Poetry and Paintings: Garden

Showing posts with label Garden. Show all posts

Friday, January 8, 2021

Hope

By John Keats

When by my solitary hearth I sit,

When no fair dreams before my ‘mind’s eye’ flit,

And the bare heath of life presents no bloom;

Sweet Hope, ethereal balm upon me shed,

And wave thy silver pinions o’er my head …

"Around the Corner"

oil on 12x12" linen panel.

Inspired by a photo I took when visiting a Greek Island, as I turned to a light dappled and flowered corner.....

and now with a glimmer of hope for us all!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

The Garden Wall

In April of last year Barbara Foster Shutz wrote the following poem. She is a fellow Chapel Hillian and I had no idea that she had such talent!

The Garden Wall

Do Phlox feel blue to be

behind the garden wall?

Do Gunnera feel awkward,

weighted down by leaves

so large, green giants

greedy for damp space

between the dainty marigold

and its open yellow face?

Might Red Hot Pokers

frighten off the chill

of night? Could Candelabra

Primula, their separate

heads and watchful eyes,

prevent the stream

from running down the hill

and out the garden gate?

And what if Rhododendron

mastered every art,

racing at the speed of light

to breach the wall,

to conquer worlds beyond?

Would stone contain

and air confine

their lusty aims?

Let trees with all their Fibonacci

limbs and leaves reach and stretch

to offer shade outside the wall,

as roots cling firmly

to the garden soil that mothers

Violets, double Daffodils.

Lupine, dressed in multi-colored garb,

standing tall and straight,

will guard the garden wall.

When reading this I was reminded of a scene the last time I was in Switzerland. Here is my painting of "Lupines".

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

KarenMeredithArt.com

Consider stopping by a show of my entire available works at the Campbell House in Southern Pines during the month of May. The show is called "Light and Legacy" and includes Carol Owen's beautiful spirit houses.
It's a lovely time of year to explore that area!
http://www.mooreart.org/programs/visual/upcoming-art-exhibits/

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!

Friday, September 20, 2013

Arbor Gate

Welcome to the first edition of Poetry and Paintings!

I am excited to begin this adventure with you! I already have received wonderful responses to the idea. Many have submitted photos that they have taken, while some have sent poems and sayings that they have written themselves or that have certain meaning to their lives. For this first blog I have selected a poem written by my fellow NC plein air artist, Janyce Divers. The painting I created was inspired by a photo of Susan and Roy Meal's well tended garden.

Arbor Gate

by Janyce Divers

Go -- go, through the arbor gate

To ponder

The flowerful wonder.

Yes, fifty years of faithful use.

Tilled and tended with care.

Remember when it was brand new?

Romance perfumed the air,

White pickets marched in regimental rows

Protecting the newly planted.

The rose thorns pricked at fingers.

Never mind; the garden bloomed

And, soon the smaller flowers appeared

With their attendant needs

Who knew about tomato worms

Or rabbit’s twitching noses?

And, the sweaty labor it would take

To keep the small plants safe.

Tilling, tending, and learning

Came with each new season

Now prized heirlooms surround

A wooden swing, handmade.

Weathered and gray,

The beloved arbor gate has stayed

Though at times it squeaks a rusty note

And, the soft breeze hums, “Well done.”

My painted response to this poem....