Irene Latham's Blog, page 47

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Fiddle Song" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.

Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry DargerTwo Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis"When Grandma Reads" after Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt"On a June Afternoon" after Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong"On the Water" after On the Water by Mary Cassatt"Autumn Prayer" after Red Vineyard at Arles by Vincent van Gogh
"Julie Manet with Cat" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
"When a Horse Writes a Poem" after Horse Head on a Yellow Background 1953 by Fernand Leger.

Today's piece is The Fiddler by Marc Chagall. This one was a bit of a challenge for me. While fiddle music generally makes me happy, this piece could be interpreted as "blue." But this is intended to be a happy poem, so I had to abandon those blue thoughts... and it was hard! Anyhow, this is where I landed.


Fiddle Song- after "The Fiddler" by Marc Chagall
In winter the fiddlershrugs into his boots,takes to the roofto shake snow from the sky.
Soon clear melodies climb smoking chimneys.Birds waltz with steeples,and townsfolk gatherto sing along.
Nothing can cheer youlike the fiddler in winter –can you hearthat sweet fiddle song?
- Irene Latham


<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div></div>--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><br /><br /><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvADzqz038..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yvADzqz038..." width="320" /></a>Be sure to visit <a href="http://buffysilverman.com/blog/"... Blog</a> for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "When a Horse Writes a Poem"

Hello and Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Amy's continuing boy/dog poemstory at The Poem Farm for Roundup.

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.

Also, because someone asked how I select the artworks. Once I determine a theme, I start art hunting online. This year I was looking for pieces that made me smile, and I discovered quickly that many of those pieces were heavily yellow. I'm also looking for art that speaks to the child in me, as these poems are intended for a young audience.

Some sources I browse include National Museum of Art online collection, Google Arts and Culture (I particularly love their color-themed galleries), and WikiArt. I prefer to use pieces in the public domain, though occasionally I have strayed from that. My hope and my goal, of course is to someday find a publisher for some of these poems. It is a dream of mine to have an ARTSPEAK collection in the world!

So I just choose pieces until I've collected 30 or 31... and then I'm done! I really just operate on gut and don't overthink it. This annual project is all about fun and play for me.
Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry DargerTwo Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis"When Grandma Reads" after Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt"On a June Afternoon" after Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong"On the Water" after On the Water by Mary Cassatt"Autumn Prayer" after Red Vineyard at Arles by Vincent van Gogh
"Julie Manet with Cat" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir

Today's piece is "Horse Head on a Yellow Background 1953" by Fernand Leger.

When a Horse Writes a Poem - after "Horse Head on a Yellow Background 1953" by Fernand Leger
Words prance onto the page,all rhythm and grace.
That poem has ears that twitch,deepdark eyes that gaze.
Yes, there are fencesbut also open gates –
when a horse writes a poem,you can't look away.
Giddyup! the poem says.So you graze on poems all day. <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div></div>--> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i></div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dPLTdiu..." width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvADzqz038..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yvADzqz038..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to visit Heidi at <a href="http://myjuicylittleuniverse.blogspot... juicy little universe</a> for the latest line in our Progressive Poem.

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "What a Cat Needs" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.
Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry DargerTwo Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis"When Grandma Reads" after Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt"On a June Afternoon" after Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong"On the Water" after On the Water by Mary Cassatt"Autumn Prayer" after Red Vineyard at Arles by Vincent van Gogh

Today's piece is "Julie Manet with Cat" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. I love cats -- especially our cat Maggie -- so this was rather a fun poem to write.


What a Cat Needs- after "Julie Manet with Cat" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir
a nice warm lap – doesn't matter if it's bumpyor flat –
a dish of cream,a morning sunbeam.
Add a singing cricketor a high-flying bird
and you'll soon learnanother word for “happy”
is purrrrrrrrr. <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div></div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1ImTrFy..." width="560"></iframe><br /><br /> <a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvSIdaBtOf..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvSIdaBtOf..." width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br />Be sure to visit Linda at <a href="http://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blo... Word Edgewise </a>for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Autumn Prayer" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.
Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry DargerTwo Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis"When Grandma Reads" after Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt"On a June Afternoon" after Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong"On the Water" after On the Water by Mary Cassatt
Today's piece is Red Vineyard at Arles by Vincent van Gogh, the only one van Gogh sold during his lifetime!


