Johanna watches the storm make landfall – wind howling, trees bending, rain lashing.

Her orchestra awaits her baton. She started composing this piece when her professor first described a Category 5 Hurricane. It’s her doctoral thesis, a different kind of academic finale. The cadre of reporters will either describe a colossal failure or the jump start of a spectacular career.

Anticipatory upbeat, then a forceful downbeat. Jagged rhythms scatter the black clouds, thick harmonies straighten the trees, shrieking melodies frighten away the wind and rain.

The triumphant final chord announces a glorious purple-gold sunset.

The press goes wild!

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    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    2 years ago

    Your story with relevance to music is so beautiful, Julie. And a very good imagination formed in my mind during my reading. I love how jagged rhythms scatter the black clouds, and thick harmonies straighten the trees, and how shrieking melodies frighten away the wind and rain. 

    Lotchie Carmelo
    Lotchie Carmelo(@lotchie-carmelo)
    Reply to  Julie Harris
    2 years ago

    You are very creative in writing. Thank you so much for sharing your talent in writing with us. I am learning a lot.

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    2 years ago

    Julie, I never thought of a storm as an orchestra before! This was so captivating and beautiful. I enjoyed reading this.

    Marianna Pieterse
    Marianna Pieterse(@marianna-pieterse)
    Reply to  Julie Harris
    2 years ago

    Julie, I could see in my mind’s eye how the storm actually “played along” as the conductor set the tempo.

    Linda Rock
    Linda Rock(@linda-rock)
    2 years ago

    What a creative interpretation of the prompt Julie. I could hear that orchestra in my head and imagine the baton controlling the pace. I thought back to the hurricane we experienced in England in 1987 and imagined how it would sound put to music. I loved your story.

    Carrie OLeary
    Carrie OLeary(@carrie-oleary)
    2 years ago

    I do enjoy your musical / orchestral interpretations of the prompts Julie. It’s lovely when you can bring your other interests into your writing. This is such a beautifully creative piece of writing.

    Eric Radcliffe
    Eric Radcliffe(@eric-radcliffe)
    2 years ago

    Wow! Just reading the comments below makes me think – not a note has been played, but everyone has been able to tune into your perception, and I guess we will all see the weather through musical notes now, how marvelous is that Julie?.
    I have a friend who plays the piano in a home, and her joy is in the faces that change. And I think how marvelous is that too.

    Christer Norrlof
    Christer Norrlof(@christer-norrlof)
    2 years ago

    The power of music! If it can change moods, make us smile and feel happy, why wouldn’t it be possible to change other outer circumstances too? What a challenge for a doctor’s degree! I love your coincidental experience with the hawks and the Prokofiev music. Beautiful! And then I had another image in my mind: Jesus as a conductor, standing in a boat with a furious storm around him, gradually taming it… Read more »

    Daisy Blacklock
    Daisy Blacklock(@daisy-blacklock)
    2 years ago

    I agree with all of the comments. This story is so creative. I really like how you described the storm using the power of three at the beginning. It creates a really clear image for me.

    Sandra James
    Sandra James(@sandra-james)
    2 years ago

    We had bad storms here just over a week ago but, unfortunately, I didn’t see it in quite the same way, instead laying awake through the night wondering if our house would end up across the state! Perhaps if I’d read your story beforehand I would have had a different perspective. Next time 🙂 It won’t change the terrible destruction (100s of trees down, houses damaged, floods and many people will be… Read more »

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