ARTSPEAK! Harlem Renaissance poem "The Last Poem"

Welcome to day #30 of 2018 ARTSPEAK!, in which I am focusing on art and artists from the Harlem Renaissance. I cannot believe this is the final poem of the series... whew!

Before we get to today's poem, please be sure and visit Doraine at Dori Reads to read the final line of our Progressive Poem! Our little seed has sure come a long way.

Today I'm concluding my Harlem Renaissance poetry project with a look at photographer James Van Der Zee. James started fooling around with a camera at age fourteen, and he went on to become the most famous portrait photographer in Harlem. He was known for his portraits of African American New Yorkers -- both prominent people and "regular" people. Read more about James here.

Here are the poems in the series so far:

"Hazel Scott at the Piano" by James Van Der Zee
"She" after Portrait with Flowers by William Johnson
"Poems Come Lately" after Still Life with Flowers and Chair by William Johnson
"Papa with a Pipe" after Self-Portrait with Pipe by William Johnson
"A Song for Old Glory" after Lift Thy Voice and Sing by William Johnson
"Midnight Party" after Harbor Under the Midnight Sun by William Johnson
"Summersong" after Children at the Ice Cream Stand by William Johnson
"Trio" after Art Class by William Johnson

"To a Water Boy" after The Water Boy by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Storytime" after Storytime by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Sorrow" after Sorrow by Meta Warrick Fuller

"My John Henry" after When John Henry Was a Baby by Palmer Hayden

"Night Music" after Untitled by Palmer Hayden

"A (Sub)way of Looking" after The Subway, 1930 by Palmer Hayden

"Girl to Mama" after Madonna at the Stoop by Palmer Hayden

"For Love of the Game" after Checkers Game by Palmer Hayden

"The Birthday Birds of Bonaventure Island" after Birds of Isle de Bonaventure by Palmer Hayden

"Boat Dock, Early Evening" after Boats at the Dock by Palmer Hayden

"Prayer for the Berry Pickers" after Berry Pickers by Palmer Hayden

"Sometimes Books Are the Only Playground I Need" after Among Them is a Girl Reading by Palmer Hayden

"Measurements" after Octoroon Girl by Archibald Motley

"Barbeque" after Barbecue by Archibald Motley

"American Idyll, 1934" after An Idyll of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas

"The Toiler" after The Toiler by Aaron Douglas

"Let There Be Poetry" after The Creation by Aaron Douglas

"Boy with Plane" after Boy with Plane by Aaron Douglas

"To a Dancer" after Sahdji (Tribal Women) by Aaron Douglas

"For the Builders" after Building More Stately Mansions by Aaron Douglas

"This Poem is a Dream" after Aspiration by Aaron Douglas

Today's piece is Dancing Girls. I love the expressions on these girls faces -- so different from one another! I started out writing a variation of "Five Little Monkeys" but it just wasn't popping. Then I started thinking about how several of this year's poems have been ars poetica (about poetry), and I realized this was the last poem, and started thinking about how the dancers might represent the last poem, and voila!

The Last Poem

is all knees

and flat feet

it keeps forgetting

the routine

yet it wears a hat:

see me!

it lifts its arms:

love me!

it closes its eyes,

looks past lens,

             mirror

                  stage

dances us

across the page

- Irene Latham

ARTSPEAK! Harlem Renaissance Poem "Hazel Scott at the Piano"

Welcome to day #29 of 2018 ARTSPEAK!, in which I am focusing on art and artists from the Harlem Renaissance. 

Before we get to today's poem, please be sure and visit April at Teaching Authors to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Today I'm continuing my Harlem Renaissance poetry project with a look at photographer James Van Der Zee. (One more day to go! Woohoo!) James started fooling around with a camera at age fourteen, and he went on to become the most famous portrait photographer in Harlem. He was known for his portraits of African American New Yorkers -- both prominent people and "regular" people. Read more about James here.

