nance – I feel your grief -a sadness that often accompanies a hiatus from a passion – which must be playing your piano 😔 You’ve managed to make this object, your piano feel like a ghost – great writing 🙌 (I hope it won’t be too much longer for you 💕)

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    1. That is my great wish also, Ange. It’s been nine months since I last played my piano and I do miss it, even though I didn’t play every day and certainly not as brilliantly as either Billy Joel or Ray Charles! I’m greatly moved by your beautiful comments and I know you feel what’s in my heart. Thank you, dear sister. I appreciate you. ♥️

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    1. Suzanne, I wonder if you could possibly be sensing my frustration and disappointment at being unable to play my piano since my hand injury in November and subsequent surgeries. That was the inspiration for my shadorma; I’m very gratified to know you felt that. Thank you for your excellent comments. 💕

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