Autumn Prayer- after “Red Vineyards of Arles” by Vincent van Gogh
God is red. God is orange.Let us thank Him for this harvest.
And for the yellow sky and sun,
for the backs that bend,the hands that give –
God bless them, every one. <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Amen<br /><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>-Irene Latham</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/J_2pkxz..." width="560"></iframe> <br /><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvSIdaBtOf..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvSIdaBtOf..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to visit Amy at <a href="http://www.poemfarm.amylv.com/"&... Poem Farm</a> for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!<br /><br />

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "On the Water" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.
Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry DargerTwo Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis"When Grandma Reads" after Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt"On a June Afternoon" after Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong
Today's piece is On the Water by Mary Cassatt.


<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div><br /><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>On the Water</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- after "On the Water 1895" by Mary Cassatt</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i></i></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">One day I asked a duck,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>How do you stay afloat?</i></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">He glided ever so close </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">and said, <i>my feathers </i></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>are like a raincoat;</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>my feet like the paddles </i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>of your rowboat.</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>Thank you,</i> I said</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">and decided if I was a duck,</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">I'd want <i>my</i>raincoat to be red –</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">not boring as today's dress,</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">which makes it seem like</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">the only thing I'm ready for</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">is bed.</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">And then I tossed </div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">that friendly little duck</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">a nice hunk of bread.<br /><br /></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i><br /><i><br /></i><i>---</i><br />So, I've been having a bit of a crisis with the videos. I'm tired of doing them and don't enjoy seeing my face! AND... the worst part: no art! So I decided to try something different. Let me know what you think!<br /><br /></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9r2PPtd..." width="560"></iframe> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RBwG26Kj2V..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RBwG26Kj2V..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to visit Carol at <a href="https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.c... LiteracyLink</a> for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "On a June Afternoon" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.

Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera
By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis
Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry Darger
Two Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis
Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh
"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis
"When Grandma Reads" after Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren by Mary Cassatt.


Today's piece is Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong. I'm a Georgia peach... born in Georgia... and I have lots of happy peachy childhood memories! Though this poem cheats a little... peach blossom season is in June, and peach picking season is in July.... so maybe this is late June, with two different varieties of peach? Thank goodness poetry allows this kind of peach-jam making! xo

On a June Afternoon
- after Pigeon on a Peach Branch by Emperor Huizong
nothing more pleasingthan a fat-feathered pigeon perched on a peach branch
nothing more sumptuous than a sun-drunk peach,cozy in its fuzzy summer sweater
nothing more invitingthan the blooming sky that asks them to rise                               and fall
<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> --> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">just for the joy of it all</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i></div><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cJ2k60d..." width="560"></iframe> <br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBwG26Kj2V..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RBwG26Kj2V..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to visit Robyn at <a href="http://www.robynhoodblack.com/blog&qu... on the Deckle Edge </a>for the latest line in our Progressive Poem! <style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br />-->

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "When Grandma Reads" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.

Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera
By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis
Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry Darger
Two Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis
Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh
"Three Black Cats" after Three Black Cats by Maud Lewis

Today's piece is "Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren" by Mary Cassatt.
When Grandma Reads
- after "Mrs. Cassatt Reading to her Grandchildren" by Mary Cassatt
Please, I sayplease don't stop!I've got to know:does the boyfind his Pop?Will the weather hold?What about the buried gold?I used to complainabout the train'sendless huff-puff-chuff,but when Grandma reads,the ride is neverlong enough. <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br />--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i></div><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UL301TA..." width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKfoN4dOA5..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CKfoN4dOA5..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to visit Christie at <a href="https://wonderingandwondering.wordpre... and Wandering</a> for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!<br /><br />

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Three Black Cats" by Irene Latham

Welcome to ARTSPEAK: Happy! my 2019 National Poetry Month poem a day project, in which I am responding to pieces of art that make me happy. Read why in my introductory post.

Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera
By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis
Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry Darger
Two Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis
Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila"To an Olive Tree" after Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun by Vincent van Gogh

Today's piece is another one by Maud Lewis called "Three Black Cats."

