Irene Latham's Blog, page 48

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Backstage" by Irene Latham

I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "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

Today's piece is "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas. This brought me right back to my ballerina days and that anticipatory (dreadful! exciting!) moment at a recital before it was my turn to take the stage.


<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><div style="font-style: normal;"><b>Backstage</b></div><i>- after "Dancers in Green and Yellow" by Edgar Degas</i></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Legs tangled in tulle,</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">arms eager to lift</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">     swing</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">                  swoop</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">we wait for</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">that ecstatic breath of music –</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">our time</div><div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">to bloom!<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></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Qx4aRs3..." width="560"></iframe> <i></i><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PasOUhH81F..." 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/-PasOUhH81F..." width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><br />Be sure to visit <a href="https://irenelatham.blogspot.com/2019... post</a> for the Janet F.'s line in our Progressive Poem!</div><br />

THE PROGRESSIVE POEM IS HERE... with Janet F.!

Click here for today's edition of ARTSPEAK: Happy!, in which I write after a piece by Edgar Degas, about my once-upon-a-ballerina days.

And now, it is my pleasure to once again welcome Janet F. to Live Your Poem. Take it away, Janet!

     Here I am at Irene’s blog again happy to be part of Progressive Poem 2019. I so enjoy the Poetry Friday community, even if I am not always around as much as I would like. I have read and watched in eager anticipation for my line’s turn. This involves lots of wondering, planning, considering and trying out various lines. And of course some trepidation. Sound at all familiar? Will I move the poem forward enough? Give it that zing? Stick to some unknown journey’s winding path? Send us in a new direction? Add to the poetic form in development?
    Now, I do join those who may not be the most nimble when it comes to song lyrics. (Remember I am an advocate of learning poems by heart; song lyrics not so much, sadly!) Though the nostalgia of going back to songs from our own “day” (ie youth?) bring back many memories. And The Beatles rocked my teenage world for sure! (If my parents would have allowed it I would have tried to go to the Ed Sullivan show and the Shea Stadium concert!) Thankfully the internet search for lyrics can help if something does not readily pop in one’s mind. Of course there is Matt’s caveat that one need not follow suit, so that, too, added a dimension to my poetic hand and thinking. To lyric or not to lyric, to hunt in a poem or book, that is the challenge. I also love using lots of prose pieces for creating “found poems” so this does appeal, too. As I considered I thought more about form and pattern and set out to see what might work with my addition and this stanza arrangement. Rebecca has sent us off on an epic journey and we need to get going! After much contemplation and with “a little help from my friends” I add my line and send our poem off to Dani at Doing the Work that Matters!

Endless summer; I can see for miles…
Fun, fun, fun – and the whole world smiles.
No time for school- just time to play,
we swim the laughin’ sea each and every day.

You had only to rise, lean from your window,
the curtain opens on a portrait of today.
Kodachrome greens, dazzling blue,
it’s the chance of a lifetime,
make it last forever–ready? Set? Let’s Go!

Come, we’ll take a walk, the sun is shining down




Found Lines:
L1 The Who, ‘I Can See for Miles’ / The Beach Boys, ‘Endless Summer’
L2 The Beach Boys, ‘Fun, Fun, Fun’ / Dean Martin, ‘When You’re Smiling’
L3 The Jamies, ‘Summertime, Summertime’
L4 The Doors ‘Summer’s Almost Gone’/ Led Zeppelin ‘Good Times, Bad Times’
L5 Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine “You had only to rise, lean from your window,”
L6 Joni Mitchell, “Chelsea Morning”
L7 Paul Simon, “Kodachrome,” “Dazzling Blue”
L8 Dan Fogelberg, “Run for the Roses”
L9 Spice Girls, “Wannabe”/ Will Smith, “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It”
L10 The Beatles, “Good Day Sunshine”

P.S. For those who don’t know me, I am on FB as Janet Clare. Here’s what is new: I have poems in several anthologies including
Best of Today’s Little Ditty 2014-2015 from Michelle Heidenrich Barnes, Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell’s Great Morning! Poems for School Leaders to Read Aloud and the upcoming I AM SOMEONE ELSE, Poems About Pretending, Lee Bennett Hopkins’ latest anthology. I consider
coming in July!myself a Poetry Advocate and am always sharing and celebrating poetry with children and others in my community and elsewhere. Poetry is an educational dream come true. Something that I figured out rather late in my career as an elementary teacher ie year 35 which kept me teaching for an additional 7 years! And so glad I did. You can find a video on Youtube if interested in seeing Poetry on Parade in action.



