Live Your Poem...: April 2016

Saturday, April 30, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: "Garden Rabbit's Dream"

WELCOME to the final poem of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Woohooo! We made it!!

It's also the final day of our 2016 Progressive Poem. Wow! Be sure to visit Donna at Mainely Write to read the last line.

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"These Al Fresco Summer Nights" after Repast in the Garden by Edouard Vuillard
"Strawberry Basket" after Strawberry Basket by William Spiecker
"When We Meet in the Garden" after The Artist's Garden at Argentheuil - A Corner of the Garden with Dahlias by Claude Monet
"Sunday Afternoon" after Madame Monet and her Son by Auguste Renoir
"Let Us Now Praise Leafy Things" after The Gardener - Old Peasant with Cabbage by Camille Pissarro
"Just Like the Garden" after On the Fence by Winslow Homer
"What Grapes Say" after Plate by Dorothy Posten
"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Fruit Jar" after Fruit Jar by J. Howard Iams
"Child in the Garden" after The Artist's Garden at Vetheuil by Claude Monet
"Math Lesson (from the Garden)" after Still Life with Lemons and Oranges wit Blue Gloves" by Vincent van Gogh
"Gardening Basics" after The Watering Can/Emblems: the Garden by Roger de La Fresnaye
"Mary in the Garden" after Reading in the Garden by Pompeo Mariani
"This Wheelbarrow" after A Woman Emptying a Wheelbarrow by Camille Pissarro
"A Dream of Sheep" after Warm Afternoon by Winslow Homer
"Harvest" after The Last Days of Harvest by Winslow Homer
"Anticipation (in the Garden) after George Moore in the Artist's Garden by Edouard Manet
"Gathering Fruit" after Gathering Fruit by Mary Cassatt
"Bread's Lament" after Boy with Basket of Fruit by an unknown American artist
"After the Fire" after Ruined Farm by Hubert Robert
"Cow at the Gate" after Landscape with Open Gate by Pieter Molijin
"I Am the Plate" after Still Life with Milk Jug and Fruit by Paul Cezanne
"Courtship (According to the Cat)" by Winslow Homer
"Courage" after Planting Corn by Stanley Mazur
"Orchard Barber Shop" after Gardener Pruning a Tree by Jacques Callot
"Gardener's Companion" after The Watering Can by Georges Seurat

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is inspired by a garden ornament. I wasn't sure what this rabbit had to say until I worked with it a while.... and somehow it ended up another "dream" poem! (My 3rd this series.)

Garden Rabbit's Dream

My whiskers twitch

when you're not watching –

my ears flick

like weather vanes.

My eyes grow

round

and rounder,

I hippety-hop

along the row.

Sometimes I nibble

cabbage.

Sometimes I nap

amid the squash.

When the sun shines,

my coat turns to rust.

But when the moon glows

I dance!

- Irene Latham
Listen to the poem on Soundcloud.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #29 "These Al Fresco Summer Nights"

Hello, and Happy Poetry Friday! Can you believe it's the final Friday of the month? Wow! Just one more poem to go... be sure to visit Buffy's Blog for Roundup.

A great big WELCOME to day 29 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Big big THANK YOU for those who have stopped by to read these poems and leave comments. You make me smile, and you inspire me. Mwah!

And another THANK YOU to the creative, fearless poets who've contributed this year to our Progressive Poem, now titled (by Heidi!) "West Wing Dreams of Taking Shape." What a marvelous journey it's been this year! Please visit Sheila Renfro's blog to read the next-to-last line.

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"Strawberry Basket" after Strawberry Basket by William Spiecker
"When We Meet in the Garden" after The Artist's Garden at Argentheuil - A Corner of the Garden with Dahlias by Claude Monet
"Sunday Afternoon" after Madame Monet and her Son by Auguste Renoir
"Let Us Now Praise Leafy Things" after The Gardener - Old Peasant with Cabbage by Camille Pissarro "Just Like the Garden" after On the Fence by Winslow Homer
"What Grapes Say" after Plate by Dorothy Posten
"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is inspired by a magical (to me) piece "Repast in the Garden" by Edouard Vuillard. It's magical because I love dusk, love lighting the mosquito torches and taking our supper out to our back porch, which overlooks our woodsy, private backyard. We keep chair cushions and a little caddy of silver and napkins and salt-n-pepper and such right by the back door, always at the ready. Sometimes we talk, sometimes we laugh, sometimes we just listen to the world around us. I tried to put some of that magic into the poem.