Here are the poems in the series so far:

"She" after Portrait with Flowers by William Johnson
"Poems Come Lately" after Still Life with Flowers and Chair by William Johnson
"Papa with a Pipe" after Self-Portrait with Pipe by William Johnson
"A Song for Old Glory" after Lift Thy Voice and Sing by William Johnson
"Midnight Party" after Harbor Under the Midnight Sun by William Johnson
"Summersong" after Children at the Ice Cream Stand by William Johnson
"Trio" after Art Class by William Johnson

"To a Water Boy" after The Water Boy by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Storytime" after Storytime by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Sorrow" after Sorrow by Meta Warrick Fuller

"My John Henry" after When John Henry Was a Baby by Palmer Hayden

"Night Music" after Untitled by Palmer Hayden

"A (Sub)way of Looking" after The Subway, 1930 by Palmer Hayden

"Girl to Mama" after Madonna at the Stoop by Palmer Hayden

"For Love of the Game" after Checkers Game by Palmer Hayden

"The Birthday Birds of Bonaventure Island" after Birds of Isle de Bonaventure by Palmer Hayden

"Boat Dock, Early Evening" after Boats at the Dock by Palmer Hayden

"Prayer for the Berry Pickers" after Berry Pickers by Palmer Hayden

"Sometimes Books Are the Only Playground I Need" after Among Them is a Girl Reading by Palmer Hayden

"Measurements" after Octoroon Girl by Archibald Motley

"Barbeque" after Barbecue by Archibald Motley

"American Idyll, 1934" after An Idyll of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas

"The Toiler" after The Toiler by Aaron Douglas

"Let There Be Poetry" after The Creation by Aaron Douglas

"Boy with Plane" after Boy with Plane by Aaron Douglas

"To a Dancer" after Sahdji (Tribal Women) by Aaron Douglas

"For the Builders" after Building More Stately Mansions by Aaron Douglas

"This Poem is a Dream" after Aspiration by Aaron Douglas

Today's piece is a portrait of jazz pianist Hazel Scott. Isn't she beautiful? Somehow I ended up with a poem that has a title with the same amount of words as the body of the poem. :)

Hazel Scott at the Piano

her smile

a concerto

of silence

- Irene Latham

ARTSPEAK! Harlem Renaissance poem "She"

Welcome to day #28 of 2018 ARTSPEAK!, in which I am focusing on art and artists from the Harlem Renaissance. 

Before we get to today's poem, please be sure and visit Kat at Kat's Whiskers to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Today I'm continuing my Harlem Renaissance poetry project with a last look at painter William Johnson! Here is a quote I found in the book HARLEM STOMP by Laban Carrick Hill:

“My aim is to express in a natural way

what I feel both rhythmically and spiritually,

al that has been saved up in my family

of primitiveness and tradition. – William H. Johnson

Also from HARLEM STOMP:

“his work contained the Expressionist quality of broad, emotional paint strokes and bright colors that was very much informed by his exposure yo European Modernism. Many African American critics, however, were put off by his work because he seemed to them to be reinforcing cultural stereotypes of the ignorant, unskilled Negro rather than the cultured 'New Negro' they were so committed to promoting.”

Turns out that Johnson's earliest works were mostly landscapes. After traveling to Europe, Scandinavia, and North Africa during the 1930s, Johnson came back to the States with a Danish wife and a new commitment to featuring African American subjects in a simpler, folk art style. We'll stick with Johnson for the rest of the week!

Here are the poems in the series so far:

"Poems Come Lately" after Still Life with Flowers and Chair by William Johnson
"Papa with a Pipe" after Self-Portrait with Pipe by William Johnson
"A Song for Old Glory" after Lift Thy Voice and Sing by William Johnson
"Midnight Party" after Harbor Under the Midnight Sun by William Johnson
"Summersong" after Children at the Ice Cream Stand by William Johnson
"Trio" after Art Class by William Johnson

"To a Water Boy" after The Water Boy by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Storytime" after Storytime by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Sorrow" after Sorrow by Meta Warrick Fuller

"My John Henry" after When John Henry Was a Baby by Palmer Hayden

"Night Music" after Untitled by Palmer Hayden

"A (Sub)way of Looking" after The Subway, 1930 by Palmer Hayden

"Girl to Mama" after Madonna at the Stoop by Palmer Hayden

"For Love of the Game" after Checkers Game by Palmer Hayden

"The Birthday Birds of Bonaventure Island" after Birds of Isle de Bonaventure by Palmer Hayden

