Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference for Roundup.
After the (fabulous!) 4th of July festivities, it's been lovely to have a week of calm and quiet. I #amwriting, so the white space on the calendar has been especially welcome.
Today's ArtSpeak: PICASSO features another one of his I-can't-believe-that's-a-Picasso paintings, a landscape from 1928.
I tried several directions before landing here, with a personification of fog.
The poem is also a nod to Ram Dass and one of his most famous quotes, and I'm grateful to my son Daniel for gifting me the book Be Here Now a few years back. Thanks so much for reading!
Old Man Fog
here he comes
shuffling into town
rambling over trees
and cottages
softening
today's brittle edges
with his easy pace
and lingering smile
he says in his wizened voice
we are all pilgrims,
walking each other
home
- Irene Latham
I love Old Man Fog. xxxx
ReplyDeleteOld Man Fog was just here this week, ushering in some much-needed and much-celebrated summer rain. He's a very welcome friend this time of year.
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this, Irene. That Ram Dass quote, wow.
ReplyDelete(Also: that painting!!!! What?? Picasso???? He contained multitudes. )
I guess we can all imagine Picasso in many places, Irene. I'm glad to see this varied one, and love the Ram Dass quote reminder, but also love "softening/today's brittle edges"! We need that in many places!
ReplyDeleteOh, wow, I love that Picasso piece! He's always surprising me. The Ram Dass quote is sublime, and so is Old Man Fog.
ReplyDeleteThe Ram Dass quote fits perfectly in this poem. I'm surprised at the breadth of Picasso's work. I really did think it was only cubism paintings from him but I've been learning here and other places too that he was much more than that. Oh, that old man...it's nice that he can soften edges.
ReplyDeleteI love "softening / today's brittle edges"--I know that fog--and I love where your poem lands. I know what you mean about the "I-can't-believe-that's-a-Picasso" category of paintings. Ha! I'm glad to be introduced to this one.
ReplyDeleteLove this! "shuffling" and "rambling" are perfect verbs for fog.
ReplyDeleteAren't book gifts a treat that keeps giving? And your Picasso theme seems like it has also offered unexpected gifts. I like how it all came together in this shuffling, softening charmer. xo
ReplyDeleteOooh--this is an interesting Picasso. I love your language in this one: shuffling, rambling, wizened. So many lovely word choices.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm a triptych of loving-all-this, Irene - the painting, that always-perfect Ram Dass quote, and your poem! Old Man Fog is a little more rough around the edges than Sandburg's cat on its little cat feet. Great image - he visited us here this morning, too, and didn't leave until after 10.
ReplyDeleteLovely, and sits well with Picasso's airy landscape, thanks Irene!
ReplyDeleteFrom the Home of the Tardiest PF Comments Ever--
ReplyDeleteThis Old Man Fog is the friendliest I've met, softening and curtaining the edges so that we can be HERE, NOW, just helping each other get safely home. I went back and reread your PFDL column, as well--those wisdoms of yours and others don't get old, especially the question: Who did you become?
And the Old Man visited me this morning! Now I'll always think of him on these softly edged mornings!! Thanks Irene!
ReplyDeleteI grew up in the fog (a suburb of SF) so "...walking each other home" just delights.
ReplyDeleteIrene, Picasso surely was an amazing artist. I have never seen this painting so thank you for sharing it and the striking quote: “We’re all just walking each other home.”- Ram Dass The poem is filled with beautiful images, softening/today's brittle edges. I must remember these lines. ( I am sorry for being so late in responding. Each day, I try to add in just a bit more of life but it does not seem to work. So I do what I can.)
ReplyDeleteI love how this poem gently personifies fog as a wise, kind traveler—softening the world and reminding us that we’re all on a shared journey. The calm, peaceful tone feels like a comforting embrace. Beautiful tribute to Ram Dass’s wisdom. office space in gurugram for rent
ReplyDelete