Hello my dear Love Is In Da Bloggers, are you still motivated? I have to admit mine dips a little now and then especially with the poetry challenges I have set us but as I always try to emphasise: you can always choose your own. Hopefully we get there while having fun. So, off we go, to Paris and Ms Stein.

Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas ~ Find a chanson about love and/or write a Lai poem about Gertrude & Alice

Or

Choose Your Own.

I’ve never read anything about or by Gertrude Stein even though I know that famous: “A rose is a rose is a rose”. But I have to admit that I sometimes pondered how one could create a salon. I would love to have one. No, not the Western and Cowboy type, of course. No, one of those where intellectuals and literature people meet and talk. And discuss. And probably drink and eat lots. That sounds like sophisticated fun. Or is it just me?

Well, Gertrude had one in Paris even though she might have been a little on the wrong side of history. She apparently admired one Marshal Petain of the Nazi collaborators. But as far as I know, no one knows exactly and we are here for her love life anyway and not her political leanings.

She had a wife. Well, not officially, of couse, that wasn’t possible then but she met Alice Toklas in Paris and found herself a devoted woman who helped her through thick and thin. Well, at least what I read. But relationships never work like that, do they?

Ah, the rhyming again. I seem to get used to it. But not much better. Never mind. This one is a little tongue in cheek and I hope it makes you laugh. Or at least smile 😊

Gertrude & Alice

Gertrude & Alice,

they had no malice,

we think.

A lifelong chalice,

Gertrude & Alice,

we think.

Needed no phallus,

Gertrude & Alice,

we think.

Today’s musical prompt was a delight for me. Through “Come Away With Me” I discovered modern French Chancon and a young singer called Indila. Besides Gims and Zaz one of my favourites to listen to for some time now. The song I chose is “Lovestory” even though I had to admit I needed nearly 6 months to understand that she actually uses the word in the lyrics. I now find her French way of saying it charming. Yes, I know, I am slow on the uptake sometimes…. 😉

And just in case you wonder what the song reminds you off: check this one out 🙂 And you can find the translation of the lyrics here.

I hope you enjoyed this and come away with to Austria tomorrow:

Sisi & Franz ~ Find an acapella Love song and/or write a Sestina poem about Sisi & Franz

Or

Choose Your Own

Now dear Love Is In Da Bloggers

go, find music, write poetry

and have lots of fun!!!!

“Love Is In Da Blog” Rules/suggestions

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first day or week? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not always work so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part.
3. Tag your post either with “Love Is In Da Blog” or “LoIsInDaBl” or “Love Is In Da Blog 21” or #LoIsInDaBl21. You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure.
4. No matter which music the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please, and whatever length you please (no pun intended 😉 ) as long as it is about “LOVE.”
5. I post the prompt post the day before which is connected with the music for that day so you have some time to make up your mind and create your post. There won’t be two different posts and I hope it’s not too confusing.
6. If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.

Prompt List for Love Is In Da Blog 2021 “Great Love Stories”

1. Choose your own
2. Romeo & Juliet ~ Find a love song and/or write a Madrigal about them.
3. Casablanca ~ Find an unusual version of “As Time Goes By” and/or write an Acrostic with this song title
4. Shah Jahan and Mumtaz Mahal (Taj Mahal) ~ Find a Bollywood song and/or write an Epitaph for lovers
5. Diego Rivera & Frida Kahlo ~ Find a Jazz love-song and/or write a Contrapuntal poem about Rivera & Kahlo
6. Paris & Helen ~ Find a love song of war and/or write an ode to Helen & Paris
7. Bonnie & Clyde ~ Find a Blues love song and/or write a Nonet about doomed love
8. Choose your own
9. The Butterfly Lovers ~ Find a pop love song with a butterfly in it and/or write a Gu Ti poem (second form in the article)
10. Johnny Cash & June Carter ~ Find a country love song and/or write a Senryu about love
11. Tristan & Iseult ~ Find a love folk song and/or write an Ae Freislighe about love
12. Dr Zhivago & Lara ~ Find a “revolutionary” love song and/or write an Onegin Stanza about Zhivago and Lara
13. Orpheus & Eurydice ~ Find a singer/songwriter song about love and/or write an Ovillejo poem about love
14. Niulang and Zhinu (Cowherd and Weaver Girl) ~ Find a Valentine’s song and/or write a Sijo poem about love.
15. Choose your own
16. Pretty Woman ~ Find a great opera love song and/or write a Bop poem about Edwards & Vivienne’s love
17. Cleopatra & Mark Antony ~ Find a 50’s love song and/or write a Descord Poem about love
18. Elizabeth Bennett & Mr. Darcy ~ Find a love themed piece of music from the romantic era and/or write a romantic poem.
19. Gertrude Stein and Alice B Toklas ~ Find a chanson about love and/or write a Lai poem about Gertrude & Alice
20. Sisi & Franz ~ Find an acapella Love song and/or write a Sestina poem about Sisi & Franz
21. Lancelot & Guinevere ~ Find a love rock song and/or write a Hir a Thoddaid poem about love
22. Choose your own
23. Aragorn and Arwen ~ Find a classical love piece and/or write a poem in your own invented language (With translation please )
24. Jackie Kennedy & Aristotle Onassis ~ Find a love song from 1968 and/or write a free verse poem about love
25. Hadrian & Antinous ~ Find a metal ballad about love and/or write a Rispetto poem about their love
26. Katniss & Peeta ~ Find a love song from the “Hunger Games” films and/or write a Tricubes poem about love
27. Dante & Beatrice ~ Find an Italian love song and/or write a Palindrome poem about love
28. Clara & Esteban (House of Spirits) ~ Find an exotic love song and/or write a Katauta poem

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow some same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. So far the campaign has raised about half the amount needed: £421,666 of £800,000 (January 2021).

Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks, my dears, for staying with me until the end.

I appreciate your presence.

Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!