Conception (Reprise)
1
imagine
growing roots into
fertile ground
fertile ground
the protective cloak
of the earth
of the earth
talking to the moon
with stillness
with stillness
welcome the new year
imagine
2
always, earth
transitioning—life
rearranged
into new
patterns—open your arms wide–
inhale, welcoming
For Frank Tassone’s #haikai challenge for the New Year, and Colleen’s #tanka Tuesday challenge to write a poem of hope, I’ve written two variations of the same idea, and reprised a collage I did for an earlier #tanka Tuesday in 2019.
Colleen asked us to use our favorite form of poetry and to tell why we like it. Of course I love pantoums and all repetitive poetry, and I often write using Japanese poetic forms, but I most often write in shadorma. Somehow its rhythm and length work well with the way I express my thoughts, and when I’m stuck, it works to focus me, making me consider the exact words I’m using and why.
I used the haiku form of the first poem, with the repeating lines, in a post on kblog, but couldn’t remember where I had seen it. I’ve since discovered it is called Shi Rensa, and it was invented by Ronovan, who has his own haiku and decima challenges at RonovanWrites.
Postcards from Kerfe
My friend Kerfe has kept me inspired this crazy year with these postcards. Today I decided to share them.
Thank you, Kerfe, for your years of friendship and encouragement. And to all our WordPress friends, happy 2021!
Rejects
These rocks may look okay but they are a fail for me. 1. I spackled too heavily in the hopes I could sand them down better. It didn’t work well. 2. Painted the first coat in Ivory Black. It doesn’t work. Sanded and repainted in Jet Black but too late: lumpy and crackly. 3. I don’t plan the color palate, just go by instinct. These are way too Easter-eggy.
I’m not discouraged but I am starting to run out of rocks. I’ll have to collect some of the ruined ones around the ‘hood and redo them.
Last Monday of 2020. Hoping like everyone else in the world for better year.
Traditions
cookies
tree lights sparkling
music and kitchen cheer
exchanging gifts of Love Actu
ally
Colleen’s challenge this week was to write a cinquain reflecting our Christmas traditions. A tree with lights, music, cooking (especially those cookies!) and watching “Love Actually”–my daughters and I were lucky enough to share all these again this year.
I hope everyone separated from family and friends for this holiday season will be able to celebrate being together soon.
The Kick-About #17 ‘Andante quasi lento e contabile’ – Hely-Hutchinson
Some seasonal offerings…enjoy!
This week, the woods remain lovely, dark and deep, as dreams of snow and ice continue to characterise this suitably festive Kick-About, with new works inspired by the third slow movement from Hely-Hutchinson’s 1927 A Carol Symphony. The Kick-About has been running for thirty-four weeks and was started, in part, as a response to the first lock-down. Throughout this time, our fortnightly shindigs have been a constant source of anticipation, comfort and satisfaction and I just wanted to say a big thank you to all my fellow kick-abouters for your creativity, conversation and always, the surprises. A big thank you too to all those who comment, who participate, who browse, and who share. Now go have yourselves a very merry Christmas!
Marion Raper
“This painting isn’t what I had intended – but then again what is these days! In my mind I had envisaged carol singers and a…
View original post 1,772 more words
Some weekend work 12/21/20
Three more finished rocks. These will go out this week as holiday greetings. I’m doing three at a time: spackling, sanding and painting.
A young (12 year old) friend asked me a while ago to illustrate his book. I finally sat down this weekend and tried my best. The book is a fanciful story about a magic porthole, giants and fairies. I hope he likes some of these.
It should be a nice easy week-I’m only working today and tomorrow, off the rest of the week. Have a good week before Christmas-and a lovely and peaceful Christmas Day. Nina.
reflections
ancestors speak in voices
carried by skies singing wings
Colleen’s #TankaTuesday prompt was the watercolor, above. She also challenged us to write a wakiku–two seven-syllable lines that some how connect with the hokku she wrote to accompany the painting. You can read Colleen’s poem here.
The Ekphrastic World Anthology 2020
I have 3 pieces in The Ekphrastic Review Anthology.
Here it is, at last! Our first anthology!
Our goal is to make The Ekphrastic Review and this ebook anthology of talent go viral. Will you help? Please share this free book with your holiday list, on your Facebook pages, on Twitter, Youtube, in your writing groups, with your students, on your website, everywhere!
This anthology celebrates five years of The Ekphrastic Review. Thank you to all of our writers and readers for making this amazing journal and community possible!
Gift from Nina
Nina painted me this beautiful rock as a holiday gift.
It looks great on the window sill next to my advent calendar which is filling its winter landscape in nicely.
Thanks Nina!
Weekend stuff
I did a bit of painting and messing around this weekend.
I’m doing some rocks to give instead of cards. These three are done and will be delivered this week.
I glued an embroidered flower onto a rock.
Have a good week! Nina
method two madness 
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