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Thursday, April 11, 2019

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "To an Olive Tree" & POETRY FRIDAY ROUNDUP

Hello and welcome to Poetry Friday Roundup! It's always an honor to host this gathering, especially during National Poetry Month! Be sure to leave your link below.

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It's been a busy month for me so far, as I'm sure it has been for all of you! I'm currently in Montgomery, Alabama, where Charles Waters and I are presenting with other fine authors at Alabama Book Festival. So I will keep my comments brief!

Have you seen the sweet book POETREE by Shauna Lavoy Reynolds, illus. by Shahrzad Maydani? A girl writes a poem to a tree... and the tree writes back!

So, when I saw which piece of art was up for me to write about today in my ARTSPEAK: Happy! series (basically I just populate a file and write on them in the order they appear in the file to save myself any angsting about which piece to write about each day!), I decided I, too, should write a poem to a tree.

 Before we get to that, click here Read why in my introductory post. Thank you so much for the comments on the series so far... you are helping me keep the happy juices flowing!

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

Today's piece is "Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun" by Vincent van Gogh.


To an Olive Tree
- after "Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun" by Vincent van Gogh

You sit squat and happy,
your gnarled branches
reaching across blazing sun,
no rain,
and herds of grazing goats.

You say, shine on me!
Come, or don't come.
Welcome.

For the hungry, you drop fruit.
For the troubled, you offer
a balm of oil.
For me, you share
a fallen twig
shaped exactly like a smile.
I spread my quilt
beneath your limbs
and rest for a while.

- Irene Latham



Be sure to visit Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!
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35 comments:

  1. KatApel - katswhiskers.wordpress.comApril 11, 2019 at 8:41 PM

    Just lovely, Irene. It captures that quietude beautifully. Poetree is such a clever title/idea. I've been following Shahrzad Maydani on insta - and really hoping I get my hands on this book. Keep spreading your happiness, Sunshine! xx

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    1. KatApel - katswhiskers.wordpress.comApril 12, 2019 at 6:07 PM

      Oops. Tell a lie, it's Shauna I'm following on Insta. #mysilly

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  2. Linda BApril 11, 2019 at 9:04 PM

    Such sunny contentment expressed by your tree, Irene. There is much we don't know, but more is being found about trees that are amazing. Of course we do know that sitting beneath a tree to rest is something very special. I do know about Poetree, but still haven't seen it yet. Thanks for hosting.

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  3. Michelle Heidenrich BarnesApril 11, 2019 at 9:15 PM

    Thanks for hosting, Irene! (I'll leave my link tomorrow when it's live.) Your poem today reminds me of a trip we took to the Hunter Valley in Australia when the kids were very young. Our cabin was nestled in an olive grove and it was, indeed, happy-making.

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  4. JoAnn Early MackenApril 11, 2019 at 9:26 PM

    Such a comforting scene in happy yellow! I would also like to rest in that shade. Hearing you read your poem is an extra treat!

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  5. Carol VarsalonaApril 11, 2019 at 9:27 PM

    Irene, thanks for hosting and for making us happy with your new project. I think your one word is just right for you. Your smile says it all for me and then I read your words,
    "For me, you share
    a fallen twig
    shaped exactly like a smile."
    I am excited to go back and read some of your Artspeak poems to make me happy tonight.

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  6. jamaApril 11, 2019 at 9:41 PM

    Another lovely poem and painting! The tree is so content and welcoming. Wish I could sit under it. I've heard good things about Poetree but haven't read it yet. Thanks for hosting and enjoy the book festival!

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  7. Little WillowApril 11, 2019 at 9:46 PM

    Thank you for hosting, and thanks for sharing!

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  8. Matt Forrest EsenwineApril 11, 2019 at 10:16 PM

    Lovely and comforting, Irene. You must be busy getting these all written...I give you a lot of credit for being so prolific, so quickly!

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  9. Robyn Hood BlackApril 11, 2019 at 10:20 PM

    How I love the acceptance offered by your olive trees! No strings, just goodness. Thank you for sharing (& I look forward to doing some blog catchup soon!!) and for hosting today, and for shining some rays on Poetree, which sounds wonderful. Enjoy the book festival & give Charles my best! XO

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  10. Alice NineApril 11, 2019 at 10:36 PM

    Thank you for hosting today, Irene. Love your olive tree poem. There is much peace in it, especially your closing lines: "I spread my quilt / beneath your limbs / and rest for a while."

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  11. Amy LVApril 11, 2019 at 11:09 PM

    There is a peace and gratitude in this poem that fills my heart. Trees do offer each of us exactly what we need, when we need it...we just need to spend time with them. Thank you for the reminder. I, too, love this new book. I shared it with some K teachers last week. Delightful! Thank you for hosting, friend. xx

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  12. Rani IyerApril 11, 2019 at 11:25 PM

    Just so lovely!

