So far Agnes and I have been having a lovely time celebrating Octopus Month! Please don't miss earlier posts this week:
"Octopus" by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater
The Great Southeastern Octopus Tour
"Thirty-two Tentacles" by Michele Krueger (and learn how octopuses don't actually have tentacles...)
and Octopus Month Padlet, where I'll be rounding up various octopus links all month long.
Today Tabatha is in the house... er, ocean? Anyhow, she's here! And this is her artsy octopus creation:
Mademoiselle Squirtensia
("Squirty" for short)
Here's Tabatha to introduce her properly:
"I looove beautiful paper! So I raided my stash to make an octopus collage and voilĂ , Mademoiselle Squirtensia. I think her head was actually made from a photo of a pincushion! Some of her limbs are from images of quilts. She is a softie :-)"
... and here's Tabatha on how she came to write the following poem:
"I was inspired by reading that octopi can always tell which way is up & they are able to sense octopus skin, so their suction cups don't stick to their own arms."
Enjoy!
recognition
by Tabatha Yeatts
in an octopus world, gravity
holds you like a hammock,
swaying upright, but nothing
keeps your feet on the ground
you can feel your many arms
stretch wide, taste your world
with delicate hands that
can dance around each other
without ever tangling,
never adhering, never
sinking your stride
by mistaking friend for foe.
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Don't you just love that first phrase "in an octopus world"? I do, I do! And lo, a "mistake" in the last line... that's our IMPERFECT editor, all right. :) Thank you, Tabatha and Squirty for joining the LOVE, AGNES celebration! I'm excited for next week's lineup!
I'm really enjoying these octopus poems, Irene! Have a happy Friday!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Tabatha! You must have a gear stash of papers if your Squirtensia is any indication.
ReplyDeleteOh, I do love that mistake slipping into the last line. I do love the poem, fullstop. And congratulations on your new book, Irene. I have been heads down, tail up, writing, so have missed all the excitement! xo
ReplyDeleteLove this "Squirty", poem & picture, Tabatha. It is rather amazing that "without ever tangling,
ReplyDeletenever adhering, never
sinking" It's going to be a fun month, Irene!
Wonderful combination of art and poetry! Fun!
ReplyDeleteOh, such fun!
ReplyDeleteOh, love Squirty and "recognition"!
ReplyDeleteThis is really neat - and what a great piece of artwork to go along!
ReplyDeleteHow adorable "Mademoiselle Squirty" is, and her accompanying poem touché for Squirty, Tabatha, and Irene, and of Course "Love Agnes" too! xo
ReplyDeleteOh that’s perfect! Ms Squirty is adorable. I’ve been paper crafting lately too. I need to learn a few things from Tabatha...in addition to poetry. Although I do love the lines about never tangling.
ReplyDeleteOh Squirtensia--she's a cutie. Love the ocean view of gravity as a hammock.
ReplyDeleteSquirtensia is completely charming! I am learning so much about octopuses from these poems and posts! I love Tabatha's image of her arms dancing "around each other."
ReplyDeleteI've often felt that the intelligent, wonderful octopus doesn't nearly get enough attention, given how fascinating a creature they are! How lovely to see them finally having their moment in the sun!
ReplyDeleteSquirty and I thank you for all your comments! Octopuses are terrific subject matter. Aspirational, even! xo
ReplyDeleteSquirty and the poem she inspired is quite a delight!
ReplyDeleteLove the poem, Tabatha!
ReplyDeleteOctopuses are so amazing! I love the poem and the picture of Squirtensia (what a great name, too!)
ReplyDelete