The deep eye in the well stares up without blinking even once.
Is it made of water? Like the
water, it reflects the sky.
I believe it accuses me, but it may be indifferent.
I believe it accuses me, but it may be indifferent.
The Sages Speak
We are mountains. You see us that way, for we are very still.
And we have wisdom, acquired and
stored over many centuries.
This bustling angel, all light and
movement, brings us a message.
You would see the angel as a cloud
with stormy edges.
The whole world is alive in many
ways you do not perceive.
The Angel comes from God. You too could hear if you stilled and listened.
Prompt 16 for 'Poems in April' at 'imaginary garden with real toads' is to be inspired by a piece of visionary art. I am a visionary artist — although only as a hobbyist, not of the calibre to be exhibited; and it's years since I did anything major in that line. I thought it would be fun to write to my own art works. I chose pieces I haven't looked at for a long time so that my response would be fresh. They are chalk pastels, done approx. 1989.
I had the notion that the Korean form, sijo, would work well for this prompt, so that is what I've used. The second poem is a double sijo.
Oh those suspicious eyes! And sages as mountains. Everything being alive has its eerie sides as well as its magic!Together these two poems make that clear.Fun art too!
ReplyDeleteBravo! I just love your artwork! The accusing eye and the sage mountains just explode with imagery! I will now go look up sijo, as I can't remember the form! Thanks for participating in the challenge with your own vision!
ReplyDeleteOh, should have put a link to sijo; have now. Thanks for the enthusiasm! :).
DeleteLovely imagery.....! :D
ReplyDeleteYou have done beautifully with this prompt..! Loved it :D
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead :D
xoxo
Wonderful, Rosemary. I love seeing your art and the poems inspired by them are wonderful. Intriguing form, the sijo. I love the poem of the sages best - sages as mountains and the appearance of angels as clouds with stormy edges. I especially resonate with "The whole world is alive in many ways you do not perceive." Music to my ears. I love this post!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures and poetry.
ReplyDelete"I believe it accuses me, but it may be indifferent." - my favourite line. :)
Beautiful and imaginative work here. I love "You would see the angel as a cloud with stormy edges.
ReplyDeleteThe whole world is alive in many ways you do not perceive.
The Angel comes from God. You too could hear if you stilled and listened."
your art and your poems both lovely, thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletemuch love...
Wow! Your visual and poetic art are beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteI like your reflection. Your eye might be indifferent. Ha
ReplyDeleteWater accusing...yes, possibly...I think it very well could be. Sigh. I like what you shared here...images and words.
ReplyDeleteI finally thought to put a note about the medium and approximate date of the drawings. I am so glad people like them. My teacher used to tell me I shouldn't be ashamed of my work, and I have finally got brave enough to share it more widely.
ReplyDeleteOh I love that accusatory eye... and yes the sijo seems to me an excellent tool to do this...
ReplyDeleteLove your work much! Pondering too about no blinking eye and still mountains/sages...very wise and art - charming! thank you for sharing, Rosemary.x
ReplyDeleteSo, beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThe eye that reflects the sky, and the speaker's worry that the eye (or what it reflects) might be indifferent to his or her existence... quite intriguing.
ReplyDeleteWonderful poems, and art work. I like your style and subjects.
ReplyDeleteWonderful, Rosemary. I like the eye, it seems hard to figure. It looks like the look my dog, Adi, would have when she was being dreamy. Not asleep, her mind working hard digesting something of the day, and almost asleep.
ReplyDeleteI also like the sijo and might try it sometime. The longer lines might be a challenge to not run on. I seem to migrate to seven, eight, or nine syllable lines. Seems to me the sijo is 15 syllables, it might be 15, 15, 16? I will look it up when it seems right to write one. Or a double or triple. I really got long winded today, I started last night and finished twenty minutes before midnight. Sorry to be so late here.
..
14-16, Jim, and a few other rules as well.
DeleteRosemary, these are wonderful words and images. I frustrates me that you are so dismissive of your talents though.
ReplyDeleteDear Mary, thank you for saying so. I'll bear it in mind! I recall that my art teacher would have taken me task for it too..
DeleteVisionary indeed--love the form, and the insights these drawings inspired.
ReplyDeletea stillness to these, indeed. well penned ~
ReplyDelete