Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Michelle at Michelle Kogan for Roundup.
I'm in with a quick kind-of-experimental latest poem in my ArtSpeak: Four Seasons series. As many of you know, van Gogh is my artist of choice. Today's piece is one he created while in the asylum, so I put it in his voice—and I tried to create something that could be read in two different ways: both as a traditional l-r poem and as 2-poems-in-1 (when read in columns). What a challenge! I'm sure I'll keep tinkering, but here's where I've landed for now.
Speaking of tinkering: so many thanks for friends sending notes after reading D-39 (and meeting tinkerer-heroine Klynt!). Truly, it means so much to hear your reactions. Mwah! Thank you so much for reading!
because— asylum walls
are grey
because I have— thorns
because
I remember Paris—
(ribbons of pink hopeful green)
is paint & brushstrokes—
Irene, I love the way you crafted your poem. It is a two-for-one surprise. I am sure that this type of poem takes patience and much reflection to make it flow smoothly. I look forward to reading "D-39".
ReplyDeleteIt's a creative idea, Irene, & "all three" read well. I like reading with the backstory & the painting especially, though. I finally got D-39, on my list next! Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteLove the back and forth and the whole!
ReplyDeleteIrene, very nice with your double poem. It is fun to read both sides and as a complete poem. I can see that must have been a challenge. "hopeful green / brushstrokes / alive" Your poem gives us a painting of words of van Gogh.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite of your assortment here is reading it left to right, because I like the bittersweet offerings it gives us, and it speaks from some of his deep despair—nice challenge, thanks Irene!
ReplyDeleteOh! I love this in all three iterations. What a challenge you set yourself and how beautifully you met it!
ReplyDeleteThis is so great. I love the ribbons of pink and hopeful green. And choosing alive.
ReplyDeleteYou are a master of craft. Oh, to have a week long workshop with you just think of how much I would learn...Consider doing this sometime. I am deep into D-39 and have trouble focusing on the plot because the language is so intriguing. (Not to mention my brain is Mayfried) I'd love to know more about your writing process.
ReplyDeleteI am looking forward to getting my copy of D-39.
ReplyDeleteYour poem works on so many levels. I loved the painting he did in the asylum. Well done, Irene.
Oh, Irene, this one really got me. I adore Van Gogh and love what you've done with this. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI love this, Irene. Your poem reminds me of a quote of Van Gogh's about turning off the inner critic. He said that to deal with the voice that says you can't make art -- "by all means... paint!"
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