Framing Of A Different Kind
September 3, 2018 at 5:43 pm | Posted in Considering Ideas, Poetry | Leave a commentTags: Musings, Poetry
There was an email from the Thumbing Through Blog today-a new post about a writing challenge, Beman’s Write Harder Challenge. Among other things, it mentioned poetry. Ears perked! One of the reasons I love poetry is that I can put punctuation, capitals, and whatever, wherever I want. It’s sort of like putting shapes, lines & color where needed in a painting. Here’s to the challenge, Ann Beman.
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Framing
In the window frame,
black, two panes
above the computer
the morning sky sits rectangle tall
and thick gray.
On the left, only there
is a pine cluster
thirty branches angling, curving
each less than an inch round
but flat against this light.
The black spiny silhouette
scratchy needles poking
up down sideways
quite unbalanced
all of it.
this won’t do of course
compositionally
none of it
That center vertical window bar
will have to go.
And what is the content here?
Washed-out gray is somber
no, kind of blah
yes, definitely blah
perhaps a touch of cerulean
maybe rain threatening
deep scarlet or orange
brushed over cloud edges
is called for.
Plump those clouds for definition
simplify those messy boughs,
prune, add green,
some of it.
Then as if the light changed
turning slyly back on her
she becomes the framed
limbed reflection,
looking back
into that space
observing the thoughts.
How often this reaction
adjusting visual elements
rarely seeing or accepting
what is, instead
imagining a world reorganized
to some design ideal
with artistic mind play.
That is it, always it.
Are You Well Versed?
April 15, 2013 at 10:23 am | Posted in Art Studio, Poetry | Leave a commentTags: Art, Joan Desmond poetry, National Poetry Month, Poetry
©2013, Joan Desmond, Microscopic.
We are halfway through National Poetry Month, which highlights this literary form. See also April Is Poetry Month. So have a go at it. Pull out that anthology. Read some words, maybe craft some rhyme, and verse up your month.
The wind blows the dirt
It flies in furtively
through window screens
disguised as fresh air
it scurries
over furniture
hides
under couches
I chase it down
scoop it up
and throw it
in the can
Then, once a week
it is tranported
isolated
in the back
of a white truck
twenty-five miles
or so
I take it to the dump
release it
into the landfill
and there
the wind blows the dirt
The Wind Blows the Dirt by Joan Desmond 2013
April Is Poetry Month!
April 11, 2012 at 10:12 pm | Posted in Considering Ideas, Poetry | 1 CommentTags: Academy of American Poets, evolution, Joan Desmond poetry, National Poetry Month, Poetry
Last month, March, was Youth Art Month. The Council for Art education thought of that. This month, April, is Poetry Month. Apparently this was initiated by the Academy of American Poets. It’s nice to know these things. I’m game for anything that spotlights and awakens the various creative muses. For poetry month I’ve been spurred by two friends and their insistent daily output so I’m at the keyboard composing Day Poems, that is, something every day, mostly, to keep up.
I’m sharing two poems-one old, one new, the first kind of cheeky, fun and an old favorite, the second one reflective. Let me know what you think.
Squishy white bread
Squishy white bread
is not good for me
but feels fine sandwiched in my fingers
especially with sticky peanut butter
wedged into the fold of it
next to some real butter
not good either
So full of Wonder when I was nine
at such a find
coming from Holland
with the heavy whole wheats
and dark hearty ryes
one piece would fortify all day
In Cincinnati it took 8 slices
of the white stuff
to weigh down the stomach
But what squeezy fun
those white bread balls for creek fishing
or sculpted into ammo
to lob at the American kids.
Joan Desmond 2/24/00
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Evolution
Imagine
an endless space
and that your fingers
can touch infinite length
Visualize each possible answer
knowing your mind
can answer all questions
Think of every conceivable color
understanding their ultimate harmony
Hear all possible sounds
familiar with each vibration
Consider every possible number
as you
remember all the sequences
and that this is your destiny
this is who you really are
endless, infinite
touching forever and all
so much more than
“me, me, me” and “I”
Joan Desmond 4/11/12
Women’s Creativity and the Midsummer Moon Art Celebration
July 5, 2009 at 12:57 pm | Posted in Art Exhibitions, Art Studio, Considering Ideas | 1 CommentTags: Ankhet, CREATIVITY, dance, drum circle, drumming, Exhibition, Midsummer Moon Art Celebration, music, Out Of The Question, painting, Photography, Poetry, rhythm, short story, Summer Solstice, Tribal Moon Rising, tribal style dance, women artists
photo by Sherry Gaskin
From the “make art” table. One little girl’s version of a prayer flag, sending a positive message out on the breeze.
What have I been up to lately?
Several months back, my friend Elaine across the lake, had a terrific idea about assembling an event celebrating local women artists, and hosting it in her backyard at the time of the Summer Solstice.
Getting involved would distract me from immersion in studio work, but it sounded SO RIGHT, particularly at this point in time, when so much is doom and gloom, and people are holding back. This is exactly when we need to brainstorm, and realize that we possess many resources for creating new directions. Also, it would create a fine venue for art display, which is always welcome, so I committed to the idea.
We discussed the artists we knew. There’s an incredible wealth of female talent in this community in the Fine Arts. Besides, we could identify many cool ladies who would attend and enjoy such an event. As individual artists’ names came up, it was apparent that this could be expanded to include singing, dancing, and poetry, in addition to visual art, creating a balanced day of the arts. This also meant being selective about participants, keeping physical space and time in mind.
From experience, I know that a select group of women can produce a supportive, encouraging, co-operative, and inspiring atmosphere. That was the intent behind the Celebration, and that attitude carried through all the planning.
Color framed the day, heavy on burgundy and reds, as reflected by the postcard invite.
photo by Sherry Gaskin
Out Of The Question kicked off the festivities.
Music was by the group Out Of The Question, with Pat Seamount, Katharine Edmonson, and Kris Wilber. What’s more, most attendees contributed their music during a later percussion fest.
photo by Ellen Schafhauser
Keeping the beat with gourd shakers. In the background, art displays line the entry.
Visual Artists participating were Eve Laeger-watercolor, Sherry Gaskin-photography, Elaine Shrader-painting, Ellen Schafhauser-photography, Katharine Edmonson-assemblage, Pat Seamount-painting, Marjorie Carroll-sculpture, and myself.
photo by Sherry Gaskin
Jill shares her short stories
Ann Beman with a poetry workshop, and Jill Sloan reading her short stories represented literature.
photo by Sherry Gaskin
Ann drums everyone in for the poetry workshop.
photo by Ellen Schafhauser
That’s me introducing drummin’ fun.
photo by Ellen Schafhauser
Friends Hannah and Emma collaborate on a frame drum.
photo by Sherry Gaskin
Graceful Heather from Tribal Moon Rising
There were many attendees, a number of which had only planned to drop in for a bit but then got caught up in the flow and stayed all day. Day flowed into the evening with individual dance performances by Pamela, Marluna, Ankhet; and members of the troupe Tribal Moon Rising– Heather, Melynie, and Kristie. The grand finale was everyone on their feet dancing, celebrating our common abilities and potential.
The June 26th issue of the Kern River Courier, page 12, has a lovely article by columnist Donna Fitch, about the Celebration, titled Show fetes Midsummer Moon Art
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