I take pebbles from the shore and throw them one by one into dying water. From across the bay I hear music playing from an open window.
Just like last summer when music mattered still, when you smiled, said yes and took my hand. When sunshine glittered from the waves.
Last night you called from Addis just before you boarded for the last flight to Nairobi.
“Hi, I’ll call tomorrow morning, we have many things to accomplish tomorrow”, you had said.
Your mother called at three AM and time stopped.
The water here is flat because today the music died.
As soon as I saw the picture I thought about the song by Don McLean “America Pie” or “The day the music died”, and of course the accident with Flight 302 the other day has influenced my thoughts.
Rochelle keeps this community called Friday Fictioneers together. What do we each see in a picture? What is the first thing on your mind? What is not in the picture? Anything goes as long as it can be said in 100 words.
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March 13, 2019
Björn Rudbergs writings 
What a beautiful piece of writing!
I could see the threads even before you pointed them out. You wove them in beautifully.
And of course I sang along to the chorus with Don M. (OMG wasn’t he YOUNG?)
Time flies… and knowing that the music was inspired of that fatal air crash is what made it for me.
Accidents happen. I think rather of the three who died: Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Richie Valens rather than the plane full of people. You did a good job of weaving in the old accident and the new.
I think my imagination pulled me to the more recent crash… let’s see how much of an accident it was… Boeing has some answers to give I think
I think they do too. at least Trumpler has grounded that model until more investigations are made.
Heart wrenching story you’ve accomplished in few lines, Björn.
When music dies it’s always sad
Oh my gosh, this is the saddest thing ever! I’ll take your hand. Grab your guitar, and let’s start a band. It’s never too late to make your own music.
Never let the music die…
A horrible tragedy for all involved, the victims and their friends and families.
I agree… and somehow it was so much closer this time.
Well, penned, Björn – the meeting of old and recent
When it comes to planes coming down, there is always a connection
Hmmm, yes
I hadn’t even heard of the accident yet. But it seems there are always accidents.
This one was more in the newspapers than the one with a same plane 5 months ago…
an inspired story from the depths of one’s soul. most definitely, one of your best.
Thank you… sorrow seems to be close to me all the time
Beautiful writin, sad ending.
Thank you so much
Beautifully penned! Such a sad piece, but oh so good.
I find that sadness is often quite beautiful
Heart-breaking, but so beautifully written.
Thank you… sorrow is beautiful but dark,
Tragic and topical. Beautifully written.
I think sometimes a tragedy is best described on individual level
You captured the essence of that tragedy. So many useful, dedicated lives lost – so dreadful.
Indeed…. such a terrible accident…
Putting faces and stories to victims makes them real, makes the numbers we become numb to as horrifying as they should be. Fictional or not, you did this perfectly, a homage to all the victims.
Like Josef Stalin once is misquoted to have said: “The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions is a statistic.”
Such a tragic story – but so beautifully written. Thank you.
Susan A Eames at
Travel, Fiction and Photos
Thank you
A timely tale beautifully written.
Dear Björn,
Touching tale. Of course the title sent me to Don McLean. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
When I saw the picture of the old piano that line immediately came to me… then I had to weave a story around it…
I love the way our muses work.
Fabulous story, Bjorn, brilliantly conceived and crafted, a masterpiece.
Eight miles high and falling fast…
Any death can be traumatic. Plane crash no exception. May god give you strength.
Wow! A powerful display of emotion in just 100 words.
We never know which moment will be the last…best to treasure them all. (K)
You did a beautiful job of bring in current (and horribly sad) events into your story.
great creative writing and worthy tribute to those killed!
That’s a pretty sad looking piano 😀 At the same it has something beautiful to it
What a beautiful and moving story – beauty then loss. Good writing.
Sad and moving, and I could hear the music, so it hasn’t died completely.
A sad and sentimental story. Yes, without music the world is a gloomy place.
Clever to tie those two tragedies together, for the music dies in somebody whenever these awful things occur. They don’t have to be famous or successful, just loved. Sad but wonderfully written Bjorn
Really good. Personalising tragedies such as this really makes them meaningful.
Lyrical, and very sad. How quickly dreams can die.
Beautiful poem , Bjorn, it’s difficult to write in reaction to current events, but this couldn’t be better!
A beautiful story woven around another shocking tragedy. There have been too many tragedies. I’d like more beautiful stories instead.
Bjorn, this is so good. So sad, so touching. You really put it together perfectly.
Very poignant. And heartbreaking.
Wonderfully told
-Rachel
Even after all these years, “American Pie” is one of my all-time favorites. So many lives ended abruptly. All the hurt and pain–and no chance for goodbyes. Beautifully written, Bjorn. This is my favorite of the week. Outstanding.
Thank you… the song was the first one that came to mind when I saw that old piano
I love that song and the story did it justice. Nice one.
I could feel the sadness.
A sad story, with a deeply personal feel to it. Beautifully written, Bjorn – you conjured up the scene very vividly.
This is such a fitting piece and tribute to those who died recently in tragic events. Both the Ethiopian airlines and Christchurch. I’m sure the music has died for so many people.
The reason I thought about Ethiopian Airlines is that the original song was written after a flight accident that killed Buddy Holly and some fellow musician… the title of my story is actually taken from the song (and I think it’s the original title of that song too)
That’s right! It is the title of the song…
A beautiful tribute to this recent tragedy. Tragedies like this, with so many lives lost, are difficult to wrap the head around but your story does that in a way that really plays the hearts strings. Perhaps, someday in the future the music will play again.
I think music always plays …. maybe one day we can also bear to listen
Well written! And quite heartbreaking.
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So tragic for him, her and all the love stories that ended before they could begun and all the lives lost before they could flower!
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