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| Mama, me & Lynn |
Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit beautiful Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone for Roundup.
February has been full to bursting, as it usually is for me. My sister and I took our mom to Graceland, because it was on her bucket list. We had a great time singing Elvis songs and shopping thrift stores. Oh, and we rode in a pink Cadillac. :)
While in Memphis, Charles and I were notified that AFRICAN TOWN was awarded the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction! Of all the things I write, historical fiction is the genre I return to most often...AND I have always always loved reading historical fiction. I can remember going to the library as a girl and looking specifically for Scott O'Dell-winning books. So it's quite a happy thing, and we're so grateful to the committee for recognizing this story of the Clotilda shipmates' resilience, triumph, and creativity. I'm on a social media break, so special thanks to those who have reached out - it means so much! And just look at that lovely gold seal! Kossola is somewhere smiling...
Today's ArtSpeak: Light poem is inspired by a piece of art that I could just stare at for days. I love this painting by Rembrandt, and how it reminds me of Shel Silverstein's "A Light in the Attic." I played for quite a few pages before I latched on the idea of making a writer's prayer. Maybe you can relate?? Thanks so much for reading!
A Writer's Prayer
O Light, awaken my Imagination
O Courage, deliver these Words from shadow
O Fire, warm me when page goes Cold
O stairway of Hope, lead on!
- Irene Latham
Lead on, indeed! Beautiful picture of you with your mama and sister and gorgeous Rembrandt painting/poem pairing, Irene. And sandwiched between is such terrific news! Africa Town deserves all the awards and you and Charles, all the accolades. Yippee!
ReplyDeleteIrene, congratulations to you and Charles for the Scott O'Dell award. Amazing and exciting. I just ordered African Town. I can't wait to read it, as I just watched a Disney channel documentary on the Clotilda. And Graceland and that Rembrandt and your prayer, so much to love about this post!
ReplyDeleteI saw that picture and went "Is that a pink cadillac?!" Sounds like a good time. I'm going to save your Writer's Prayer! xo
ReplyDeleteAh, going to Graceland must have been so much fun, & a pink Cadillac - didn't know they were still around. How nice for you all to have that trip together! I am so happy for you & Charles to receive that Scott O'Dell honor. Congratulations, the seal is full of light, like your lovely prayer, Happy weekend, Irene!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to the prayer poem! I like how the first three lines are focused on the figure, but the last leads us off, out of the painting. Congratulations on the award! I love historical fiction too. I'm looking forward to reading your and Charles's book.
ReplyDeleteIrene, a pink Cadillac road trip-so much fun that must have been. Congratulations on Charles and your success with AfricanTown. I love historical fiction yet have not read your book yet. ArtSpeak Light poem makes a beautiful writer's prayer.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and Charles! What wonderful news! Your poem matches the picture perfectly with the figure looking like he is praying, and that stairway of Hope at the end - beautiful!
ReplyDeleteOh, I can relate to your poem! Congratulations to you and Charles. I very much enjoyed reading AfricanTown, and learned a lot!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the award! That's very cool. The writer's poem is lovely, too.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the award, Irene - it seems your writer's prayer was answered even before you wrote it. It's beautiful by the way.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the award, Irene. I recall reading Scott O'Dell's 'Island of The Blue Dolphins' to my students, as a young teacher. Your prayer for writers resonates strongly -another worthy achievement.
ReplyDeleteHoorAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! I'm so happy for you and Charles and especially Africa Town! I'm a historical fiction fan too. It's my favorite escape. This writer's prayer is so, so, so, YOU! You are a staircase for lots and lots and lots of people. Some of them/us are writers. Amen!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Shiny Gold Medal! And thank you for this painting and prayer. Both are inspirational.
ReplyDeleteI'm so, so thrilled for you and Charles! What a wonderful and well-deserved honor! Many congratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the Scott O'Dell Award. Huge and well deserved!! LOVE your writer's prayer and that Rembrandt painting. And Graceland!!! How cool!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to you and Charles for the Scott O'Dell award! Your writer's prayer in response to the painting is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSo happy for you and Charles, Irene! And art that gives us glimpses of both the light and the shadows--that's my favorite. Yes, your poem definitely speaks to me!
ReplyDeleteI am soooo happy for you and Charles to win this award--what a book you researched and stitched together from real though frayed fabrics! Your prayer makes me want to write one too--with an outdoors view.
ReplyDeleteMany Congrats on the O'Dell award to you and Charles, wonderful news!!! We all need that "O stairway of Hope, lead on, and gorgeous amber-lit Rembrandt painting, thanks Irene!
ReplyDeleteI love that your prayer poem begins each line with "O..." - it reminds me of the Psalms - "the O's and the woes" we would say. Surely Light, Courage, Fire, and Hope are among the O's we praise and pray to! Thank you, Irene.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of you with your mom and sister. What fun! And big congrats on the Scott O'Dell award! So well deserved. Your brief poem captures so much: Light, Courage, Fire, Hope ... what more does a writer want or need?
ReplyDeleteI'm stumbling over my words as I try to comment! I'm so excited for you and Charles, loved seeing you, your mom and sister with the pink Cadillac, and was deeply moved by both the painting and your poetic response. What a bright shining post!
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