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  13. Michelle KoganApril 11, 2019 at 11:50 PM

    I'd like to rest beneath your lovely olive tree for a while–beautiful poem Irene and I so enjoyed your reading it too. Thanks also for your color-filled acrostic "How to Live Your Poem" Postcard, it brought a big dash of happiness which is lingering on! This book looks delightful–looking forward to spending time with it. Thanks for hosting and I hope your conference presentation with Charles goes well! xo

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  14. Linda MitchellApril 12, 2019 at 3:57 AM

    Good Morning, Irene! Give Charles a big hug for us and enjoy your time at the Book Festival! Thank you for hosting this week. It's a busy time for poets...isn't it great?! I love the twig shaped exactly like a smile. Such a wonderful line in your poem.
    Today I am sharing a poem from my month focus on metapoetry and results of the Poetry Pandemonium from my school. FULL results will be up as soon as I get home today.

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  15. RuthApril 12, 2019 at 4:52 AM

    Thanks so much for all these lovely happy poems, and thanks for hosting!

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  16. Heidi MordhorstApril 12, 2019 at 5:25 AM

    Here's what makes me happy: a poet sharing her happy olive tree gift in her cozy bathrobe! How could I be the only person to notice this? Maybe because I sit in my bathrobe each morning doing poetry too. Thanks for hosting, busy woman, and for the two views of poetrees.

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  17. Kimberly HutmacherApril 12, 2019 at 5:30 AM

    What a beautiful ode to a tree. I've been enjoying your "happy" poems all month. Thank you for hosting this week!

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  18. skanny17April 12, 2019 at 5:57 AM

    I love the twig in the shape of a smile! My grandgirl has recently been collecting twigs in the shape of letters "L" for her name, "T" for Tola her dog, among others. She's 3. I am SOOOO glad I watched your video today. It, like the balm that is oil from the olive tree, brings light, happy and a beautiful poem to start my day so thank you, Irene of the golden heart, the golden pen, the golden smile! Love your project. Happy Friday.

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  19. Donna SmithApril 12, 2019 at 6:00 AM

    Irene, have you noticed all the add links that are being inserted into the Linkz list?? When did this start?
    Anyway...keep happying!!

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  20. Margaret SimonApril 12, 2019 at 6:01 AM

    I love this project and your happy poet tree who is open and accepting to everyone. Thanks for all you do to promote and celebrate children's poetry.

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  21. KayApril 12, 2019 at 6:04 AM

    I'd love to spread a blanket and sit beneath your olive tree--such a happy tree, painting and poem. Thanks for bringing them all together for us to enjoy and for bringing us all together by hosting today. I'm glad to be back.

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  22. CarolApril 12, 2019 at 6:38 AM

    Thank you for hosting, Irene. I have loved this series, your poems make me happy. I especially love hearing you read them. And today I loved learning a little about your process, that you just write about whatever picture comes up. I would love to know how you chose all of these pieces of art.

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  23. Randomly ReadingApril 12, 2019 at 6:40 AM

    Thank you for hosting this week and for sharing your own poem. And I can't wait to get Poetree from the library when it comes in.

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  24. Molly HoganApril 12, 2019 at 9:11 AM

    Every time I read one of your poems this month, Irene, my spirits lift. I can't thank you enough for choosing to spread happiness. I, for one, have truly appreciated it. Today's poem is a delight, so peaceful and content. Thanks also for hosting this week and for letting me know about Poetree.

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  25. Karen Edmisten April 12, 2019 at 12:06 PM

    Yay for the serendipity of the book and the painting, Irene! I love the image of the smiling, fallen twig. This series is so lovely. Thanks for the daily dose of happiness. :)

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  26. TabathaApril 12, 2019 at 2:22 PM

    Hi Irene! Your tree seems to be happy to offer its many gifts. Wise tree! Thank you for it, and for hosting. xo

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  27. Catherine FlynnApril 12, 2019 at 4:58 PM

    This is so lovely, Irene. I want to "spread my quilt/beneath your limbs/and rest for a while" beneath those olive trees! Thank you for hosting today!

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  28. Glenda FunkApril 12, 2019 at 6:56 PM

    I associate so much w/ the olive: peace, as in offering an olive branch; complicated structure, as in the tangle of branches characteristic of the olive tree, and sacrifice, as in a biblical sense. I find your poem speaks to this in its images of nurturing: dropping fruit, for example.

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  29. RamonaApril 12, 2019 at 7:46 PM

    An olive tree takes me back to Italy. And I would love to rest under the quilt spread under your tree. Loved the recital in your beautiful turquoise robe. It's fun to see all the olive tree offers from its squat position and gnarled branches. Reminds us that we can all offer happiness to our world. Loving your poems and the art this month. Best wishes to you and Charles at the Alabama Book Festival!

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  30. CathyApril 13, 2019 at 8:14 AM

    I'm a little late to the party. How did Friday slip by? Irene, this poem brings peace and acceptance. I love the idea of sitting by a tree who has shared a branch shaped like a smile. So many beautiful words in this peaceful poem.

    Thanks for hosting!

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  31. Mrs. WymanApril 14, 2019 at 7:05 AM

    I'm not sure why, but I love that the tree offers and open invitation -- "Come, or don't come." Something about that speaks to me. I adore trees and love that they are there when I need them and there when I don't, but they are steadfast. Thanks for hosting the round up! xx Christie @ https://wonderingandwondering.wordpress.com/

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