Amsterdam Night

Amsterdam Night, originally uploaded by michaelevans60.

Inspired to write this poem - trying to keep it simple, story based and with a bit of rhythm. Written in a few minutes and probably due a lot of analysis and adaptation - but until then, enjoy...

A cold evening stroll through Amsterdam:

Thin woolen gloves worn tightly are slightly inadequate
The reflecting golden lights more than make up for it
Empty back streets add an eery atmosphere
The cosy brown pubs must be where
Tourists and locals are holed up for the night
Missing, yet assisting, a peaceful shimmering sight!

Compilation from photo titles

After uploading the latest batch of photos (from Salzburg: 24-25th Oct 08) I realised that a lot of the titles had a poetic feel. So I collated them all and put them into verses. No real rhyme or reason - just a compilation of photo titles from Salzburg ...

Hazy wintery spindly sigh
Peeping through the trees
For a sweet kiss goodnigh’
Casting a quiet silhouette
A dove-like cloud
Dances in the sunset

Stepping out of the shadows, into the light
So much to take in, too stunned to blink.
A soulful sigh rose to the sky

Seeking answers from above
The fog rises ....briefly
Glowing with the beauty of love
Accepting the accolades accordingly

Sunlight dances in his wake
Sparkling brilliance
Bursting with joyfulness
Brimming with a particular essence
Reflecting in the stillness

I heart NYC

4th - 11th October 2008 - holiday to New York. Spent an afternoon in Central Park and composed a poem of observations.

Challenged myself to stick to a formula with each verse (so each has four lines, the first line of each has got 15 syllables, the next with 17, the third with a different rhyme and 5 syllables and the last with 11 syllables). No reason to this pattern, other than it seemed to flow nicely.

Selection of photos are in USA set in Flickr


Is it really possible to fall in love with a city?
I ponder this, lying in the patchy shade of a Central Park tree.
Time stands still … until
The cool shade of the next tree envelops me.

Skyscrapers reflect each other’s architectural beauty
Promises of dreams come true, assured by the Statue of Liberty
Sights evolve … dissolve
Iconic images, locked in memory

Squirrels rummage freely, acting all cute and ‘squirrely’
Couples stroll by, holding hands or sit down together all ‘coupley’
Smells are clean and green
No pong or blaring hype of Abercrombie

The Apple store - a favourite hang out - use the net for free
A recession darling? 5th Avenue will always have Tiffany’s!
Sounds cascade … then fade,
A horse drawn carriage passes occasionally

Joggers everywhere - no real surprise, food portions are scary
Gastronomic indulgence … pretzels, hotdogs and eggs over easy
Savour the flavours
Then just walk a block for a Starbucks ‘kworfee’

Here I escape from the traffic hum, the deep honks of taxis
The saxophonist in the tunnel repeats amateur melodies
Brief cadence … silence
Then a cheeky siren whoops … NYPD!

Homeless Willie J made me smile, selling his peace poetry
Better sales pitch than the almost-famous artist selling CDs
Should I care? or fear
For those begging, proudly, for sympathy?

What a place, where you can dream to do anything or just ‘be’
Where the rich and poor, bizarre and bewildered live in odd harmony
All one crazy haze
My senses have been stimulated, completely

This is the city that never sleeps, in the land of the free
Except, perhaps, under the cool patchy shade of a Central Park Tree
I heart NYC

Opposites attract

I came across this photo 'Opposites' by Miss Insomnia Tulip on Flickr. It made me think of recent discussions I've been having with quite a few friends who are trying to make the most of or have made the tough decision to leave long term relationships. A common theme is a feeling of being the complete opposite to their partner or that their partner doesn't really 'get them'.

This poem is about the human desire to find harmony, love and acceptance ...














I look at you, I look at me
You shine in sweet shy modesty
I look for fun and anarchy
Shielding a vast complexity
We share a charming fragility
You are you but I am me
Somewhere there is similarity
Highlighted within our duality
A shared desire, a delicate destiny
I want to be, to just be me
For you to love my individuality
Longing for you to totally get me
For us to share that perfect harmony
A product of heaven’s alchemy

CHOICES MADE ...

CHOICES MADE, originally uploaded by wildcardpoet.

