Symmetry & Patterns

Bug has been playing with the few remaining pieces of my old Spirograph lately. His latest piece of artwork seemed a fitting submission for this week's Random Photo Challenge as the theme was symmetry & patterns.

My knitting bag called to be part of the theme as well.

What can have more symmetry and pattern than my life during ball season?

Amazingly, this week's poem came quite easily to me. That hasn't happened in a few weeks, so I am welcoming the warm feeling of creativity flowing in me again. Be sure to check out the other creative photo submissions at Photography139. Next week's theme is sure to bring a ton of interesting submissions!

Out of Focus

This week's random photo project was "Out of Focus"


I don't usually encourage Bug to cross his eyes. In fact I usually scold him for doing that very thing. How could I turn down his request to pose for this week's subject though, when he was the one that came up with the clever idea?

The poem was a little harder for me this week, as I was in a great mood, but the words that came to mind seemed so lonely & lost. You can read this week's submission at Impassioned Versifier. I encourage you to also go take a peek at this week's interesting photo submissions over at Photography139.

Frame

This week's Random Photo Challenge was "Frame". Framing is a technique where the photographer frames one object with another. I had no problem coming up with my subjects or the frame as I have long wanted a picture of the kids framed by our entertainment center doors. The biggest issue I had was the glare on the glass from the placement of the entertainment center and the unmovable lighting in my house.

The kids seemed to have fun posing for me at first but as I struggled to overcome the lighting issue the started to lose interest. Still, I think we came up with a few good shots.

This was my favorite and the one that I entered as my submission.

Below are a few of the photos that we considered.

I started on the poem early in the week because I had a feeling it would be somewhat challenging. I was pleasantly surprised when it felt finished after two evenings of working on it.

How did I incorporate the word frame into a poem you may ask? I didn't just use the word, I built the entire poem around the subject. Some of you know that Psychology has long been an interest of mine and I have often considered returning to school to formally study it. There so happens to be an accepted social concept in the science called framing.

The simplest definition I could find comes from Wikipedia:

"A frame in social theory consists of a schema of interpretation — that is, a collection of anecdotes and stereotypes—that individuals rely on to understand and respond to events. In simpler terms, a person has, through his lifetime, built a series of mental emotional filters. They use these filters to make sense of the world. The choices they then make are influenced by their frame or emotional filters."

I had fun creating a poem explaining the definition and how it relates to the individual.

You can read the poem over at my poetry blog, Impassioned Versifier. Photography139 is in the process of moving his blog over to Wordpress, so please note the new link when you follow this link to view this week's photography submissions.

Personal Challenge

Remember the photography challenge that I blogged about the other day? You may recall that at the end of that post I alluded to maybe adapting that challenge to my poetry.

In my down-time today I've been thinking about the specifics of that challenge. We all know that often life gets in the way of my writing ambitions. I can't guarantee that I will be up for the challenge every single week. Instead of issuing a challenge to all my poetically creative bloggy friends out there, I think I'm going to keep this one personal. However, if you feel the inclination or inspiration then please play along.

Every week Photography139 issues a random subject to be photographed during that week. The submissions are to be sent to him by noon on Monday. I will be (and have been) taking part in that challenge as time allows. My plan is to use those randomly generated subjects as inspiration for a short poem that I will post over at Impassioned Versifier. I will not hold myself to a strict schedule on this, though, as I remain quite busy throughout the week and may not always have the time to allow creativity. I know, I'm being rather lenient on myself here, but I strongly feel that creativity should come naturally and be inspired, not pushed.

If you want to take part please check Photography139's blog for the weekly word, then when you have posted your poem leave a comment on either of my blogs so we can see who's playing along. Most of all, have fun and enjoy the creative process!

I have already posted a poem for last week's word Soothing. My submission for this week, People, should be up shortly.

Paradoxes and Oxymorons

I was so excited to see that the latest book (Selected Poems by John Ashbery) I ordered off Amazon arrived today and only two days after I ordered it! With one kid in bed and the other soon to follow, I may actually have a small opportunity to curl up with a nice steaming cup of green tea and read until my eyes grow heavy.

Below is the video that spurred my interest in reading more of Ashbery's work. Now off to enjoy a little me time!

Poetry Month

It’s All I Have to Bring Today

It's all I have to bring today--

This, and my heart beside--

This, and my heart, and all the fields--

And all the meadows wide--

Be sure you count--

should I forget

Some one the sum could tell--

This, and my heart,

and all the Bees

Which in the Clover dwell.

~Emily Dickinson

It's no secret that I love poetry. It enlightens, inspires, dreams. In honor of National Poetry Month, I thought I would share with you one of my favorite poets.

Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was more widely known in her lifetime as a gardener rather than a poet. Less than a dozen of her 1800 poems were published during her lifetime. Rumors abound about her quiet reclusive lifestyle. Withdrawing from seminary after the deaths of her second cousin/close friend and her principal, Emily spent most of her days attending to household activities at the family homestead and corresponding with acquaintances. After her death, Emily's sister Lavinia found nearly eighteen-hundred poems locked in a chest. Lavinia became obsessed with having Emily's work published, prompting the first volume to appear four years after her sister's death.

Photo Courtesy of Emely Nilsson

Cathy Halley on Harriet (the Poetry Foundation's Blog) posted a poll today:

What stereotypes do you associate with poetry and poets?

I'm curious Dear Readers (and yes, the numbers tell me there are a few of you out there), interact, tell me your stereotypical vision of a poet.