These Al Fresco Summer Nights

Sky is

the napkin

we spread

on our laps

as firefly

chandeliers

blink

on off

and small hands

lift a plate

for, More,

please

just before

the sun

disappears

behind

the trees.

- Irene Latham

Listen to the poem on Soundcloud.

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #28 "Strawberry Basket"

Hello, and welcome to day 28 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Please join me, if you feel so inspired!

But first, please visit Heidi at My Juicy Little Universe to see a title! And punctuation! And a new line full of verbs!

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"When We Meet in the Garden" after The Artist's Garden at Argentheuil - A Corner of the Garden with Dahlias by Claude Monet
"Sunday Afternoon" after Madame Monet and her Son by Auguste Renoir
"Let Us Now Praise Leafy Things" after The Gardener - Old Peasant with Cabbage by Camille Pissarro "Just Like the Garden" after On the Fence by Winslow Homer
"What Grapes Say" after Plate by Dorothy Posten
"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is inspired by "Strawberry Basket" by William Spiecker. I wasn't sure what to do with this image until I played around with it for a while. It's such a simple image... compelling in its nakedness. The more I looked at it, the more I knew this basket was brave and confident. I decided to give it a voice.

Strawberry Basket

Call me empty

or call me full

say I'm interesting,

say I'm dull.

I know who I am.

I know what I'm for:

I carry strawberries.

In holding

I am held.

I need nothing more.

- Irene Latham

Listen to the poem on Soundcloud.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #27 "When We Meet in the Garden"

Hello, and welcome to day 27 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Please join me, if you feel so inspired!

But first, please visit Mary Lee at Poetrepository to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"Sunday Afternoon" after Madame Monet and her Son by Auguste Renoir
"Let Us Now Praise Leafy Things" after The Gardener - Old Peasant with Cabbage by Camille Pissarro "Just Like the Garden" after On the Fence by Winslow Homer
"What Grapes Say" after Plate by Dorothy Posten
"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is inspired by "The Artist's Garden in Argenteuil (A corner of the Garden with Dahlias)" by Claude Monet. At first glance the painting is all dahlias, but then there's that tiny couple hiding beneath that tree... so of course I had to make this a love poem! (How many of these poems have been love poems? Soon I will count them all up and let you know.)

When Me Meet in the Garden

The old tree

leans in to listen

and the dahlias

in their Sunday dresses

clamor

for the best view

and I know there

must be sky

and sun

and tiny sprigs and sprouts

shouting Look at me!

but all I see

is you.

- Irene Latham

Listen to the poem on Soundcloud.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #26 "Sunday Afternoon"

Hello, and welcome to day 26 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Please join me, if you feel so inspired!

But first, please visit Renee at No Water River to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"Let Us Now Praise Leafy Things" after The Gardener - Old Peasant with Cabbage by Camille Pissarro "Just Like the Garden" after On the Fence by Winslow Homer
"What Grapes Say" after Plate by Dorothy Posten
"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is inspired by a Renoir pieced called "Madame Monet and Her Son." I was drawn to the expression on the boy's face... he doesn't look all that happy, does he? And then I spied the chickens, and I thought I might know why...

Sunday Afternoon

Mama says we must

rest today –

no more running,

no more chasing chickens.

But Clucky doesn't

understand those words –

she and her chicks

keep clucking and peeping,

squawking and cheeping –

Come on, they say.

Let's have some fun!

- Irene Latham

Listen to the poem on Soundcloud.

Monday, April 25, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #25 "Let Us Now Praise Leafy Things"

Hello, and welcome to day 25 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Please join me, if you feel so inspired!

But first, please visit Mark at Jackett Writes to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"Just Like the Garden" after On the Fence by Winslow Homer
"What Grapes Say" after Plate by Dorothy Posten
"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is inspired a piece I adore -- "The Gardener- Old Peasant with Cabbage" by Camille Pissaro. The peasant reminds me of my grandfather, who loved his garden -- and my grandmother. Right away I knew I wanted this to be a love poem. I struggled a bit with the ending -- not sure I've got it quite right, but I do love the "we" in the poem and the picture I have in my head of these "old goats."

