Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Patricia at Reverie for Roundup.
Thanks to all who came out for the 8 Ways to Wake Up Your Poetry! webinar at Inked Voices. What fun!
Thanks also to Paine Elementary and Trussville Public Library for a lovely time yesterday. It's an honor to share about poetry and nonets!
Today's ArtSpeak: WOMEN features a piece from Judy Chicago's 1973 Legendary Women series. This one is titled "Marie Antoinette." Learn more about Judy Chicago's work here. Also, I did a bit of research on Marie and found a lot of good information here. I started out trying to write a short Golden Shovel using "Let them eat cake," but since that's probably myth that she even said those words, it seemed the wrong approach. I decided to dip into her childhood instead...and also added a pertinent detail from her execution (found here). Thanks so much for reading!
When You are the Fifteenth Child of an Empress
Mother doesn't always applaud
when you dance. Often
you are forgotten, left
alone. Independence is made
bearable if you have a sister
you adore. Nothing
can fill the holes inside you—
not silk, secrets, or cake.
All's fair in hate and terror. Still—
Do you want to be right,
or do you want peace?
You stamp on his foot
as you mount the guillotine.
Fascinating poem about Marie Antoinette. Enjoyed reading the backstory about her trial and execution, and didn't know anything about her childhood. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteIrene, I am so sorry that I missed your webinar. No surprise, I have heard great things!
ReplyDeleteYour poem fascinates me – to think of the downsides of being the fifth child of an empress! Eventually the whole “beheading thing” was a bit of a downer for her too. : )
Lovely, Irene. Love the stamping on the foot, a very telling detail.
ReplyDeleteI love when we can weave history into poems.
ReplyDeleteFascinating! A whole new view of Marie Antoinette. Love that stomp at the end.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the links! What an amazing amount of courage it must have taken to teach her children how to be executed. What a crowd of hate she faced. Beautiful poem that binds fact with our imagined emotion.
ReplyDeleteThank YOU for speaking to Inked Voices. I so enjoyed the tips. I'm now listening to the recording to pick up the titles I missed. I love a good reading list!
Irene, good decision to write about her childhood and that image of her stepping on the foot of her executioner is a great detail. It's neat how poetry can spark us to learn more. Like you before you wrote this beauty, I've just been off reading about Marie Antoinette.
ReplyDeleteEnding your poem on that detail is just perfect, Irene! I read a bit from the link you shared, and realized how little I know. Also, I meant to sign up and attend your webinar last week, but had a number of conflicts. I'm so sorry I missed it! Is it possible to pay late and have access to the video recording?
ReplyDeleteYour poem today hones into all of the wonderful advice you gave us all, a title that carries weight and a surprise twist at the end. I kept my notes close at hand when I wrote on Friday. I was late to the webinar and wondered if there is a video recording. I would love access to the slide deck with so many wonderful mentor texts. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteGosh, so powerful to know more of her story, Irene. No wonder...
ReplyDeleteNothing/can fill the holes inside you."
Like others, I appreciated reading more of MA's story along with your poem. Loved your Inked Voices webinar too — thanks!
ReplyDeleteThis poem is wickedly jarring as she stamps her feet at her execution. She would be fascinating to research and I'm sure you are enjoying it. I just finished The Starry Night and just loved the details you shared about each of these beloved figures who just happen to fall in love and enjoy quite a lovely romance.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Janice! Yes to MA being fascinating, and thank you so much for reading SOME STARRY NIGHT and telling me your response-- totally makes my day! xo
DeleteCatching up with whirlwind You & catching my breath at your ending line, which has a wallop. The specificity of the title leaves me head-shaking for the poor mother's, um, physicality. I remember in a great workshop with you once your suggestion to look in a d r a f t poem & perhaps showcase a line of detail in a headline. I don't know if that's what you did... but this poem is
ReplyDeletestellar. Appreciations for another superfine ART SPEAK day.