Stories are stitches of memories sewn together.
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| List created by Rebecca Herzog |
"I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey.”
Please take a walk with me to view the enchanting, macabre, and bizarre front-yard decorations in my neighborhood. Displays entice me to create a #Poemtober collection of artistic expressions alongside my poet friend Rebecca Herzog with her prompt words. What I share in images each week may bring you to a state of delight or have you gawking in disbelief or shock.
I'll start by sharing my thinking on how to begin a Poemtober collection this year. Not only will I choose a word to prompt my thinking but I will pair it with a front yard decoration dressed in a seasonal look and perhaps digitize it to create a story of stitched memories.
Below you will find my first Poemtober sequence prompted by the word enchanting. While there are many Halloweenish displays going up around the neighborhood, I thought the word enchanting would be a great place to start. The word enchanting allows me to weave the boldness and vibrancy of the autumn season into poem.
One evening during a walk, I noticed the darkening colors of night surrounding the neighborhood houses. Trees were lurking in shadows as the sky opened to a speckling of stars. The title, October's Blackdraped Evening, came into being by pressing the words black and draped together to create a mood. Irene Latham does suggest this tip in her latest publication, This Poem Is A Nest. I took Irene's advice a step further and wrote my own next poem as the source text for nestlings, small poems originating from the nest poem.
Autumn whispers in the wind as evening
cozily closes under a blackdraped sky.
Cricket sounds sing in tune with
each other and rich-colored leaves
slip and slide across concrete walks
and roadways. Some, wet with afternoon
rain, wait for passersby to pick up
one or two for decorations.
Grey squirrels scamper
in delight wondering where acorns
are stashed without noticing them
along the roadway. A few dogs proudly
lead their humans, bedazzled with
masks, to greet fellow canines.
October's evening blush lingers as stars
speckle in an indigo sky and
enchanted eventide wishes
flow through crispclean air.
©CV, 2020
The nest poem is based on Using Irene Latham's book, This Poem Is A Nest, as the mentor text, I created my own nest and nestling poems.
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Nestlings
I.
Wind whispers under stars.
October's leaves greet evening.
Enchanted delight
crispclean autumn!
II.
Autumn rain, scamper!
Wondering! Noticing!
Along roadway, evening lingers.
Stars speckle sky.
Enchanted wishes flow!
III.
autumn leaves scamper
noticing October's stars-
enchanted flow
IV.
wind cozily slides
in delight
where acorns greet
evening sky
©CV, 2020
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Stay tuned for the next installment of Poemtober.
It will not be for the faint of heart.
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Now, it is time for me to join the Poetry Friday Roundup. Janice Scully is the host today sharing some photos from Syracuse in Central New York, my home town. Ah, autumn there is lovely. Janice fills my heart with thoughts, original poems, and images of the season, ending with an inspirational quote.
"Blackdraped" is a perfect word for Halloweenie things and works so well in your poem Carol. What fun you had here creating nestling poems–and it looks like your'll be busy throughout Poemtober, thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being the first to respond, Michelle. Blackdraped is not only a word that describes Halloweenish scenes but my mood these days. It seems as if the pandemic has tossed a huge blackdraped covering over my house. Everything seems upside down with our virtual build of our new home and the sale of our Long Island home, etc. Poetry keeps my mind distracted which is a very good thing.
Deleteooooooh you've been busy poeming! I love it. The first "Blackdraped" is so inviting. Isn't it amazing how many poems those beautiful fall leaves call out of us? The photo of your red leaf with the water reflection is pretty! My dog leads me through our neighborhood too. Both of us so curious about what's around the next corner. Lovely collection. Keep poeming!
ReplyDeleteLinda, you coined a new word: poeming and I love it! I was happy to find a wet leaf in my collection. I went out for a rainwalk and found many beautiful large leaves in the street. While those photos did not come out, I at least had the photo you see from another walk. It had just the right amount of gleam from the rain.(I'm coming to VA in November to close on my new house. There is going to be a great deal of stress this coming month since my LI house has not sold yet.)
DeleteHello, hello, dear Carol. I do love your iv; where acorns greet evening sky. Perspective here is so lovely and unexpected. And this, in your original nest;
ReplyDeleteOctober's evening blush lingers as stars
speckle an indigo sky
Fun to see what your creativity has been hatching!
Hi, Kat. Thanks for joining me from across the sea. IV is the nesting that made me the happiest when creating. The line in the nest is exactly how I saw the sky evolve. I was so excited to see some stars in the sky. Usually, I cannot see them so finding little speckles reminded me of when my children were small. We loved to stargaze in our front yard. Have a great October.
DeleteBlackdraped! LOVE! And I love what you're doing with the nest and nestlings here..."crispclean" = beautiful! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Irene. Your book, This Poem Is A Nest, is a great mentor text. Have a beautiful autumn day.