"Boat Dock, Early Evening" after Boats at the Dock by Palmer Hayden

"Prayer for the Berry Pickers" after Berry Pickers by Palmer Hayden

"Sometimes Books Are the Only Playground I Need" after Among Them is a Girl Reading by Palmer Hayden

"Measurements" after Octoroon Girl by Archibald Motley

"Barbeque" after Barbecue by Archibald Motley

"American Idyll, 1934" after An Idyll of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas

"The Toiler" after The Toiler by Aaron Douglas

"Let There Be Poetry" after The Creation by Aaron Douglas

"Boy with Plane" after Boy with Plane by Aaron Douglas

"To a Dancer" after Sahdji (Tribal Women) by Aaron Douglas

"For the Builders" after Building More Stately Mansions by Aaron Douglas

"This Poem is a Dream" after Aspiration by Aaron Douglas

Today's piece is called Portrait with Flowers. I was instantly drawn to the steely look in this woman's eye and wanted to say something about her. In some way she reminds me of my Grandma Oslund, who was one sharp cookie (a chemist/teacher/librarian/needle craftswoman). One might underestimate her... until you looked her in the eye. Then you knew she was something special. All that sharpness also came out of her mouth-- I have some not-so-nice memories of ways she hurt me with her words -- but these days I am more and more aware of how strong she was, and how grateful I am to have known her, and how we have this mad creativity in common... I do hope I am never as sharp-tongued as, but I also hope to be as creatively productive and active all of my days, as she was. What an inspiration!

-->

She

She keeps her feet

on the floor,

her hair slick,

hands proper –

yet her mind won't

be held by chair

table

walls.

Her heart spills

sunflowers

her lungs grow

a field of poppies.

Can't you see?

Her eyes

are caves

of diamonds.

- Irene Latham

Poetry Friday Roundup with ARTSPEAK! Harlem Renaissance "Poems Come Lately"

Hello, and Happy Poetry Friday! Roundup is here at Live Your Poem... please add your link below!

So, here we are, gathering for this last Poetry Friday of National Poetry Month... how's everyone feeling? It's been a crazy month for me with so much travel related to CAN I TOUCH YOUR HAIR?, but all good stuff, and I am proud to say I've managed to keep my poem-a-day commitment this month for ARTSPEAK!

me last week at the Langston
Hughes house in Harlem :)

Harlem Renaissance, in which I am focusing on art an artists from the Harlem Renaissance!

Of course I've had to let other things slide in order to make that happen, but isn't that the way life is? Even though I haven't been able to enjoy all the offerings this month, I have certainly reveled in the swell of enthusiasm and creativity in our community! So inspiring!! Below you will find poem #27.

Before we get to today's poem, please be sure and visit Buffy's Blog to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing! Our little Jas has certainly been adventuring this year, hasn't she? So many thanks to all this year's participants! 

Today I'm continuing my Harlem Renaissance poetry project with more from painter William Johnson. We'll be with him again tomorrow, and then I'll round out the month with photographer James Van Der Zee. That will make 6 Harlem Renaissance artists I've studied this month. I've learned a lot! Thank you, readers, for your comments and encouragement along the way. It helps so much.

Before I get to today's poem, I thought I would answer a few questions I've gotten:

How long each day to you spend writing the ARTSPEAK! poem?

I allow myself one hour to write, and one hour to get my post ready. But I do look at the next day's art as soon as I'm finished with that day's poem, so my mind can be brewing on how to address it. Mostly this has worked out well, though I did hit a wall a couple of times this month... those poems end up being the shortest!

How do you select the poems each day?

Before the month begins I populate a file with 32 images. When I am thinking about what to include, I really just go on gut reaction -- does it appeal to me? does it have a story? is it interesting/relevant to a young audience? Then I just grab them randomly, while I am in the online rabbit hole. 

When April arrives, I start with the first image and move through my file in order of acquisition. I also add two extra images, in case an image isn't speaking to me... this year I've used up one of my "extras." This year was a little different in that I decided to tackle
 each artist as a sort of sub-unit (posting each artist's work on consecutive days), so I searched the file with that artist's name and wrote on them in order of appearance.

