Art Inspiration, Photo Prompt, Poetry, Writing Prompts

Guitar Patchwork

Nancy's Notes 🖊️♬

Written for Tanka Tuesday where our host,
Melissa, has asked us to write a poem of our
choosing inspired by the art of Romare Bearden.
Here’s where the prompt took me.

Three Folk Musicians by Romare Bearden, 1967
Musea Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid

Three patched men play their patched guitars,
Beneath a moon no bigger than a coin
Blue shadows, striped like prison bars,
Where paper hands and paper faces join.

Each figure cut from somewhere else entire,
Yet whole in song, assembled, rearranged;
The music rises, bright as yellow fire,
And nothing lost, though everything exchanged.

NAR©2026

This is “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles

Learn about the painting here:

#TankaTuesday Poetry Challenge No. 62, Romare Bearden, 4/28/26

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

24 thoughts on “Guitar Patchwork”

  1. I thought I already commented on this, but I guess not! I like that you chose this artwork. I especially love that last line summarizing the journey… nothing lost, everything exchanged. Sounds a lot like love.❤️

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    1. Thanks for your lovely comments, Colleen. This was a very inspiring challenge, wasn’t it? Without a doubt, one of my favorite Beatles songs also; I’m so glad you enjoyed my written piece as well as my musical choice. 💕

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