Three Black Cats after “Three Black Cats” by Maud Lewis
Three black catswith October eyes –they watchthey huntthey hypnotize.
I see three cats.They see me.Which of us will be first to flee?
Surprise!
Three black catswith October eyes –they rubthey purrthey harmonize.
These three catsare really angels in disguise. <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div>--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/m2UN0n_..." width="560"></iframe><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BUaxLiNqi-..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BUaxLiNqi-..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure and visit Doraine at <a href="http://dorireads.blogspot.com/"&... Reads </a>for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!</div><br /><br /><br />

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "To an Olive Tree" & POETRY FRIDAY ROUNDUP

Hello and welcome to Poetry Friday Roundup! It's always an honor to host this gathering, especially during National Poetry Month! Be sure to leave your link below.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!Click here to enter

It's been a busy month for me so far, as I'm sure it has been for all of you! I'm currently in Montgomery, Alabama, where Charles Waters and I are presenting with other fine authors at Alabama Book Festival. So I will keep my comments brief!

Have you seen the sweet book POETREE by Shauna Lavoy Reynolds, illus. by Shahrzad Maydani? A girl writes a poem to a tree... and the tree writes back!

So, when I saw which piece of art was up for me to write about today in my ARTSPEAK: Happy! series (basically I just populate a file and write on them in the order they appear in the file to save myself any angsting about which piece to write about each day!), I decided I, too, should write a poem to a tree.

 Before we get to that, click here Read why in my introductory post. Thank you so much for the comments on the series so far... you are helping me keep the happy juices flowing!

Poems so far: Girl in a Yellow Dress  after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani When the Stars Come to Town  after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh On a Golden Day in May  after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses Beach Time  after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt The Weight of Happiness  after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera
By the Sea  "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis
Sister Song  after an untitled piece by Henry Darger
Two Cows after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis
Girl in Hat  after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis Backstage  after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. "So Many Suns" after Kohbar of Mithila
Today's piece is "Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun" by Vincent van Gogh.


To an Olive Tree
- after "Olive Trees with Yellow Sky and Sun" by Vincent van Gogh

You sit squat and happy, your gnarled branchesreaching across blazing sun,no rain,and herds of grazing goats.
You say, shine on me!Come, or don't come.Welcome.
For the hungry, you drop fruit.For the troubled, you offera balm of oil.For me, you sharea fallen twigshaped exactly like a smile.I spread my quiltbeneath your limbsand rest for a while.
- Irene Latham


Be sure to visit Margaret at Reflections on the Teche for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "So Many Suns" by Irene Latham

<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ujoaDRN_wC..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="407" data-original-width="354" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ujoaDRN_wC..." width="278" /></a></div>I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "Happy." <a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... why in my introductory post.</a></div></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;">Poems so far:</div></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... in a Yellow Dress</a></i> after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani</div></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... the Stars Come to Town</a></i> after "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh</div></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... a Golden Day in May</a></i> after "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses</div></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... Time</a></i> after "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... Weight of Happiness</i></a> after "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera<br /><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... the Sea</a></i> "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis<br /><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... Song</a></i> after an untitled piece by Henry Darger<br /><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... Cows</a> </i>after "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis<br /><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... in Hat</a></i> after "Girl in Hat" by Norman Lewis</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i><a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Today's piece is after Kohbar of Mithila.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jdwl8-hkHE..." imageanchor="1" style="font-style: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="285" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jdwl8-hkHE..." width="400" /></a></div></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b><br /></b><b>So Many Suns</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>-after Kohbar of Mithila</i><br /><i><br /></i></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">So many suns -</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">more than enough</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">for everyone!</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">And fishes</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">and birds</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">and an elephant too.</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">A turtle,</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">a butterfly –</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">all for you</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">           and you</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">                 and you!</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">So many suns</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">we hold in our hearts –</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Shine!</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Glow!</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Let those suns go.</div><i><br /></i><i></i><i>- Irene Latham</i><br /><i><br /></i> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sTXf5iv..." width="560"></iframe><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Luaz9QDJW..." imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="672" height="228" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Luaz9QDJW..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to visit Dani at <a href="http://www.doingtheworkthatmatters.wo... the Work that Matters</a> for the latest in our Progressive Poem!