Are you planning for these poems to be a book?

A dream of mine is to have a collection of art poems! However, this is a tough sell in today's market. I think the theme of the book would need to be really special... not sure I've happened upon that yet -- and may never! So I've let that go for now and am focused on doing something I love, which is writing poems inspired by art. (Meanwhile I do have an art poem in WORLD MAKE WAY, edited by Lee Bennett Hopkins.)  

Were you worried about writing across culture with these Harlem Renaissance poems?
Yes, and no. Not worried, exactly, but certainly mindful! When I conceived the project, I decided I would write on the themes of freedom, creativity, dreams, reawakening -- and those are universal things. As our all our human emotions. And there's so much freedom in writing art poems -- they aren't ABOUT the art, they are in response to the art. So it's a conversation.

However, I did make a word change in my "To a Dancer" poem in consideration of culture. My post sparked some conversation in a college classroom of all African-American students here in Alabama... they were concerned that I was writing with "one hand tied behind my back." TOO MUCH consideration for the reader... and that got us talking about how much the audience comes into writing. Interesting!

Which is your favorite poem so far this month?

Favorites are hard! There is one that hasn't been read by many that features a sculpture by Meta Warrick Fuller that I keep thinking about... here it is:

Now back to William Johnson! Here is a quote from William Johnson found in the book HARLEM STOMP by Laban Carrick Hill:

“My aim is to express in a natural way

what I feel both rhythmically and spiritually,

al that has been saved up in my family

of primitiveness and tradition. – William H. Johnson

Also from HARLEM STOMP:

“his work contained the Expressionist quality of broad, emotional paint strokes and bright colors that was very much informed by his exposure yo European Modernism. Many African American critics, however, were put off by his work because he seemed to them to be reinforcing cultural stereotypes of the ignorant, unskilled Negro rather than the cultured 'New Negro' they were so committed to promoting.”

Turns out that Johnson's earliest works were mostly landscapes. After traveling to Europe, Scandinavia, and North Africa during the 1930s, Johnson came back to the States with a Danish wife and a new commitment to featuring African American subjects in a simpler, folk art style. We'll stick with Johnson for the rest of the week!

Here are the poems in the series so far:

"Papa with a Pipe" after Self-Portrait with Pipe by William Johnson
"A Song for Old Glory" after Lift Thy Voice and Sing by William Johnson

"Midnight Party" after Harbor Under the Midnight Sun by William Johnson

"Summersong" after Children at the Ice Cream Stand by William Johnson

"Trio" after Art Class by William Johnson

"To a Water Boy" after The Water Boy by Meta Warrick Fuller

"Storytime" after Storytime by Meta Warrick Fuller

"Sorrow" after Sorrow by Meta Warrick Fuller

"My John Henry" after When John Henry Was a Baby by Palmer Hayden

"Night Music" after Untitled by Palmer Hayden

"A (Sub)way of Looking" after The Subway, 1930 by Palmer Hayden

"Girl to Mama" after Madonna at the Stoop by Palmer Hayden

"For Love of the Game" after Checkers Game by Palmer Hayden

"The Birthday Birds of Bonaventure Island" after Birds of Isle de Bonaventure by Palmer Hayden

"Boat Dock, Early Evening" after Boats at the Dock by Palmer Hayden

"Prayer for the Berry Pickers" after Berry Pickers by Palmer Hayden

"Sometimes Books Are the Only Playground I Need" after Among Them is a Girl Reading by Palmer Hayden

"Measurements" after Octoroon Girl by Archibald Motley

"Barbeque" after Barbecue by Archibald Motley

"American Idyll, 1934" after An Idyll of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas

"The Toiler" after The Toiler by Aaron Douglas

"Let There Be Poetry" after The Creation by Aaron Douglas

"Boy with Plane" after Boy with Plane by Aaron Douglas

"To a Dancer" after Sahdji (Tribal Women) by Aaron Douglas

"For the Builders" after Building More Stately Mansions by Aaron Douglas

"This Poem is a Dream" after Aspiration by Aaron Douglas

Today's piece is called Still Life with Chair and Flowers. I didn't know what to do with this piece! And then I had some Skype visits where I was sharing poems about imaginations and how poets play with words, and voila, I started to play! I began with a nod to a favorite poem called "From Blossoms" by Li-Young Lee, and then spun forward from there, into regret and longing. Who knew?

