Poetry and Paintings: April 2014

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Egg Gathering

Welcome to the Eleventh Edition
of Poetry and Paintings

My dear friend, Ellie Densen, sent me the following poem by Margaret Hasse, which was written in 1974. She writes in a voice described as “potent, clear-cut, honest – no posturing, no distractions. All heart and soul and care.” I thought it fitting for this season.

Benediction to Egg Gathering

I put my hand on the head

of each in my family.

I am counting fresh eggs again...

warm and whole

from the feather duster bottom

of the hen who polished the brown ones,

the white ones with yolk shining through

When you think of eggs,

do not think of chicken coops,

air grey with lung-coating dust,

do not think of supermarkets

cold storage and grade A.

Think of clover barns,

hens nesting in green-golden bales.

Think of straw basket...

not a styrofoam carton...

a basket with a cone of eggs,

warm like fresh bread,

rich like vanilla ice cream,

and nestled in a simple

blue cotton kerchief.

My friends,

I collect enough to eat and to concoct with.

.........................................

My painting related to this poem is..."Chick Reflections"

For information about the above painting and my art in general, please visit ...

KarenMeredithArt.com

I also would like to share photos of two sets of eggs recently found by Renee Thompson on her property. She is a true lover of birds and author of The Plume Hunter. Visit her blog at http://www.reneethompson.com

For your calendar....I will be having a show of my available works at the Campbell House in Southern Pines during the month of May. Let me know if you wish specific information...

or just stop by if you're in that area. 482 E Connecticut Ave.

I welcome you to sign up, below, for this occasional blog and share it with your friends who might be interested. AND I invite you to (continue) to send favorite photos you have taken and writings (inspiring, thought provoking, or humorous) to me at kmeredithart@gmail.com.

In the following section, I hope that you will add personal comments and links to your own images related to this posting. I would like to make this creatively interactive!

Thursday, April 3, 2014

Daffodils

Welcome to the Tenth Edition
of Poetry and Paintings

Yes, Spring is finally here...perhaps a little late this year...But I'm already affected by the pollen...so I know it is truly happening!

Good friend, Lila Wolff, sent me one of her favorite poems, by William Wordsworth, (1770 – 1850) an English poet who was instrumental in launching the Romantic Age in English literature.

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils.