Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit marvelous Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading for Roundup.
So here we are on the eve of National Poetry Month! April is always a busybusy month for poets, isn't it? I know many of you will be embarking upon daily poetry projects for the month—yay! My ArtSpeak project began in 2015 as a National Poetry Month daily project...and has since turned into a weekly every-month-of-the-year project. So. Much. Art! I may have written hundreds of poems inspired by art, but in many ways I still feel like I am just beginning! Always something new to learn, yes?
A few weeks ago Linda Mitchell oh so kindly sent me a picture of a light-inspired collage she created.
Isn't it gorgeous?! Linda knew I'd love it for my ArtSpeak: Light project! I was planning to save it until summer...but you know how Summer can be...she just kept calling... so much gratitude to Linda!! And to you, dear reader, for sharing this space with me!
Summer Travels North for a Season
she stridesinto darkness,
suitcase spilling
sunbeams
her sultry dress
swings warm
and wide
her smiling eyes
shake loose
every tight fist
until all that's left
is light
and more light
That first stanza pulled me right in. Your personification of summer is so beautiful and true. I can feel that suitcase spilling sunbeams and imagine summer in her swinging sultry dress. All those "s" sounds - perfect.
ReplyDeleteI too love the "suitcase spilling sunbeams", Irene, & Linda's collage fits your 'light' project wonderfully. It's very fun to think of the gift of light. Happy April!
ReplyDeleteWow, wow, wow, just lovely on both counts, both the art and the words combined. That suitcase spilling sunbeams both urges me to a.) take a vacation and b.) carry the sun with me. Love this.
ReplyDeleteOh, Summer! You and your sultry dress, waltzing in to this chilly wetness. We're ready for you! Linda's collage is all kinds of perfect!
ReplyDeleteIrene, how splendid to have a new art piece for ArtSpeak. Linda's collage artwork is so bright and lively. Mary Lee tipped me off about your poem so I quickly skipped over to your blog.
ReplyDeleteQuestion after reading the line about tight fists: Is Summer of carrying her suitcase north and spilling her sunbeams? She is quite fashionable with her sultry dress.
Oh, that Summer! She sounds like the welcome gift to the North she always is each summer. Beautiful, Irene and Linda!
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhh. All those s sounds...and then light--all light. Love this. xo
ReplyDeleteGorgeous in every way. Actually conjures internal summer, which I had lost my grip on. Linda has such a way with collage, and the way you layered on just shakes the light looser!
ReplyDeleteSuitcase full of sunbeams! What an absolute delight. Happy Poetry Month!
ReplyDeleteOh, this combo of Linda's collage and your poem is gorgeous! A beautiful collaboration.
ReplyDeleteThis is so gorgeous--both the art and the poem! Thank you, Linda and Irene!
ReplyDeleteLinda's collages are inspiring. I love the poem you wrote about sweet sunshine spilling her suitcase of sunbeams. Personification in the best light!
ReplyDeleteOh, this is just fabulous! I love how summer just swings on in, bringing light and warmth. Sort of like both you and Linda, now that I think of it!
ReplyDeleteOh how summer beckons! I love how Linda's collage shines through your words, Irene. Beautiful both. :)
ReplyDeleteI love that "suitcase spilling / sunbeams." We could use some light in the darkness here in Wisconsin. Hoping that visit starts soon!
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