Poems Come Lately

from three bright blossoms

(and one already fallen)

come poems

about a (purple) chair

     death

(how long does it take to wilt?)

bees (buzz buzzing)

and the way we can share

the same small space

and still feel alone

     alone

waiting (waiting)

for fingers, (nose?) song (!)

from blossoms

come poems poems

about the fragrance of roses

we wish we had sent

                            but didn't

- Irene Latham

ARTSPEAK! Harlem Renaissance poem "Papa with a Pipe"

Welcome to day #26 of 2018 ARTSPEAK!, in which I am focusing on art and artists from the Harlem Renaissance. 

Before we get to today's poem, please be sure and visit Renee at No Water River to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Today I'm continuing my Harlem Renaissance poetry project with a look at painter William Johnson! Here is a quote I found in the book HARLEM STOMP by Laban Carrick Hill:

“My aim is to express in a natural way

what I feel both rhythmically and spiritually,

al that has been saved up in my family

of primitiveness and tradition. – William H. Johnson

Also from HARLEM STOMP:

“his work contained the Expressionist quality of broad, emotional paint strokes and bright colors that was very much informed by his exposure yo European Modernism. Many African American critics, however, were put off by his work because he seemed to them to be reinforcing cultural stereotypes of the ignorant, unskilled Negro rather than the cultured 'New Negro' they were so committed to promoting.”

Turns out that Johnson's earliest works were mostly landscapes. After traveling to Europe, Scandinavia, and North Africa during the 1930s, Johnson came back to the States with a Danish wife and a new commitment to featuring African American subjects in a simpler, folk art style. We'll stick with Johnson for the rest of the week!

Here are the poems in the series so far:

"A Song for Old Glory" after Lift Thy Voice and Sing by William Johnson
"Midnight Party" after Harbor Under the Midnight Sun by William Johnson
"Summersong" after Children at the Ice Cream Stand by William Johnson
"Trio" after Art Class by William Johnson

"To a Water Boy" after The Water Boy by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Storytime" after Storytime by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Sorrow" after Sorrow by Meta Warrick Fuller

"My John Henry" after When John Henry Was a Baby by Palmer Hayden

"Night Music" after Untitled by Palmer Hayden

"A (Sub)way of Looking" after The Subway, 1930 by Palmer Hayden

"Girl to Mama" after Madonna at the Stoop by Palmer Hayden

"For Love of the Game" after Checkers Game by Palmer Hayden

"The Birthday Birds of Bonaventure Island" after Birds of Isle de Bonaventure by Palmer Hayden

"Boat Dock, Early Evening" after Boats at the Dock by Palmer Hayden

"Prayer for the Berry Pickers" after Berry Pickers by Palmer Hayden

"Sometimes Books Are the Only Playground I Need" after Among Them is a Girl Reading by Palmer Hayden

"Measurements" after Octoroon Girl by Archibald Motley

"Barbeque" after Barbecue by Archibald Motley

"American Idyll, 1934" after An Idyll of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas

"The Toiler" after The Toiler by Aaron Douglas

"Let There Be Poetry" after The Creation by Aaron Douglas

"Boy with Plane" after Boy with Plane by Aaron Douglas

"To a Dancer" after Sahdji (Tribal Women) by Aaron Douglas

"For the Builders" after Building More Stately Mansions by Aaron Douglas

"This Poem is a Dream" after Aspiration by Aaron Douglas

Today's piece is called Self-Portrait with a Pipe. I instantly thought of my father, so my poem is about him, not Mr. Johnson. Which is perfectly fine! Art poems don't necessarily have to be about what's in the frame... the art is a jumping off place. You can take your poem anywhere! Or not: last year I wrote after a self-portrait by Vincent van Gogh, and it was actually about the artist! Here's where I landed today:

-->

Papa with a Pipe

Papa never held a paintbrush,

but he did clamp a pipe

between his teeth –

no longer my father

but a tweedy professor,

face lost in a smokecloud.

