I ... entered the poem of life, whose purpose is ... simply to witness the beauties of the world, to discover the many forms that love can take. (Barabara Blackman in 'Glass After Glass')

These poems are works in progress and may be updated without notice. Nevertheless copyright applies to all writings here and all photos (which are either my own or used with permission). Thank you for your comments. I read and appreciate them all, and reply here to specific points that seem to need it — or as I have the leisure. Otherwise I reciprocate by reading and commenting on your blog posts as much as possible.

3 September 2014

The Water-Colour Sketcher

for Claudia Schoenfeld

In her heart is the music of light.
She doesn't worry
about capturing the exact, neat shape
of the cup with the blue flowers;
what she wants is that blue on that white,
and the half-moon swirl of the coffee
glimpsed over the rim.
She is after the blobby orange
of a sunset sky, or a pale lemon moon
reflected in dark water. Her Eiffel Tower 
curls back into distance
like a dancer abandoned to music.
Her motorbike riders, bright red,
rush towards me out of their street
and out of her picture; I see them 
swerve to miss me.
Everything's alive,
nothing is static.
It all sings.

Written in response to a dVerse prompt and the sketches of Claudia Schoenfeld. I was inspired by all rather than one. I would call her art impressionistic, and my response is very much the impression it made on me, with details jumping out from the collective effect. A quick impression — a closer look reveals there is only one rider on that bike; but never mind, I'll stay true to the first impression.

36 comments:

  1. Beautifully, perfectly said. :)

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  2. half-moon swirl of the coffee... I'll take a cup of that... love how you captured a sense of abstract in here, just like C's sketches... smiles

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  3. So very true about Claudia's art. There is so much movement in her work, even in sketches that are of stationery objects. And, yes, a person can almost sense that motorcycle swerving!

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  4. What a perfect poetic description of Claudia's work. So Very Nice!

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  5. So perfectly true ~ I used to think that sketching should be perfectly straight or round like the real thing but it comes alive in their spontaneous brushstrokes ~

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  6. " Her Eiffel Tower
    curls back into distance
    like a dancer abandoned to music."

    It SO does! I agree - her art is "in the moment" and very invigorating.

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  7. I agree, Rosemary. 'It all sings'. I feel the same about poetry or photography. The idea is not to capture the truth but my own perception of reality, in the moment.

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  8. I adore all the colors in this poem.......love the half-moon swirl of the coffee glimpsed over the rim.....I think you have captured the feeling of Claudia's sketches very well - wonderful, Rosemary!

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  9. Exactly, that's how her art hits me too.

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  10. As, I was reading this I could visualize her art in the various lines you have truly captured her creative form within your poem..Nicely done.

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  11. everything is alive...that is a great description of her art...its not a perfect representation...but then again life is not either...but it is certainly alive....smiles....

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  12. It's a lovely thing when words and pictures dance. :)

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  13. It does all sing...I so agree. Love how that scooter has to swerve to miss you!

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  14. smiles...yes... i do not worry too much about straight lines and i love when i manage to capture the life... like we do in poetry...smiles
    thanks... smiles

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  15. beautifully captured the essence of Claudia's art that's so vibrant with life...

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  16. Yes. I think what I like the most is the sense of movement - like the dancing tower I fell in love with..

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  17. Oh! I saw that dancing tower sketch - it's so alive indeed. Smiles - good portrayal with your words.

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  18. So delighted that you all feel I convey a true sense of Claudia's art!

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  19. What a great way to convey the vivacity and colour of Claudia's 'moments of time' sketches!

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  20. An excellent take on the prompt, for your response to her art is a response to her entirety, the poet, artist, & musician--creating a personal tribute that she richly deserves versus just interpreting one piece, one aspect of it. Bravo!

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    1. Thanks, Glenn. This poem was one that 'wrote itself', but I was aware of her musicianship too of course, and afterwards was pleased to realise that was in there too.

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  21. I think you really captured the essence of Claudia's art. An impression that gives a feeling. And indeed she is full of music, poetry, talent.

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  22. Your poems is singing too and with the picture you have it perfect.

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  23. HaHa!! Yes! Alive and moving toward the viewer, right where the artist sits. Love this poem!

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  24. To me, a fellow sketcher, you have captured what it is like to be an artist/painter. We love how watercolor behaves on paper, how a brush feels in our hand. We love how many different shades of a color there are. It is a part of us, like writing and breathing, a way of expressing ourselves. Mostly we do it because we love the pleasure it gives us, but finding others appreciate it is always a plus. It comes from the same place as our poetry, our hearts and minds, imaginations.. Thanks for "music of light" and "blobby orange"....it's how you mix colors to get that special purple or green or that shadow or angle....;)

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    1. Wow, Kathy, not being watercolourist myself, it is wonderful to know that I truly 'got it'. I'm thrilled at your comment.

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  25. oh, I think you have captured the essence of all these lovely sketches and their creator quite perfectly.

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  26. Ooh, this is lovely. I like your choice to write about Claudia's work as a whole. Yes, her work is alive. And your words added life.

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  27. wow...that's a perfect picture of claudia's sketches..

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  28. Beautifully clear, vibrant images!

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  29. "Everything's alive,
    nothing is static."

    Yes, yes, yes. This is Claudia's work at its essence. Her art has a sense of movement, even her still life ones. Lovely.

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