I had been mulling on lines for the following poem, marking a particular anniversary, then I came across this photo by Bill Cross which just brought it all together for me ...

A delicate web of choices made
Clings to memories that may never fade
A brave heart, strong soul, can still gently ache
An infantile hook clings to the pit of my stomach
But I no longer rage blame and release responsibility
Instead I feel blessed and strengthened by destiny
Attempting to say YES to life, on occasion precariously
But freely pursuing the art of love seriously
The past can be changed with a different perception
I sigh a soft smile and salute it with affection

Don't watch porn...

I had uploaded some photos of stencil graffiti I had come across in the Baltics. There were three pictures which I purposely put together in a row. That of a cartoon character with a ball & chain, then a couple embracing and then a slogan "don't watch porn, use your imagination".

Andrew McConnochie then took the challenge of layering the couple and the slogan to create a new piece of work. This then inspired me to write the following poem in response ... this is another one done spontaneously and completed within 5 minutes (not sure if this is a good thing or not, should I be musing over and editing the poems more??) ...















When you think of porn, you may scorn
Why waste your time on something so forlorn
But an impassioned embrace can bring grace
To even the dullest grey concrete face
I suppose if you really need some inspiration
Then porn could possibly help the imagination
But tantalising the tips with a light touch of existence
Will give more than any pornographic experience....

Robin

This photo is by Neil (chimpdachimp2000). He captures birds briliantly! In the description he said he'd taken this a year ago in last spring. This was my immediate response ...

Perched ... awaiting the passing of time
Delicate feathers gathered so sublime
A perfect resting place, a stump having met its fate
Yet the potential for a new branch to take its place
A year from now I won't even be a shadow
Just a gentle memory of the sun's soft glow
Cutting across the sky, swooping in for spring
Robin of Sherwood will always be king

An opening to morning light...

An opening to morning light..., originally uploaded by * Ahmad Kavousian *.

Another inspiration ...

Through the trees shines a new horizon
Soft pink skies and spindly trees beckon
Will the promises be as true as they reckon
Or will my love have to be not first, but second?

Marbleized

marbleized, originally uploaded by Rootzz !W(*)(*)W!.

This picture reminded me of the 70s ... childhood, marbles, the next generation ... so I wrote this poem on the spot ...

In these crazy times of high speed technology
You could lose your marbles quite easily
Taking acid isn't a new phenomenon
But the slogans of "don't drug and drive" are a new one
If you can create tones of amazing expression
Then why waste your time with hesitation
Lets live life through our childhood imagination
Get back to the basics, before the surge of the next generation

stars in sky or rain on glass?

I came across this photo "stars in sky or rain on glass?" ... I think its a really cool concept. Got me pondering and lines for a poem just started popping into my head!

It made me think about a poem I'd read in San Francisco (can't think of the author!) about how a raindrop will carry the memories of its journey from being in a mountain cloud, to going down a river to the ocean and back up to the clouds in the mountains. Made me think that even though a water drop may be just a tiny thing it could have come from a massive ocean, which is part of a world that is so tiny compared to all the stars! I suppose the theme of the poem is to challenge perceptions and reality; the moral of the poem is that however small we are its important to make the most of whats around us (which for me is through learning, photography and poetry).

Here is the picture and the poem in response (I decided to challenge myself and make every line have exactly 14 syllables and to all rhyme) ...

stars in sky or rain on glass?, originally uploaded by sam mcconnochie.

Reality … the simple expression of perception …
What you believe helps you perceive an altered reflection.
The mundane can become insane in magnification,
Even a rain drop, in a world of its own creation.

A tiny drop, perhaps born from a majestic ocean,
Twinkles in a flash, as if spellbound by a magician.
No less beautiful than a star in a constellation.
Equally, rightfully, admired with fascination.

We are mere droplets to any star in comparison,
A microscopic speck of the tiniest formation!
Mind-blowing, even for the wildest imagination.
Makes life feel unreal, a world of dust in animation.

A droplet could drown this dust …or …sprinkle motivation
A fine balance between hope, fear, faith and inspiration
So gaze up, peek through, delve in … explore with admiration
Get that thirsty dust sparkling bright … without hesitation!

