Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure and visit Ruth at There is no such thing as a godforsaken town for Roundup.
So many thanks to everyone for sharing their favorite women artists for this year's ArtSpeak: WOMEN. I look forward to meeting them and diving into their work!
Tuesday 2-Minute Writing Tips are BACK! I started this video series in 2023, and now I'm adding to it. You can view episode 21, "4 Traits of Successful Writers," on my YouTube channel. I welcome you to subscribe...I've got 15 or so tips in the queue and will be sharing them in the coming weeks.
Today's poem was inspired by French portrait artist Élisabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun (1780-1819). I've written after her before, back in 2017 when my focus was Portraits: "Happiness"
The piece I selected today is one of several portraits she made of her daughter Julie, titled "Julie Le Brun Looking in the Mirror." It lives at the Met. Thanks so much for reading.
To the Little Girl Who Lives in the Mirror
You have secrets.
I do too.
You only come out
when I look in.
Where do you
disappear to?
I only look in
when I feel like
I'm disappearing.
When I see you
I remember. . .
I can be my own
best friend!
I'm disappearing.
When I see you
I remember. . .
I can be my own
best friend!
- Irene Latham
The painting is such a gem, Irene, and showing what young ones think when they look & wonder is just perfect. punctuated by that last line! I hope all young ones know that! Happy Weekend!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your two-minute writing tip, Irene! Great tips, and just hearing your encouraging voice inspires me. : )
ReplyDeleteYour poem really connected with my heart, especially the "You only come out/when I look in" and the "I can be my own/best friend." I will be tracking this down next week when I am at the Met!!! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI am loving how the art inspires your poetry. Lovely portrait and poem. I got your newsletter and am enjoying the tips:)
ReplyDeleteLove that your writing tips are back! Thanks! Your sweet poem made me curious - what are the little girl's secrets and why does she sometimes feel like she is disappearing? I will be holding this one in my thoughts.
ReplyDeleteMy son told me that he mostly played by himself at school yesterday. When I asked, with some concern, how he felt about that, he said quite confidently "I wanted to! I am friends with me, too!" May we all be our own best friends! <3
ReplyDeleteWhat a great last line...fully positive and hopeful. What a wonderful portrait. And, I believe I was the first viewer of your Tuesday Tip when it came out. Thank you! It's a good bunch of tips in that video.
ReplyDeleteI love your Tuesday Tip series! Thank you for bringing them back/adding to them!
ReplyDeleteMy little girl self would love that poem, and since I am still that little girl, I love your poem, too! Wise words. Self-love is so important.