Did he ever look himself

square

in the eye?

Even at the end, he never

saw himself as I did –

soft, fragile.

But who's to say?

Perhaps I'm the one

with smoke in my eyes.

- Irene Latham

ARTSPEAK! Harlem Renaissance poem "A Song for Old Glory"

Welcome to day #25 of 2018 ARTSPEAK!, in which I am focusing on art and artists from the Harlem Renaissance. 

Before we get to today's poem, please be sure and visit Kiesha at Whispers from the Ridge to see how our Progressive Poem is progressing!

Today I'm continuing my Harlem Renaissance poetry project with a look at painter William Johnson! Here is a quote I found in the book HARLEM STOMP by Laban Carrick Hill:

“My aim is to express in a natural way

what I feel both rhythmically and spiritually,

al that has been saved up in my family

of primitiveness and tradition. – William H. Johnson

Also from HARLEM STOMP:

“his work contained the Expressionist quality of broad, emotional paint strokes and bright colors that was very much informed by his exposure yo European Modernism. Many African American critics, however, were put off by his work because he seemed to them to be reinforcing cultural stereotypes of the ignorant, unskilled Negro rather than the cultured 'New Negro' they were so committed to promoting.”

Turns out that Johnson's earliest works were mostly landscapes. After traveling to Europe, Scandinavia, and North Africa during the 1930s, Johnson came back to the States with a Danish wife and a new commitment to featuring African American subjects in a simpler, folk art style. We'll stick with Johnson for the rest of the week!

Here are the poems in the series so far:

"Midnight Party" after Harbor Under the Midnight Sun by William Johnson
"Summersong" after Children at the Ice Cream Stand by William Johnson
"Trio" after Art Class by William Johnson

"To a Water Boy" after The Water Boy by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Storytime" after Storytime by Meta Warrick Fuller
"Sorrow" after Sorrow by Meta Warrick Fuller

"My John Henry" after When John Henry Was a Baby by Palmer Hayden

"Night Music" after Untitled by Palmer Hayden

"A (Sub)way of Looking" after The Subway, 1930 by Palmer Hayden

"Girl to Mama" after Madonna at the Stoop by Palmer Hayden

"For Love of the Game" after Checkers Game by Palmer Hayden

"The Birthday Birds of Bonaventure Island" after Birds of Isle de Bonaventure by Palmer Hayden

"Boat Dock, Early Evening" after Boats at the Dock by Palmer Hayden

"Prayer for the Berry Pickers" after Berry Pickers by Palmer Hayden

"Sometimes Books Are the Only Playground I Need" after Among Them is a Girl Reading by Palmer Hayden

"Measurements" after Octoroon Girl by Archibald Motley

"Barbeque" after Barbecue by Archibald Motley

"American Idyll, 1934" after An Idyll of the Deep South by Aaron Douglas

"The Toiler" after The Toiler by Aaron Douglas

"Let There Be Poetry" after The Creation by Aaron Douglas

"Boy with Plane" after Boy with Plane by Aaron Douglas

"To a Dancer" after Sahdji (Tribal Women) by Aaron Douglas

"For the Builders" after Building More Stately Mansions by Aaron Douglas

"This Poem is a Dream" after Aspiration by Aaron Douglas

Today's piece is called Lift Up Thy Voice and Sing. It's the cover piece for this series! I learned it was brought to the White House when Clinton was President... and it's still there! Read about it here.

So I started thinking about what the painting has seen, what it would say... and then I remembered the hymn, which is so joyous and hopeful and encouraging... how to bring all of that into my poem??

AND THEN... I noticed the flag has no stars. And there's a ladder! What does this mean? What did William Johnson intend? Of course we can't know for sure, but some have suggested that he was questioning this democracy... as in freedom and justice for all? Really? So this is where I landed.

A Song for Old Glory

These red stripes

have known blood

these blue stripes, tears.

And you – yes, you!

are one of 325 million

brilliant, blazing stars.

So stop being invisible!

Lift your voice,

illuminate darkness!

Be the bird that is both

coal mine canary

and Emily's thing with feathers.

Remember: sometimes

you must climb a ladder

before you can fly.

- Irene Latham