Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Carol at Beyond LiteracyLink for Roundup.
It's February! Have I mentioned before how much I love February?
Side note: I read recently that in a poll, one-third of American respondents said their LEAST favorite month was January. Maybe the after-holidays lull? The turning-of-the-calendar pressure to "do better"? The weather?
Whatever it is, yay for February. :)
Over at Smack Dab in the Middle I wrote about the not-always-popular choice to LET GO of a writing project. Letting go is hard, isn't it?
And here is a hot-off-the-press book that's a great way for readers to really get to know some of today's poets writing for children! 40 Poems for 40 Weeks. It includes lovely poems, photos, and personal notes from the poets...and word ladders! Kudos to David Harrison and Tim Rasinski for creating it. I'm honored to be included.
Today's ArtSpeak: PICASSO was inspired by a video sent to me by a friend whose two-year-old greatgrandgirl was trying on the flower girl dress she'll wear at a wedding next month. Greatgrandgirl was twirling and squealing and completely in love with the dress! And so...a flower girl poem!
Another note: this poem is a viator poem. Earlier this week I was reminded by Ruth of this February bird viator I wrote a few years ago, and I thought maybe it was time to write another one!
She carries flowers
down the bedazzled aisle—
Make way for the bride!
Her little dress twirls.
She carries flowers,
scattering smiles & laughter.
Every heart is a church,
doors flung wide.
She carries flowers.
- Irene Latham
Irene, I love this viator poem you wrote. It will become a cherished poem for the little flower girl. The artwork you found is such a dazzling one. I can see why your chose Picasso as your ArtSpeak mentor this year. Did you know that February is Loveuary on the Hallmark Channel. I am enjoying the movies produced because love should always be in the air.
ReplyDeleteIrene, would you consider placing this poem on my Heartnotes Padlet for public viewing? "Every heart is a church" is lovely.
DeleteLovely, Irene! I was a flower girl many, many years ago in a cousin's wedding. It was verrrry exciting.
ReplyDeleteHi Irene, I am amazed that even with the brief words you use, you still painted such heartfelt emotion with them. I could feel the excitement of the Greatgrandgirl and how her dress twirled. I loved "Every heart is a church, doors flung wide." Thank you for sharing. BTW- Stopped by your Art Speak! Wow! Going to have to spend some time there. It is encouraging me to get back to my recycled collage/ poetry project.
ReplyDeleteOh, "Every heart is a church"! means much when thinking of weddings, Irene. Your poem is a blessing to that little one & to our memories of others, too!
ReplyDeleteOnly you, Irene, could take the cubist child of P.P. & gentle her with your bouquet of words.
ReplyDeleteThe viator form is on my list to try. And I'm intrigued by the book title by Robin Skelton, at the link.
Am smiling with the image that adorable great-grand whirling with her flower girl fabric of magic.
Irene, thank you for the links to your previous viator poem and to the Writer's Digest article about them. I love the repetition of "She carries flowers" and the sweet "Every heart is a church". Nice connection to the artwork with this sweet topic.
ReplyDeleteThere's so much heart in this poem and it's a perfect match for the art. Like so many others, I was drawn to "Every heart is a church," and especially with the next qualifying line "doors flung wide." The viator form was new to me and its repetition works so well here. It reminds me of the exuberant spinning you described!
ReplyDeleteAdding "viator" to my list of forms. Also really loved "every heart is a church."
ReplyDeleteThanks for the new form (we traded this week!) Love the unexpected word "bedazzled"
ReplyDeleteOh, that last stanza! "Every" is one of my favorite words for poems...and this is used just perfectly. I feel the love and the spirals of the dress.
ReplyDeleteOh, the viator is new to me! I can imagine the sweet delight of this little flower girl.
ReplyDelete"Every heart is a church." Oh, the mysteries and vastness of human joy and passion. Thank you, Irene.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a new poetry form and an excellent mentor poem! (Who knew Picasso would give you a flower girl poem?!?! Surprises abound!)
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with those Americans - I'm not much of a fan of January either - bring on February, bring on the season of romance and love!
ReplyDelete