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.

12 February 2017

Red Lineage Poems




At Poets United this week I am sharing a feature about a project by American poet and interactive artist Natasha Marin, which captured my imagination.

It is called Red Lineage. You can find out about it here, and also read her own poem which began it all. You can experience other people's contributions, both at that page and here, and you can participate yourself here. (Go to the "Explore' drop-down menu and select +Add Your Lineage.)

I wrote this Red Lineage poem some weeks ago, when I first came across the site:

My name is Redrose.
My mother's name is Soft Red.
My father's name is Lively Red.
I come from a people known for loving words.
Remember me.

(The ambiguity in the second-last line is intentional.)

Today I returned and found that she has added more spaces for us to write into, more possibilities to explore – so I created this one and participated again:

My name is Witchpoet Red.
My mother’s name is Fearful Red.
My father’s name is Remorseful Red.


I come from a people who are known for
adoration of language and delight in Nature.


After I go, I will leave my words scattered
like feathers, which may be found and kept
or be reabsorbed back into the earth.


Remember me.

(I have broken the longest lines of this into shorter ones. It seemed right to make the verse breaks, too.)

If you decide to participate, please enter your poems at the site; and if you post them to your blog, please link to the site. Natasha requested this when giving me permission to share and teach Red Lineage.





(My rose photos are to illustrate my first piece. I like photographing roses and sharing the photos on facebook with wishes for love, peace and joy for all.)

24 comments:

  1. This looks like an excellent prompt, girl. I love your poems!

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    1. I think it would be hard for anyone to write a bad one by this method!

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  2. Have shared this

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  3. Love, love, love!! Such a magnificent form, Rosemary!💘 The ambiguity that lies in your verses add to the captivating quality of the poem. Especially love; "After I go, I will leave my words scattered like feathers, which may be found and kept or be reabsorbed back into the earth" ..Beautifully executed!💘

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  4. Yes this was a delightful introduction to Red Lineage poetry. My immediate thought was; "Well why not as poetry should be explorative and fun". There is so much to find and attempt in this field and so little time!

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  5. Sounds like an interesting form...thanks for introducing it Rosemary..will check it out!

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  6. I love the idea of this Rosemary - a wonderful sharing. I wonder what I might write...
    Anna :o]

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  7. Love this... and I think I will try this....

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  8. This is really nice, Rosemary. I respect very much roses and the naming of them. My SIL's father grows them and has developed and pattened quite a few varieties. We have two very common varieties in our backyard.
    ..

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  9. How interesting and wonderful. I may try this myself. I love what you did with yours.

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  10. Oh I love your poem. What a wonderful poetic style. I might try my hand at a red poem.

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    1. I hope you do, Susie. Please add it at the site, if you do.

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  11. An interesting and mysterious prompt. I liked your poem a lot.

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  12. Interesting prompt.Too hard to access for a tech challenged dinosaur like me.....
    Like your image of leaving scattered words like feathers...better than leaving designer shoes or bad architecture:)

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  13. How wonderful! Love your photos too.

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  14. Rosemary, what a cool idea the red lineage poems are. I love yours, especially the second one, with its awesome closing lines.

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  15. The first three lines of the second poem conjure up all kinds of tales, all sorts of reasons to remember... One can't wait but wonder and wonder and wonder about the speaker and her parents, about what everything means.

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    1. I could take a leaf out of your book and expand on them, perhaps, into new poems. I always love the way you do that.

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  16. That was different and interesting. I loved this poetic style. :)

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  17. words scattered like feathers - cool poem. Red flowers are hard to photograph - you have to have the perfect light and for these images it looks like you did!

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