Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Carol at The Apples in my Orchard for Roundup.
Memorial Day weekend. How can that be?! Graduations, weddings, vacations...everyone is off and doing something! I, too, am away from my desk today, but I did want to share two things:
1. It rained last night. Hooray! My plants are looking very happy this morning. :)
Also, some lovely reviews for Some Starry Night have been coming in! Y'all, no book I've ever written has generated more personal notes, texts, and mail than this one. It makes me SO HAPPY to hear from readers how the book is impacting them. It's exactly what Emily and Vincent would have wanted. A thousand thank yous!
"A fanciful what-if that makes an unlikely relationship seem not only possible, but joyous." - Kirkus
★★★★★"Beautifully written and totally immersive, readers who adore literary and art history, romantic tragedy, and nineteenth-century Paris will adore this book. Very highly recommended." - Reader's Favorite reviews
2. This week's ArtSpeak: WOMEN poem! Art by Spanish surrealist artist Remedios Varo. This one is so up my alley... I was immediately sucked into the encounter between human and wild in this very intriguing setting... I learned the title of the piece translates to something like "playing hooky from school." This is my kind of "school!" Thanks so much for reading.
I knew you'd come, she said, eyes glittery & wet.
Owl and Fox watched from the heat
of their cozy-holes & I was tempted, but—
Let's go, I said, in a voice thick as snow.
Goodbye, compass! Goodbye, maps!
A soft wind set the treetops singing
& a current of courage sizzled my heart
open. No more pretending.
I came to the woods to vanish.
Irene, I am intrigued by your wildlife - human poem and want more...it seems there's a complete story waiting to be told there just from the first lines. Will there be more? Congratulations on the rave reviews for your book, as well.
ReplyDeleteWondrous, mysterious poem for a beautiful painting!! And congrats on all the well deserved accolades for Some Starry Night!! I want to escape to Vincent and Emily's romantic world. :)
ReplyDelete“I came to the woods to vanish” sounds like a great first line of a mystery. Congrats on all the book reviews. I can’t wait to read Some Starry Night.
ReplyDeleteWheeeeeee! Vanishing with Raven sounds absolutely perfect. Have fun!
ReplyDeleteOh the mystery and fantasy of Vanishing with Raven, delicious adventure! Loved & a current of courage sizzled my heart
ReplyDeleteopen. No more pretending. I came to the woods to vanish. Happy Memorial Day weekend, Irene!
Congratulations on the gloring reviews, Irene. Your poem in response to Remedios Varo's painting adds something extra to the image. I was particularly taken by -a current of courage sizzled my heart.
ReplyDeleteWhat a mysterious and enchanting poem from our enchantress…I've been familiar with Varo for a very long time but this painting is new to me. The Chicago Art Institute had a wonderful exhibit on her and her paintings about a year ago. Many congrats on the positive reviews!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the well-deserved praise for your amazing book, Irene! Love your poem, especially the "cozy-holes" and the line: "I came to the woods to vanish." Ah, there is such a story there! xo
ReplyDeleteNot surprised by all the wonderful praise, Irene. Congratulations! It was such a great story. I could not put it down. I am fascinated to see what art you choose each week. This one and the accompanying poem were something to relate to. Nothing I like better than being out in nature, away from it all, and "vanishing"! Have a lovely, relaxing weekend :)
ReplyDeleteIrene, congratulations my friend. I am always impressed by the finery of your skills. These lines, "A soft wind set the treetops singing/& a current of courage sizzled my heart/open", are so picturesque, great word choices. If you are interested, I have two questions for you. I would love to write a review on your new book. If so, do you have an ARC I can read? Would you be interested in sharing your peony poem from ArtSpeak 2025 to add to my Spring Seeds Grace April Padlet Gallery at padlet.com/cvarsalona/spring-seeds-grace-april-iqgitngvyfqwch7b?
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful reviews, Irene! Congratulations! Your book is on the top of my list to read once school is over. I love the art you chose for today and your poem layers in so much more! I'm intrigued by your use of the &!
ReplyDeleteMe thinks you just wrote the opening to your next novel! xo
ReplyDeleteI love the last line of your ArtSpeak poem, Irene. (Well, love the whole thing, of course. :)) And congrats on all the good news and praise that's rolling in for SOME STARRY NIGHT! Brava!
ReplyDeleteI'm in the midst of Some Starry Night and enjoying it very much, Irene. I agree that your poem holds the bones of a story. Favorite line - "a current of courage sizzled my heart"
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued by your use of the ampersand and by your line breaks! You never cease to teach me (by example) something new about poetry!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Irene. I finished your book last night. I am always amazed at your creativity.
ReplyDelete