Let Us Now Praise Leafy Things

We'll trim away

the browning leaves,

until all that's left

is supple green.

Well flavor it

with a flick of pepper,

add shiny tomatoes,

cucumber rounds,

and festive bell pepper.

Finally, a splash

of flavored oil

and we'll graze together –

two old goats who know

each moment,

each bite,

must be savored.

- Irene Latham

Listen to the poem on Soundcloud!

Sunday, April 24, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #24 "Just Like the Garden"

Hello, and welcome to day 24 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Please join me, if you feel so inspired!

But first, please visit Amy at The Poem Farm to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"What Grapes Say" after Plate by Dorothy Posten
"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is inspired by a piece by Winslow Homer called "On the Fence." I started thinking about how kids are like the garden -- how WE are like the garden.

Just Like the Garden

We grow

when know one's

watching:

slow-fast-slow.

Some days

all we want

is shade.

We crave rain.

We seek

the company

of weeds.

Fruit comes,

or it doesn't.

In the end,

we are most

grateful

for easy words

and gentle hands.

- Irene Latham

Listen to the poem on Soundcloud.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #23 "What Grapes Say"

Hello, and welcome to day 23 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Please join me, if you feel so inspired!

But first, please visit Ramona at Pleasures from the Page to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"A Dream of Wheat" after Field of Green Wheat by Vincent van Gogh

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is after an odd piece: "Plate" by Dorothy Posten. I wasn't sure what to do with it, but I wanted this plate to have some wisdom.... so I kept trying to find some. What I ended up with is a mishmash of wedding vows and the hokey-pokey. :)

What Grapes Say

We take

this plate

to be our

leafy bed –

Thank you,

sun and rain!

Thank you,

green and red!

Let's dance

all day,

let's sing

and shout!

Whisper now:

Yes.

Together

is what

life

is all about.

- Irene Latham

Listen to the poem on Soundcloud.

Friday, April 22, 2016

ARTSPEAK! 2016: Poem #22 "A Dream of Wheat"

Hello, and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Jama's Alphabet Soup, where I am sure there will be some deliciousness waiting... there always is!)

Here at Live Your Poem, it's day 22 of my National Poetry Month poem-a-day-project ARTSPEAK! in which I respond to images found in the online collections at the National Gallery of Art. Please join me, if you feel so inspired!

But first, please visit Radiant Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge Edge to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

I am just back from a whirlwind trip to Texas Library Association (TLA) in Houston. Yes, we braved the rain to talk poetry! I'm so grateful to Boyds Mills Press for sending me to speak on Sylvia Vardell's annual Poetry Roundup panel, along with poets Kwame Alexander, David L. Harrison, K.A. Holt, Steve Swinburne, Janet Wong, & the one and only Amy Ludwig VanDerwater!

You can see more about this on Twitter: #txla16. I live-tweeted from a MG Fantasy panel -- still thinking about some of the things the panelists said! I promise to share more in May. ONE WEEK TO GO, friends!!

This year's ARTSPEAK! theme is "Plant. Grow Eat." It was inspired by the release of my latest book FRESH DELICIOUS: Poems from the Farmers' Market.

Here are the poems so far:

"Man, Reading" after Denoisel Reading in the Garden by James Tissot

"At the Vegetable Market" after Vegetable Market at Pontoise by Camille Pissarro

"Triolet for Planting Day" after The Artist's Garden at Eragny by Camille Pissarro

Today's poem is after a piece I adore. I've really enjoyed thinking about it: "Field of Green Wheat" by Vincent van Gogh. I ended up with another "dream" poem (last week was "A Dream of Sheep"). Isn't that interesting? I wanted to be sure and tuck some critters into this world of wheat... this is where I landed:

A Dream of Wheat

From a plain

packet of seeds

comes sun-

sweetened stalks

seasoned by wind

and rain –

birds diving

mice hiding

grasshoppers singing

spiders weaving --

in a sea of wheat

that will someday

become bread

we eat.

- Irene Latham
Listen to the poem on Soundcloud!

Pages

Saturday, April 30, 2016

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Monday, April 25, 2016

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Friday, April 22, 2016