Welcome to Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Mary Lee, here. Thank you, Mary Lee for hosting. She’s changed up her blog, it’s got a different face, so check it out.
I’ve taken a month off in an effort to focus on my WIP, a novel in verse. I want to share some poems at a Highlights conference in September. I’m making progress, so I thought I’d return to my blog and see what everyone else is up to and find some poetry inspiration. I hope everyone is enjoying summer.
For me it’s not summer without daisies, and with the rain and sun this past month in Syracuse, we’ve had plenty.
But one of the very best things that happened this July was the arrival of a package from Jone Rush MacCulloch, part of Tabatha’s summer poetry swap. I thought it was a book, but no. It was Jone’s artwork! I knew it was coming, but that day it was a wonderful surprise.
I apologize for the lack of clarity. It’s hard to reproduce with my I-phone. But maybe you can glimpse the whimsical feel to the collage, full of trees, birds, musical notes, the moon, and an interesting, mysterious landscape and sky. I’ve reproduced the poem, which is full of sensory images, below.
INTO THE MOONRISE
by Jone Rush MacCulloch
Robins
singing night vespers
in the trees.
Fragrant breeze
of raspberry copses
Against purple clouds
as they sail into the moonrise.
Who remembers?
I used her poem as a mentor and wrote this in response:
INTO THE SUNSET Cicada song ebbs and flows. A dog barks. Daisies dim their lights. Cone flowers darken, leaves exhale. Summer night-- nothing to do until morning. © Janice Scully 2021
Have a wonderful August. Things could be better in terms of the pandemic and we will all have to be careful and make the most of the situation. One thing I’ve done this last month is watch less news. One time hearing the important events is enough. More time for poems. It’s been a relief.
How beautiful this conversation between two poets-artists. I’m so glad you’ve taken time for your WIP. I meant to do more of that this summer. But, summer became more about people than my scribbling and I’m OK with that. I like how you’ve echoed Jone’s goodnight, sleep-tight feel in your inspired poem. Summer sweetness for sure. Happy writing!
Thank you, Linda. I felt a little guilty missing posts after doing it every week all year, but it was helpful to have a little extra time.
Jone is quite the collage artist. I love how she prints it on a plaque for you to enjoy for years to come. Both of your poems pair nicely together.
She’s amazing. And to pair such a beautiful collage with poetry–It was a wonderful gift.
Oooh. Loving the look of Jone’s gift to you. And your poetry ponderings. Lovely work, both of you. And yay you for time on the verse novel WIP. A deadline is a good thing – and so is feedback. (I spied early cover art for my new verse novel this week – and it’s rather gorgeous. Can’t wait to share it!)
Kat, I loved your trailer! I had some trouble posting on your site, and others, but hope to work that out.
I took the time off, too, Janice. How exciting to work steadily on your WIP. I love Jone’s art & those “singing night vespers” and your “daisies dim their lights” – beautiful poem sharing.
Isn’t it nice how easily one gift of art, of poetry, releases another? I like hearing that you took time off from blogging and news to focus on your WIP. Hope it’s coming right along!
Janice, Jone’s gift is a lovely, vivid and suggestive piece of artwork. Her poem pairs beautifully with the scene that lets me sail from the poem into the sky. I like how you paired her poem with one of yours that brings me back to summer in Syracuse as a child. “leaves exhale” is lovely. Both of your poems allow me to inhale summer and breathe in peaceful thoughts. Good luck with your WIP.
Janice…..hello and thank you for this lovely post. I have been away for a bit running hither and yon and it continues in the fall. I had to drop out of Highlights and am miserable about it; too many conflicting obligations and a needed vacation to schedule. I will be there in spirit. A goal is to go and unworkshop.
Your poem inspired by Jone’s beautiful collage poem and art is lovely. Into the…..is a good prompt to try out. I love her “Robins singing night vespers in the trees” lines. And your middle stanza is just lovely. Summer is going too fast for me, but there are good things all around to nurture us. Definitely the daisies and for me for the first time in several years glorious pink and violet sunpatiens….but they are thirsty things so I have to get friends to water…which is hard. And the weeds. They are gloriously green and huge. They call me. And at least they exhale.
Hi Janet! Hope you are enjoying summer. Almost over, right? Too bad you dropped out of the Highlights conference, but I know you’re busy. My best to you and your family.
Poetry Friday is where I go for inspiration, too! Jone’s word-image-art is simply fabulous. I feel lucky to have two of her plaques!
Janice, it’s good to see you today. The poem and artwork from Jone is so beautiful! I love your response, especially the daisies dimming their lights and leaves exhaling. Lovely!
I need to pay attention to the news less! I woke up from a nightmare last night and wrote two senators (not mine). Y’all’s poetic conversation is beautiful. I love the birds singing night vespers and your final stanza. I need to take “nothing to do until morning” to heart!
I am so glad you had time to work on your WIP. The first stanza of your response,
Cicada song
ebbs and flows.
A dog barks.
is beautiful.
I enjoy the way our community responds to each other.
Both of those are wonderful!
Wow, so lovely!
Two gorgeous poems!
“singing night vespers” is such a wonderful way to describe evening birdsong.
And I love how “Cicada song / ebbs and flows.” responds to that line.
Thank you for sharing these today!
(I wonder if you and I are going to be part of the same Highhlights workshop? I’m participating in one on novels in verse in September … 🙂
I’m going to the Georgia and Rebecca’s Heart of Poetry. Maybe sometime we’ll end up in the same conference. That would be nice. 🙂
That would be great! I hope you have a really rewarding workshop. Best of luck with the novel in verse.
What a gorgeous gift from Jone! And your response is every bit as beautiful. I love the ebb and flow of the cicada song, and also this line:
Daisies dim their lights.
So lovely.
And I hear you on the need for breaks from the news. I like to be up-to-date, but I can’t handle a constant stream.
What a spirit-filled enchanting poem and art from Jone! And your response with cicada’s and daisies dimming their light, all lovely!
Good luck with your novel in verse Janice, thanks!