The Da-DUMs of My Earworm

Summary

Carolyn Hastings, a speech pathologist, explores the influence of poetry and Shakespeare's sonnets on her perception of musicality in words, leading to an unintentional iambic earworm.

Abstract

Carolyn Hastings discusses her personal experience with musicality, revealing that despite not being musically adept, she found a connection through poetry. She credits the rhythmic patterns in Dr. Seuss's works and Shakespeare's comedies for awakening an appreciation for iambic meter, which has since become a constant presence in her life, akin to an earworm. Hastings' professional background as a speech pathologist has heightened her sensitivity to the sounds and musicality of language, an awareness that has been intensified by her recent endeavor into writing sonnets. She humorously laments the persistent iambic beat that now accompanies her daily activities, including reading the newspaper, and expresses hope that it doesn't affect her speech. The article is a response to Paper Poetry's Week 18 prompt on "music of the subconscious," and Hastings invites readers to engage with the prompt and explore the musicality of words.

Opinions

Hastings expresses gratitude to William Shakespeare for deepening her appreciation of the musicality in language, particularly through his use of iambic pentameter.
She finds the rhythm of iambic meter to be an ever-present force, comparing it to an "unbalanced metronome."
Despite the playful complaint, Hastings seems to enjoy the newfound dimension of musicality in her life, as evidenced by her continued engagement with poetry and sonnet writing.
She values the connection between music, poetry, and speech pathology, indicating that her professional expertise has enriched her poetic pursuits.
Hastings encourages others to explore the prompt and share their creative responses, showing her enthusiasm for community engagement and the exploration of language's musicality.

Thanks a lot, William Shakespeare!

Constructed by writer in Canva

I’ve not been one who’s musically inclined My head’s a sieve that cannot hold a tune Odd songs and melodies drift and combine I wonder if I belong on the moon!

But then to my rescue came poetry The musicality of Dr Seuss A bridge to William Shakespeare’s comedies His sonnets came next; damn earworm broke loose!

da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM da-DUM The constant pulse of iambic meter It pounds away in my ears like a drum It’s still there when I read the newspaper!

The music in the words makes sense to me That’s what I learned in speech pathology.

For those that don’t know it, I’m a speech pathologist, so the sounds in words and the musicality of words have, for a long time, been front-of-brain for me.

But ever since I started writing sonnets 18 months ago, I’ve had an iambic earworm in my head! It’s like an unbalanced metronome. I only hope I don’t speak like one!! 😆

Thanks a lot, William Shakespeare!! 😅

I wrote this, my latest sonnet, in response to Paper Poetry’s Week 18 prompt: music of subconscious.

You’ll find all you need to know about Indubala Kachhawa’s prompt right here —

Here’s Toni Crowe’s creative response to the prompt, The Truth of It —

Thank you all for reading. 🙏 💕

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The Da-DUMs of My Earworm

Thanks a lot, William Shakespeare!

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