DeleteI also this week toyed with finding a poem and writing nestlings. I love Irene's book and the idea really came to life when I tried it myself. You have done a great job. First of all, your nest poem is so full of colorful words that lend themself to nestlings. Nice work, Carol.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Janice, for your comments and for hosting this week with sights from Syracuse. Maybe you will have a nestling of Central New York for my Abundant Autumn Gallery.
DeleteThe wellspring of your poetry never fails to amaze, Carol - now flowing with autumn colors and new words (like others, love "blackdraped," as if October is planning something formal as well as possibly sinister for evening). I am most intrigued by the next installment of Poemtober "not being for the faint of heart" -! It is the season... a tingling in the air ... I sense it in your autumn wordbreeze. :)
ReplyDeleteFran, you gave me another idea. The word blackdraped can be the introductory word for what I have in store. Have a wonderful enchanted weekend. Unfortunately, all the wind we are having is making our trees lose their golden touch.
DeleteSadly, we have fewer decorations out this year, Carol. Onefavorite street has posted a sign with some witches holding it, "RIP 2020 - See you next year!" That street is usually filled with so many wonderful displays so I guess they must have met & decided to skip it all. Thus, I love seeing and reading your own spooky celebration and look forward to whatever you've hidden under your costume! Thanks for the beauty and the anticipation!
ReplyDeleteLinda, I think the sign you saw is so on target. I am sure that many will agree with the thought as December 31st comes around. Let's hope there will be positive events happening in 2021 like vaccinations.
DeleteI ordered Irene's book - partly because of your posts - and I can't wait to get it! Thanks for this!
ReplyDeleteRuth, you will not be sorry you ordered the book. Irene has a special handout as well for teachers but I have to find the link.
DeleteI so love your collections, Carol. Your nestlings are so much fun. I can't wait to see your next installment. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Becky. I found some gruesome decorated scenes in my neighborhood so I have great visual prompts to use.
DeleteI love those slipping and sliding leaves, Carol! And I can't wait to read Irene's book and try this myself.
ReplyDeleteI look forward to reading your nest and nestling poems, Laura. Best wishes for you and your family this week.
DeleteWhat a fun project! Love your atmospheric poem -- you really created a mood with October's Blackdraped Evening! Vivid sensory images placed me right at the scene. "October's evening blush lingers" is so lovely! Enjoyed all the nestlings too. Thanks for this autumn treat, Carol. :)
ReplyDeleteJama, thank you for joining me for my Poemtober event's 1st installment. I am having fun with Becky Herzog's list of Poemtober words. Next installment coming up soon...
DeleteOh Carol what a terrific post and I love your Nestlings. You are encouraging me to try. Hmmmmmmm what a great idea for teachers, too. Thank you. I have a photo (or 10 so far of my grandgirl in the Glinda costume I am creating for her, such fun!) Talk about enchanting. (PS I am mainly glueing, but am proud of the fabric ie tulle I used to create an overskirt for her costume dress we are using as the base!!) As one grandmama to another I know you will relate. If I can I will try to post a photo for you to give you the idea. FYI I did find some wonderful hints on Pinterest!!!. PS I love how your Nestling poems really paint pictures in smaller bits. Lovely!!!!
ReplyDeleteFrom Janet Clare F.
DeleteJanet, from one grandmother to another, I am impressed with your creativity. My little Sierra told me during a Google Duo session that she is going to be Cinderella again this year and then went to her costume closet and shared it with me. She also said that her sister Baby Aurora is going to Princess Aurora (of course). I would love to see a picture of your little Glinda.
DeleteSuch lovely autumn poems. "Enchanted wishes flow" for the best of the season for you, Carol!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by with your autumn wishes, Kimberly.
DeleteWow. I think this nestling approach suits you very well, Carol! I like all 4 of your short, spare poems, and your "blackdraped" and "crispclean" inventions too! Good luck with all those gory words--ew!
ReplyDeleteHeidi, it is so good to hear from you. Thank you for commenting on my post. I am looking forward to writing a few blog posts this week that will tap into the ghoulish and bizarre decorations that are being showcased in my neighborhood.
DeleteAll of these poems are darkly delightful, Carol. "Blackdraped" - so good. I, too, love your nestled creation. Looking forward to your next installment of Poemtober. :)
ReplyDeleteI am working on my next installment of Poemtober, Bridget. As I search my neighborhood for the bizarre, the thoughts keep popping. I remember one Halloween night when as a college student I traveled to a cemetery for some inspiration.
DeleteWhat an enchanted eventide it is! Nicely done, Carol - I love how you've taken your own words and created new imagery with each poem. Nicely done!
ReplyDelete