It should be something inspirational, something to make the piece soar, a fitting climax to the whole movement.

He scratched his head, chewed the end of the pencil, let his fingers dance over a few keys until they ended in a terminal ‘thunk’.

It was no good. He just couldn’t find the right expression of hope when so much was going wrong: the pandemic; rioting and racism; political turmoil – and it showed no sign of getting better anytime soon.

Then there was his own life to worry about: the theatre was shut and redundancies loomed; his mother was stuck in the care home unable to receive visitors, and to top it off he was having to deal with the insurance company after the minor collision yesterday.

He stood and went over to the window. A gloomy, grey, cloud-filled sky greeted him, the perfect expression of his mood. There was inspiration for another deathly doom-laden symphony a-plenty, but that was not what he had been commissioned to compose.

As he watched the sky, high above, a perfect V-shape swooped into view: geese migrating for the summer in the south where they would breed. He watched them swoop past, admiring the controlled formation and order.

He felt a stirring in his mind. Notes in the shape of a dancing ‘V’, up and down, a lilting rhythm that started to build, then fell, then built again. He added strings to the piano notes, then woodwinds danced in and out of the lush, building crescendo.

He smiled and returned to the piano and began capturing the simple notes before they disappeared.

At least he had managed to finish. Whatever happened next could wait.


storm-clouds-1
Copyright Sue Vincent

This is a response to the #writephoto Prompt: Soar curated over at Sue Vincent’s Daily Echo. Click on the link to read other stories inspired by the image.


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34 responses to “COMPOSITION”

  1. Sadje Avatar

    Love hope you used this image in your story.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. Sadje Avatar

        You’re welcome Iain.

        Liked by 1 person

  2. kittysverses Avatar

    This is an engaging, feel good read, Iain. Enjoyed it. 🙂

    Liked by 4 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. kittysverses Avatar

        You are welcome. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  3. Beck Avatar

    Always so good 😊

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Beck, too kind 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  4. earthskyair Avatar

    Very nice! Enjoyed this very much! 🌷

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Eugenia Parrish Author Avatar

    Artists yearn for beauty and inspiration. Sometimes you have to remember to look above the mud. I enjoyed this very much.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thanks Eugenia – it can be tough going in times like these!

      Like

  6. magickmermaid Avatar

    Nice! Inspiration can appear from anywhere; even when times are dark.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  7. pensitivity101 Avatar

    Loved your take on this Iain.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you Di, glad you liked it 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

  8. joyroses13 Avatar

    Wonderful piece! It told of hope even amidst the chaos!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. joyroses13 Avatar

        Very welcome! Hoping to read your book this week. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Iain Kelly Avatar

        Marvellous, do let me know how you get on with it! 🙂

        Like

      3. joyroses13 Avatar

        I definitely will! Hope its selling well for you.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. Sue Vincent Avatar

    Hope is found in unlikely moments 😉

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      It’s always there lurking. Thanks Sue

      Like

  10. notestowomen Avatar

    This was wonderful and engaging story, Iain. It goes to show you that inspiration can come from anywhere. There is always hope on the horizon.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      1. notestowomen Avatar

        You’re most welcome 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  11. willowdot21 Avatar

    Out of despair came hope, out of stress came joy, out of depression came inspiration and triumph.
    Great piece Iain 💜💜

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Iain Kelly Avatar

      Thank you so much 🙂

      Like

      1. willowdot21 Avatar
      2. willowdot21 Avatar

        💜💜 a great piece Iain

        Liked by 1 person

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