Thank you, Janet! Such a pleasure to have you as part of our Progressive Poem... we're off to a great start, and I look forward to what comes next! xo

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Girl in Hat" by Irene Latham

I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "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
Today's piece is "Girl with a Yellow Hat" by Norman Lewis.


Girl in Hat
You may think I'm hiding behind my hat,but there's a reason I sit like that.I like the way the world shrinks,becomes a just-me spacewhere you can't see the feelingsas they pass across my face.So if you see me (hatted) in a crowd,remember: beneath the brim I am the sun – still shining! –and my hat is simply a passing cloud.
- Irene Latham




Be sure to visit Rebecca Herzog for the latest line in our 2019 Progressive Poem! <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div></div>

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Two Cows" by Irene Latham

I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "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

Today's piece is "2 Cows" by Maud Lewis. This one reminds me of my mom, who raised both dairy and beef cows as part of her childhood 4-H years. She lived on a citrus grove in central Florida, and she tells wonderful stories about feeding the cows grapefruit. Read on!


Two Cows
- after 2 Cows by Maud Lewis

Two cows in a pasturegrazing on grass –they lift their headswhenever we pass.They amble over.We climb the fence.We offer them ripe grapefruit,and their ears twitch-twitch.But the best partis the way their mouths squish   squirt     squish.
- Irene Latham



Be sure to visit Mary Lee at A Year of Reading for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!


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

I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "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 after "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maude Lewis

Today's piece is an untitled piece by Henry Darger. When I look at this art, I think about all the happy times I have had with my sister. I'm so grateful for her.


Sister Song- after untitled art by Henry Darger
My sister is a daffodil.She creeps up quietly, then explodes the roadside with a ROAR!
I pretend to be a butterfly –flit flut flutter fly –I am quiet, too.I find every open door.
We meet in the meadow.We play, sing, explore.Me and my sister,this daffodil I adore.
- Irene Latham




Be sure to visit Ruth at There is no such thing as a godforsaken town for the latest line in our Progressive Poem.

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ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "By the Sea"

I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "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.

Today's piece is after "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis. I first came to know of her work from watching the movie MAUDIE, which I really enjoyed. One thing I've learned about myself is that some days what I appreciate most about living on the lake is simply the view! Just driving into our driveway and looking out at the lake fills me with peace and happiness... so I decided to put that in this poem.


By the Seaafter "Coastal Scene with Gulls" by Maud Lewis
I don't need to dive into blue waters,I don't need to wing across sky.I am happy here on this quilted grasswatching the boats swim by.
- Irene Latham



Be sure to visit Tara at Going to Walden for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!
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ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "The Weight of Happiness" by Irene Latham

Happy National Poetry Month! And Happy Poetry Friday! Be sure to visit Karen Edmisten for Roundup.
I've been at Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival the past few days -- I love this conference!
I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "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
Today's piece is "Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera.

This one really draws me in... I mean, that is one big bunch of calla lilies! So beautiful, especially since we don't see the girl's face. It just feels to me like one of those overwhelming moments, and so that's where my poem went:


The Weight of Happinessafter" The Flower Seller" by Diego Rivera
And the world swarmed yellow,buzzed with the scent of homeas she fell to her knees,wanting to take it all in –the sun the sky the rain the beesher father's expectationsher mother's dreams –this day, this momentthe velvety petalspressing against her cheeksdeclaring their wild promises. <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div></div>--> <div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uQfJ5R3..." width="560"></iframe><br /><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.08in;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-p7dOUEIap6..." 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/-p7dOUEIap6..." width="320" /></a></div>Be sure to visit Linda at <a href="https://www.teacherdance.org/"&g... for today's line in our Progressive Poem!</div>

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "Beach Time" by Irene Latham

