ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "On a June Afternoon" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.

Poems so far:

Girl in a Yellow Dress after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani

When the Stars Come to Town after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh

On a Golden Day in May after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses

Beach Time after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt

The Weight of Happiness after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera
By the Sea "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis
Sister Song after an untitled piece by Henry Darger
Two Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis
Girl in Hat after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis

Backstage after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. 

"So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila

"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh
"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis
"When Grandma Reads" after Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt.


Today's piece is Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong. I'm a Georgia peach... born in Georgia... and I have lots of happy peachy childhood memories! Though this poem cheats a little... peach blossom season is in June, and peach picking season is in July.... so maybe this is late June, with two different varieties of peach? Thank goodness poetry allows this kind of peach-jam making! xo

On a June Afternoon

- after Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong

nothing more pleasing

than a fat-feathered pigeon

perched on a peach branch

nothing more sumptuous

than a sun-drunk peach,

cozy in its fuzzy summer sweater

nothing more inviting

than the blooming sky

that asks them to rise

                               and fall

-->

just for the joy of it all

- Irene Latham

Be sure to visit Robyn at Life on the Deckle Edge for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!
-->