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| photo by Laura Purdie Salas |
Happy Summer Solstice! I have written so many poems about summer...and no wonder. What a wonderful season. Even though I do NOT love heat or sweating or mosquitoes or poison ivy.
Charles and I had a great time at NCTE-NCTM conference in Chicago! So many thanks to all the passionate educators (Ann Marie!) and poets (Laura!) and staff who made our visit a joy. Our keynote was titled "Mistakes Are Bridges," and indeed they are. Yay!
Question for the Poetry Friday Hive: Brooke at Inked Voices has invited me to teach another Poetry webinar. Yay!!
What poetry craft topic would you most like to learn about? Beginning, Endings, and the Magical Middle? 8 Ways to Play with Poetry - structure, form, titles, setting, literary devices, white space? Revision strategies? 8 Ways to Amp Up Your Poem Fast? Crafting the Unexpected Inevitable? Or ??? I welcome your reply in comments or email: irene (at) irenelatham (dot) com. Thank you!! (and yes, I realize the number 8 came up twice there. Ha!)
This week's ArtSpeak: PICASSO is titled "Chaos Theory." It's after Las Meninas, a series of 58 paintings that Picasso painted in 1957 in an exploration of Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez. (Y'all. 58 paintings in an exploration of a single existing artwork. I LOVE that!)
Chaos theory, as I understand it, has to do with randomness and unpredictability. The example I like is the pinball machine. How there are all sort of laws about how a ball will behave, but it doesn't always do what you'd expect.
How does this apply to my life, to poetry?
I think it has to do with growing up not always feeling safe, and consequently developing a habit of looking to/inviting chaos as a means of distracting/protecting oneself from painful emotions. This poem documents a recovery of sorts.
It's also a variation of a poem I wrote in celebration of creative chaos during my "red" year called "A Dream of Red."
Essentially, I think both poems are about freedom.
Don't you love how in poetry something similar (here, red walls with randomness!) can yield such different poetic experiences? Thanks so much for reading!
Chaos Theory
chaos
dipped my fingers
in red paint,
made a canvas
of every wall
these days
when chaos calls
I may marvel—
but soon
I label the itch
an itch
and gently
shut the door
So many thoughts...and a little shock, too, to think of Serene Irene courting chaos! (Forgive me if I have built an incomplete picture of you over the years.) I also am scrabbling towards safety and freedom in my work at the moment, and I feel like I'm writing the same poem 58 times in 58 ways. The door is hanging open.
ReplyDeleteIf I had to choose, I'd vote every time for something called the Unexpected Inevitable.
Your poem matches the painting very well, Irene. So glad you will be doing another webinar for IV. Any one of your topics would be wonderful, but I would especially love revision strategies or * ways to play with poetry.
ReplyDeleteUgh. I feel like I've had a chaotic week, Irene. From canceling a volunteer experience to getting ready for the show and having it, it's been a whirlwind. I don't think I'd ever want to court chaos. I like predictability and stability too much. Although, life has served me a few curve balls, I don't consider them chaotic. I agree with Rose and would like some revision strategies. My second choice would be 8 ways to Play with Poetry. I'm happy you had a good conference. You are inspiring to many.
ReplyDeleteOh, Irene, I relate so deeply to your poem. Thanks so much for sharing that. Of the topics you listed, I'm most intrigued by "Crafting the Unexpected Inevitable."
ReplyDeleteI love how your beginning and ending work in this poem. May we all shut the door on chaos.
ReplyDeleteAs far as Inked Voices, I'd love to see a revision workshop. I can always use more tools for revision!
Oh, that ending! To be able to call out
ReplyDelete"the itch (as)
an itch
and gently (but firmly)
shut the door."
As for which of the topics...any or all. I love learning from you!
Mmm...a peek inside Serious Irene (wink-wink) --and still as much imagery and emotion as your whimsical poems. Re: the IV workshop...something with generative writing time? Maybe exploring bringing layers in to our poems? Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteAn introspective poem, short in length but possessed of great insight, Irene. Enjoyed it very much.
ReplyDeleteYour dialogue on chaos and why you welcomed it opens up different points of view in this area–intriguing. And very apt and interesting ending to your poem. "Crafting the Unexpected," piqued my interest, thanks Irene!
ReplyDeleteLife is chaotic enough without courting it! I do love the idea that "Mistakes are Bridges." What a great keynote that must have been! As far as your workshop, "Crafting the Unexpected" gets my vote.
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ReplyDeletevery nice post. my site contains some arabic poems: here.
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