Lets dance with a gipsy song now... by Ahmad Kavousian

Lets dance with a gipsy song now..., originally uploaded by * Ahmad Kavousian *.

By looking through Mashka Cordwell's favourites in Flickr (she has a great 'artistic eye'), I stumbled upon this B&W portrait by Ahmad Kavousian. Fantastic street / portrait photographer!! A lot of talent to be inspired by. This particular photo was after a series of photos about the Islamic revolution, which he'd taken photos of in 1979. I wrote this in response ...

Play for me ... a memory
Something with sweet melancholy
I shall hear it on the street
Evoke a dance with my two left feet
Revolutions and consequence depart
Defeat shall not pull the strings of my heart

I see it now, in black and white
The struggle, the pain, the fight
Promised heaven, a rebirth
Minds were lost in this hell on earth
So play for me ... a memory
Let the light shine through this ebony

Where there is green ... by Bill Cross

WHERE THERE IS GREEN, originally uploaded by wildcardpoet.

Met wildcardpoet (Bill Cross) on Flickr today. He is a wonderful photographer and poet. Kindly took the time to look through my work. This is his most recent pic which I wrote the following poem to:

Where there is green ... there is hope
There is life, nurturance, a desire to cope
Survival in camouflage
A home, a haven ... best not in a vase

"One" and "Solace"

Tonight I've been making an effort to look through the Flickr photo groups that I've joined, posted some of my favourite pictures into discussion threads (hoping they will invite me / comment) and I have had a lot of success with this one (click on it to be taken directly to Flickr site):



I then made an effort to visit the sites of those who had commented on my work. I came across a lovely photo by 'bluesrose' titled 'One' - of a yellow rose in a black frame. To see it go here.

I immediately wrote the following poem in response:

One day, one love, one moment, one kiss, one rose, a sign of friendship ....one sigh, one hug, one dreamy kip, framed in eloquence.

Note: one of the 'Flickrers' had told 'bluesrose' to watch the framing, hence the reference to that.

I then got some feedback on a poem from 'Serendipity comes across' and so I went to look at her photos and was bowled over by a lovely black and white portrait, slightly blurred showing a woman's raised neck and jaw line. Also need to go to Flick to see it here

This is the poem I wrote, also spontaneously and from the top of my head, in response:

When pain and pleasure collide
There is very little to hide
Showing your vulnerability
Opening up to fragility
When nothing is ever black and white
Shadows give a different light
Reaching up for that tender kiss
Hoping that it is not the last, the one to miss

Poetry and art (II)

More poetry in response to inspiring photography / art ...

The next piece is by Andrew McConnochie (titled 'Depart this Mortal Coil'). I liked the original photo because it raised questions of why the family would decide to put a fence around a gravesite - but then the photo has been layered with images of text, a butterfly and a cross (and possibly other bits still hidden in there). In my poem I was trying to respond to all aspects of the image ...


Cocooned in gentle claustrophobia
Needing security, wanting desire
Seeking freedom within life's toil
Attempting to unravel this mortal coil
Before arriving at a protected resting place
When silence drowns any revered words of grace.
Hush ... why cry, or sigh?
Be free, like a butterfly.
Love is pure, there is nothing to fear
No longer a cross to bear.



You can see the original photo in large (and other work by Andrew) here

Poetry in response to art

Recently I have been responding, with the use of poetry, to photos / pieces of work uploaded by my friends on Flickr and I thought I'd share some of them.

I first responded to Mashka, who, during a period of melancholy, did some self-portraits. In a poetic mood and feeling inspired I wrote haikus in response to three of her pieces. The general rule of thumb with a haiku is that it is 17 syllables shared over three lines (5/7/5).

In response to the first photo I am making a play on words with photography terminology and responding to the lovely way in which she uses focus / depth of field. In the last two photos she has put up the same shot but the second one has artistic alterations. I found differences in her expression due to the effects, despite it being the same shot, so that is what I'm also highlighting in the poems.



Focus on the depth

of the field of your sorrows

exposing ... rawness

What do I see there,

resting on the verge,

melting ...a single tear drop?

Ahh but hidden here,

hinting a glimmer of hope,

just a slight smile?

You can see the original photo on flickr with other comments (#1) here and the original of #2 here and for #3 here