Happy National Poetry Month! I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "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.
Today's piece is "Children Playing on the Beach" by Mary Cassatt. I love Mary Cassatt's work with all it's love and tenderness toward mothers and children. And how happy is this scene, before the sand gets in the child's eyes, or someone's thirsty or gets a sunburn? :)


<!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div><br /><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><b>Beach Time</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>after “Children Playing on the Beach” by Mary Cassatt</i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">a sweet time</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">a let-sand-kiss-your-cheek time</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">so fill your bucket</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">with sunshine and salt</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">dig a little crabhole</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">skitterflap with seagulls</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">watch the waves get fat,</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">then flat –</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">and when it's time to go</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">bring a bit of seaside</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">home in your hat.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><i>- Irene Latham</i><br /><i><br /></i> <i><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xAzHdif..." width="560"></iframe> </i><br /><br /> Today is also Spiritual Journey Thursday, in which we are talking about "renewal." I think beaches are a prime place for renewal... same as above, in that their charms are most magical before the sand gets in the child's eyes, or someone's thirsty or gets a sunburn. We took a beach trip last month with two of our adult sons, and it was the perfect blend of relaxation and fun and good food. Here's my favorite picture from the trip -- a beach picture that's not a beach picture, but instead all of us watching CRAZY RICH ASIANS together:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-jnYCqp41..." imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-jnYCqp41..." width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Renewal, indeed! <a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6_F1YWI65h..." 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/-6_F1YWI65h..." width="320" /></a>Be sure to visit Jone at <a href="https://deowriter.wordpress.com/&quot... for the latest line in our Progressive Poem!

ARTSPEAK: Happy! poem "On a Golden Day in May"

Happy National Poetry Month! I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "Happy." Read why in my introductory post.

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.

Today's piece is "Checkered House" by Grandma Moses. I love the energy of this piece! So much is going on. You can tell it's just one of those happy spring days when everyone is glad to be outdoors and anything seems possible. And what does the checkered house think about all this? Well....


On a Golden Day in Mayafter “Checkered House” by Grandma Moses
People passing on the roadwave, hello hello!as spring's green envelope unfoldsto reveal fields of gold
and the checkered housewith its wide-open windowswatches them go –
because the house knowsit's sun and rain that make the gold grow,and not every dawn holds such a glow.
Time now to relax and enjoy the show.Who knows? Tomorrow mightblow in a tornado.
And if it does you'll be gladyou played this day like a piano.What are you waiting for? <!-- @page { margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } </style> </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">                                           GO!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><i>- Irene Latham</i><i></i><i></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/HuHeczE..." width="560"></iframe><br /><br /><br /> <a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GiIIZIEjbO..." 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/-GiIIZIEjbO..." width="320" /></a><br /><br /><br /> Be sure to visit <span style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-family: "georgia" , serif; font-size: 17.85px;">Kimberly @</span><a href="https://kimberlyhutmacherwrites.blogs..." rel="noopener noreferrer" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #ca2017; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17.85px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-decoration-line: none; transition: all 0.1s ease-in-out 0s;" target="_blank">KimberlyHutmacherWrites</a> for today's line in our 2019 Progressive Poem, now in progress!

ARTSPEAK: Happy! "When the Stars Come to Town" poem by Irene Latham

Happy  National Poetry Month! I'm excited to be continuing my ARTSPEAK series -- this year with poems on the theme of "Happy." Read why in my introductory post.

Girl in a Yellow Dress after "A Girl in a Yellow Dress, 1917" by Amedeo Modigliani.

Today's piece is inspired by "Cafe Terrace at Night" by Vincent van Gogh. I think I might have had Charles Ghigna's book THE NIGHT THE FOREST CAME TO TOWN in my head! I do like that this poem is round, in that it ends up with the line that started it -- all snug and happy!


When the Stars Come to Townafter “Cafe Terrace at Night” by Vincent van Gogh
When the stars come to townand the moon rises roundwe cobble down stone streetscounting the smiles we meet.
Little dogs prance,someone's playing guitar.We forget for a whileour worries, our scars –
And the world is electric,our feet step-glide-kick
as we feast on laughter – so easy, so sweet!and dance our way down the streetwhen the moon rises roundand the stars come to town.
- Irene Latham


Be sure to visit Kathryn Apel for Kat's line in our 2019 Progressive Poem, now in progress!
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