My hands wished to
Draw a leaf
Not words, with a pencil
No color, just graphite
Like a "B" or "2B"
Soft, to smudge
And glide
Not scratch the paper
I was striving for lush
Instead shadows eluded me
And I got bones
A leaf skeleton
It's not really finished
But I am
Finished
With the drawing
For now
For now
The drawing is finished
But, I am not really finished
It's a leaf skeleton
I got bones
Instead of shadows
That eluded me
I was striving for lush
Not to scratch the paper
And glide, soft to smudge
Like a "B" or "2B"
No color just graphite
A pencil, not words
To draw a leaf
Like my hands wished
This is offered for Laurie's intriguing prompt at poetry jam, poetryjaam.blogspot.com, to write a poems and then rewrite it "backwards". I love cycles and refrains so I really wanted to do this. I think I like the backwards version better (figures...). Based on a true story, happened today....
Sara, I like both versions really; but I am struck, in reading other poems as well as your own, how often the message is strengthened in the backward reading. I also very much empathize with the message. I have drawn (in the past), and often what I strive for is not really accomplished....but eventually one has to declare one's drawing FINISHED. It is what it is!
ReplyDeleteHi Mary! Yes, you have to know when to say "enough" :-) For me art has become more of a meditation, and while the drawing or painting may not be exactly what I want, the process of creating it puts me in a very happy place
DeleteI have been there so often that i have learned to let the paint paint the picture or I will be unhappy because it is not what I started to paint at all
ReplyDeleteLove your poem
Hi Rae! I love your art. You are right, the pencil or paintbrush have to have their way:-) Thank you!
DeleteThis really works and the second poem is quite powerful, very well done.
ReplyDeleteHi Alan! Thank you very much, you write a very powerful poem, too :-)
DeleteA very good poem that works really well both ways. I enjoyed reading about your creative process when you drew that leaf.
ReplyDeleteHi Gabriella! Thank you, glad to share with you :-)
Deletesmiles...i like the small adjustments that you made in the mirror version....i enjoy sketching myself...a leaf has some cool textures to capture as well.....and the second one i thought brought out more emotion as well....hope you are having a great friday!
ReplyDeleteHi Brian! How cool that you sketch too--nature has always inspired me, leaves are so interesting--I tried to post the sketch, but I was using a mobile device and it didn't work--user error
Delete*wink*
ah. maybe you can work it out...would be cool to see...i will have to break out one of mine sometime too...smiles.
DeleteI don't know how to do it in Blogger, but check your Google plus--:-) Hope you do share some art soon
DeleteI have to echo everyone's sentiments, Sara... and I do think leaves are so hard to draw. I think of rubbings intsead...
ReplyDeleteHi Laurie! Ioved your poems--and you're right, leaves are hard to draw:-)
ReplyDeletethis is very cool and it works so well in both directions... drawing has something so earthy -- capturing the lines, texture, shade of something..for me it brings a kind of connection as well.. and sometimes yeah.. no color needed..
ReplyDeleteHi Claudia! I have really been enjoying your artwork. Earthy is a perfect way to describe drawing--intimate, almost like playing an instrument :-) Thank you!
DeleteHi Loredana! Thank you very much. Sometimes the artistic process is just enough :-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a curious and (I think) mischievous assignment. I loved what you did with it, though. Very creative.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Hi Cuban! It was interesting--I recommend it:-)
DeleteWhat a cool assignment! I love what you did with it. I think they're a very interesting poem when read together. :)
ReplyDeleteHi Rachel! That's an interesting thing to do--sounds a little like Lewis Carroll when I do that :-)
DeleteVery effective and well done.
ReplyDeleteHi Mad! Nice to see you :-) Thank you!
Deleteoh...:-D....thats interesting and fun....well written...
ReplyDeleteHi Sreeja! Always nice to see you--thank you!
DeleteAh... the artist is always so hard on themselves. Fun exercise this was... I like the second better as it ends with the hands - :)
ReplyDelete