Monday, April 13, 2015

ARTSPEAK! Poem #13 "Clothesline Season"

Hello, and welcome to day #13 of ARTSPEAK!, my Poem-a-Day Project for National Poetry Month 2015, in which I am writing from images found in the online collections of the National Gallery of Art and focusing on dialogue, conversations, what does the piece say? 

Big THANKS to everyone who has been reading and commenting on these poems! My enthusiasm is rather rollercoasterish (it's a long month!), and your encouragement really helps! Mwah!

Today's piece is "A Monday Washing, New York City" by an unknown 19th century American artist.


I chose this painting today because it has Monday in the title. :) Plus it is just such a great scene...historical and domestic and such beauty in a world of concrete and brick! I do adore fabric, and this reminds me of quilts on a line, which I especially love!

I thought first about having one item of clothing speak on its experience of being hung out with its friends. (Wouldn't "Undershirt" be  fun title?) I still think that could be a great poem! But then I started thinking about the clotheslines themselves, and how they join and soften these two tall, hard-edged, erect buildings. And that was my doorway into the poem:



Be sure to visit Doraine at DoriReads to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

9 comments:

  1. "We are the arms
    that allow
    buildings

    to hold hands."

    *swoon*

    Exactly it! So beautiful!
    xo

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  2. The picture is wonderful, isn't it? Your point of view is too, Irene. I never would have imagined that clothesline speaking to the world, doing its duty, & "waltzing with the sun and wind." Nice beginning to the week!

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  3. This is so lovely! Love those buildings holding hands. :)

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  4. CHILLIN’
    Freshening up after our scrubbing massage,
    Quick vacation before heading back to work
    Protecting humans from sunshine’s burning glare,
    Winters biting chill, nature’s occasional dirty attitude,
    It’s nice congregating for our weekly round of catching up,
    We love hanging out.

    (c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

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  5. CHILLIN’
    Freshening up after our scrubbing massage,
    Quick vacation before heading back to work
    Protecting humans from sunshine’s burning glare,
    Winters biting chill, nature’s occasional dirty attitude,
    It’s nice congregating for our weekly round of catching up,
    We love hanging out.

    (c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

    ReplyDelete
  6. This is wonderful, Irene! I still hang my clothes out, weather permitting, and especially love to crawl into a bed freshly made with air-dried sheets.

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  7. Ditto Amy's comment about the arms that allow buildings to hold hands! Dress for dancing and waltz with the wind. Such lovely language!

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  8. Wow! I am just revisiting and rereading. Wondering if my windwaltzing in Day 17 somehow grew from yours. If yes...I thank you, my inspiring friend. xo

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    Replies
    1. Yay for crosspollination! I've got wind on #17 too! And hey, you should put "windwaltzing" as a word in a poem. Beautiful (like you). Also, I am loving the one word "poemsong." Could be a book title... just saying... xo

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