Week 6 - Writer's Envy

[alycewilson]

This is my entry for LJ Idol (http://therealljidol.dreamwidth.org) for this week. The topic is "When It Rains, It Pours."

My car started it. A few days ago, I had bundled up and headed out to run errands, my head full of mist. Grabbing my scraper out of the back seat, I begrudgingly slid on the gloves I keep in my coat pockets. Before I could start with the back window, though, I noticed that my car, Photon, a.k.a. Ford Vader, had gifted me with a work of art.

Delicate arches scalloped Ford Vader's roof, as if someone had taken a palette knife and created a layered texture of silver rainbows. I stood and appreciated it for a moment before clearing off the windows.

Silvery frost arches on Ford Vader's roof

Next to jump in the game was my Christmas tree: specifically, one of the Martha Stewart ornaments we'd bought when we moved into our apartment a few years ago. It had been our first year with enough room to display a tree, and apart from scattered ornaments I'd received as gifts over the years, we had nothing to hang. This set of classic balls with gold glitter reminded me of the glass bulbs my mom had when I was growing up. She insisted we hang them at the top of the tree so that errant cats wouldn't get curious, bat at them, and break them.

I was in the middle of my exercise routine, jumping in time to the music, when I saw the tree twinkling to the beat. Did I have my own personal light show? After a moment, I figured out the clever game. The ornament swung back and forth as my feet hit the floor, obscuring and then displaying the light behind it. Hence, the strobe light. Well played, ornament. Subtle but evocative.

My tree in between light shows

Then my dish washer found its voice, playing a little musique mechanique as it did its work. Along with the steady, circular whooshing rhythm rang a leit motif of tingling sounds. If you could play the glass organ and combine it with the comforting sounds of the womb, you'd create the sort of music my dishwasher casually tossed into the apartment. Another masterpiece.

I wish I had a recording, but you can get a good approximation of the performance by combining the following videos:

A Street Performer Plays Harry Potter's Theme on Glass Harp

Dishwasher Sounds like Womb

As if this wasn't enough, then I was completely outdone, in my own chosen medium, no less. That is to say that Google Home wrote me a poem.

Yesterday, I was putting together a shopping list for my weekly outing to the grocery store, nearly the only place I go these days. I added "candy canes," but then I continued talking to my son, telling him why I was getting candy canes to go with the hot chocolate. Because you can use them to stir the hot, delicious drink, I told him, and it adds just a little bit of mint. Or, you can hang them over the side of your cup and let them slowly melt into the chocolate. Mmm.

Google Home was still listening. "OK, I've added those four things," it announced.

What?

I checked my shopping list, only to laugh out loud with delight at the brilliant poem Google Home had composed from my mutterings.

the edge of your of your cup
then you can
stir your hot chocolate
thin as a little man
candy canes
hot chocolate

Google Home's shopping list poem

Finally, I threw up my hands in exasperation. Are you all completely done now? How is it fair that all of you have creative ideas to share, and I have absolutely none? Fine. You can write my entry.

---

The title "Musique Mechanique" was borrowed from the Carla Bley Band track of the same name, which doesn't sound at all like my dishwasher's music, but can be found here: "Music Mechanique" by Carla Bley Band

ETA: Finally got a recording of the dishwasher music! Dishwasher music

Comments

[adoptedwriter]

Cute! This was fun. That snow pattern looks like cake frosting!

[alycewilson]

I didn't think about it, but yes, it kind of does! Glad you got a kick out of that.

[bsgsix]

This is hilariously meta (and REALLY relatable, too). I LOVE the fridge poem. Back in the day, we used to do those with little magnets. Now, our smart devices write them (thanks for listening, Google Nest and Amazon Echo!). It's amazing how the little things turn into such inspirations! And I love that you mentioned musique mechanique, too.

Gotta love/hate when our appliances and homes accidentally outdo us, haha. This meta piece is really fun, and very well-told! :)

[alycewilson]

Yes, the poem really spoke to me. I kind of want to just talk to it and see what sort of found poetry emerges.

It was a challenge to write this week. I kept coming up with holiday projects that had to be done AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! :)

[bleodswean]

Oh, this is so much danged fun, A! I really do enjoy reading how other Idolars wrestle at times with the prompts. Glad you're surrounded by creativity and so happy you've got the skills to share what you see with others! And that poem! That is, actually, a technique that is taught - cut up. You nailed it with a tech twist!

[alycewilson]

Thanks! I normally don't do "meta," but this approach really spoke to me. I thought it was much better than whatever "rainy day" story I could conjure.

And Google Home really did write that poem! In the great tradition of "found poetry," however, I'm not claiming it as mine, having recognized it for the art it is. :)

[eeyore_grrl]

I was thinking about how i hadn't really seen any found poetry in a forever or two... and here you are, peeking into my head, and providing some of that very thing! And yeah. i try to way till it's done blinking to talk. But i oftentimes fail.

thank you for sharing this!

[alycewilson]

Oh, I love found poetry! I'm also a fan of the Dada art movement, so found art in all its forms really speaks to me.

[halfshellvenus]

I want to know how the roof of your car got those amazing swirls! How did they become 3-D?

And I wonder what Google thought "thin as a little man" might mean in the context of a shopping list? :O

[gunwithoutmusic]

This was great! It's funny how you can find art anywhere if you're looking for it. But it's so fun that you shared that with us. I think that part of our job as writers (or creators in general) is to take the art we see in everyday life and deliver it to the masses, so excellent work!

Although I must say I had no idea that Google was so talented; I kind of loved that poem!

[swirlsofpurple]

Fun! And an intriguing set of random creations!

[murielle]

Your google writes you poems! Mine just sends me to sites I'm not looking for. I want your google!

That was a lovely post full of gifts. Brava!

[flipflop_diva]

This is super cute! Especially the Google Home poem! Though I love the light shows from the Christmas tree. It makes me sad every year when I have to take mine down and lose my cozy little bouncing lights.