Monday, April 20, 2015

ARTSPEAK! Poem #20 "A House for All Seasons"

Hello, and welcome to day #20 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? 

Today's piece is "The Flower Beds in Holland" by Vincent van Gogh.


Isn't that gorgeous?! I instantly thought of a quilt, and then I thought, well, isn't that predictable! I considered what I could do to make the poem not a typical "flowers so beautiful in spring" poem, and eventually I landed on that house on the left, how its roof seems to be sagging just a bit. And I thought, hmmm, I wonder how that house feels about those flower beds? I spent some time with it, and here's where I landed:

Poet-friends, do you see it? MORE waiting! The title may be promising too much... I don't really address any seasons directly other than spring and fall... but aren't they indirectly understood? I guess what I really wanted to know from the house was, what is the house's favorite season? I think certainly the season in which it feels most useful, and closest to the farmer. :)

Another thought today: it seems that the vast majority of the poems I've written so far this month are from the perspective on something inanimate in the painting. This might help me bring some focus to the project if I decide to create an ARTSPEAK! manuscript. We'll see how this plays out the rest of the month! 

Thank you so much for reading. I am now back from North Dakota and doing my best to settle back into regular life. Busy, busy week this week with various kid engagements, so please, bear with me! xo

6 comments:

  1. I like "I will draw/ myself up/ chimney-straight." You're doing a good job of featuring unexpected perspectives!

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  2. I'm not familiar with this picture, but I liked it instantly. I like the quilt welcoming bees and caterpillars, but I love the house drawing itself up chimney-straight to cozy the farmer. After all, fall is my favorite season and cozy is one of my favorite words.

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  3. What a beautiful painting -- had never seen it before. Love the idea of trying to determine the house's favorite season. Cozying the farmer in Fall sounds like it would be it. :) Also love the garden spreading its quilt for a picnic.

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  4. RAINBOW FLOWERS
    Rainbow flowers stretch
    Toward sunlight as Mother Nature
    Admires her handiwork.

    (c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

    ReplyDelete
  5. RAINBOW FLOWERS
    Rainbow flowers stretch
    Toward sunlight as Mother Nature
    Admires her handiwork.

    (c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

    ReplyDelete

Your thoughts?