C is for CADENCE

Welcome to Day 3 of the Third Annual A to Z Challenge!

My theme my 26 fiction posts will revolve around something musical – it could be anything, as long as it's musically-related… maybe a song title, an artist/band, musical terminology, musical instruments, words relating to sound/rhythm/movement/dance etc. One commentor mentioned that it's quite ambitious to combine fiction with this type of theme – I agree! But, there's no turning back now… the vehicle is in motion… the journey has already begun…

MUSICAL CONNECTION/ASSOCIATION. CADENCE – the beat, rate or measure, of any rhythmic movement.

                                                            

                                

I let my legs pick the rhythm… attempt to find a regular pace… short, crisp beats to start off with…

I battle to find a cadence that is balanced… rhythmical… a natural flow… but I don’t want to focus on it… don’t want to think about anything… just want to run…

 The twinges and tightness in my limbs remind me that I’m out of sorts… cannot find my stride… look around … over the bridge now… the landscape is dull, yet beautiful… a monochromatic vista… a testament to my one-sidedness… tunnel vision…

I slow down… listen for movement… the whisper of a footstep behind me… just my hyper-active imagination fuelled by my battered emotions… I feel jittery… edgy… my legs feel tired and sore… breathe in… 1–2–3–4… I–can–do–it… breathe out… 1—2—3–4… I—can—do—it… breathe in… repeat… breathe out… repeat… keep moving… hum a tune… yes… yes… feels better… relax… settle in… enjoy the run…

I adjust my i-Pod. The plaintive voice of a Norah Jones tune… haunting… the lyrics penetrate the layers of fog; peel them away, one by one, introduce a discordant element… draw me out of that state of limbo… 

“The cadence rolls in broken

Plays it over and then goes

One flight down

There’s a song on the low

And it’s been there playing all along

Now you know

Now you know…”

Yes, I know… I just don’t want to see it… I’ve known all along!

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GENRE: FICTION

36 Comments

  1. Pa Ul on April 3, 2012 at 2:16 pm

    nice to know about your C
    do check my C too at GAC a-z

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:25 pm

      Hey Pa Ul – thanks!

  2. Dee Dee O'Connor on April 3, 2012 at 2:22 pm

    Love the post, Michelle. I usually run with my iPhone so I can run to the music.

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:26 pm

      Good for you… I don't run at all. I've never been the running type…  🙂

  3. Rena on April 3, 2012 at 3:35 pm

    Cadence is one of my favorite words.
    And vermillion.
    Beautiful, lyrical prose.
    from A to Z
    prose-spective.blogspot.com

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:28 pm

      It does have a lovely ring to it… I love caboodles, and incandescence… and de-ja vu… and tons of other words. Thank you for visiting.

  4. Alex J. Cavanaugh on April 3, 2012 at 5:07 pm

    And in perfect rhythm with someone running!

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:31 pm

      Thank you Captain Ninja!

  5. DL Hammons on April 3, 2012 at 5:16 pm

    There is actually a cadence in our writing as well!  🙂

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:31 pm

      Yes, there is.  And also in the spoken word… 🙂

  6. Rekha on April 3, 2012 at 7:25 pm

    A haunting quality in this piece, an attempt by the character at re invention, perhaps?

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:33 pm

      I like that interpretation, Rek…  a different way of looking at the piece. Yes, a possibility… that could work…

  7. Jocelyn Rish on April 3, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    I'm really impressed with how your words fit the cadence of running.  So even the rhythm of your writing matched your word of the day. Bravo!

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:35 pm

      Ah… thank you Jocelyn. I'm so happy that you noticed that… 🙂

  8. Elise Fallson on April 3, 2012 at 10:33 pm

    I thought about your theme today as I watched a video of a couple dancing the Argentinian tango. (: Anyway, I do a lot of trail running and enjoy listening to music when I do. I like how you incorporated cadence into the description. The tunnel vision I can relate to. Very good!

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:36 pm

      Thanks Elise 🙂 I love the tango… such a vibrant dance…

  9. Shelly on April 3, 2012 at 11:49 pm

    Absolutley beautiful.
    Shelly
    http://secondhandshoesnovel.blogspot.com/
     

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:37 pm

      Thank you Shelly! 🙂

  10. mary aalgaard on April 4, 2012 at 12:44 am

    Excellent rhythm. I can hear that Norah Jones song. I love her music.

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:38 pm

      Thanks… Norah has the most exquisite voice… *sighs*

  11. Teresa on April 4, 2012 at 12:50 am

    I love your story with cadence.
    Teresa
    T

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:38 pm

      Thank you Teresa.

  12. 2mara on April 4, 2012 at 1:00 am

    So happy to see you again this year :-). 
    I love the word Cadence… I almost named my daughter that. 
    I wish I could run, but I am not much good at it. Maybe I can work up to it.
    ~2

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:40 pm

      Hey 2mara… great to re-connect with you this year! I don't run either… so that makes two of us! *chuckles*

  13. Beth Stilborn on April 4, 2012 at 1:35 am

    Loved this!

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:40 pm

      Thanks Beth!

  14. Leslie on April 4, 2012 at 5:37 am

    Michelle – like the way the words take on a cadence of their own
    nicely done

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:41 pm

      Thanks Leslie!

  15. Julie on April 4, 2012 at 6:19 am

    What an original idea for "C ! " I think it's contageous!

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:42 pm

      That's so kind of you to say that! Thanks Julie.

  16. Texas Playwright Chick on April 4, 2012 at 6:30 am

    Cadence – also the rhythm a character speaks, a story flows…..it's really a wonderful word!

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:43 pm

      Yes, it fits into a variety of contexts. It's a fabulous word – that's for sure!

  17. Miranda Hardy on April 4, 2012 at 1:07 pm

    I love listening to cadences. There's something special in them. 

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:44 pm

      I agree! They remind me of the ebb and flow of the tides…

  18. Sarah Pearson on April 4, 2012 at 9:17 pm

    There's something really haunting about this.

    • michelle on April 7, 2012 at 10:45 pm

      Thank you for your ongoing support, Sarah. I am really grateful… 🙂

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