Friday, August 6, 2021

Summertime's Poetic Gift

"Summertime is always the best of what might be." 

With his key eye of an investigative journalist, author, essayist, Charles Bowden, penned the inspiration above. I sit back and read the line again noting what truth lies within the words. Summertime nourishes my soul. It brightens what is and saturates what might be with vivid colors, summer breezes, and leisurely days that free the spirit. Each summer, poet Tabatha Yeatts brings the best of summer wishes to the poetry world in a Summer Poem Swap exchange. I have previously shared my first poem swap with my far-away poet friend Iphigene Daradar. Today, I showcase creative expressions from Tabatha Yeatts herself. How lucky for me to be gifted with zentangle poems and artwork that Tabatha crafted from my own poems. 

Tabatha used my line "Everything around you is nature-scented", to "write a found poem about how our lives are a mix of the good and the bad". I find truth in that statement for life is a series of ups and downs. We find optimism and hope in the thought that life is a cycle and as Tabatha says, "we must find a way to be comfortable and at home with the duality of these aspects of life."


In the above digital poem, Tabatha's artwork compliments different aspects of life, from the words sweet and shadow to the images of the crescent moon and sun.

The second grouping of zentangle found poems center once again around my words, "Everything around you is bathed in beauty". Each found poem is lovingly created into digital artwork on marbleized paper.


Poem Swap Wishes
celebrating  summer you pause; welcome
new season with new stories.
birthdays come and grow.
you reflect and write!
circle words and
one day leave
skyward and refreshed!
©CV, 2021
Now, I am off to celebrate the Poetry Friday Roundup at our host, Mary Lee Hahn's blog.

This week I was lucky to have the muse visit as did Mary Lee. 
You can find the fruits of my weeklong labor, a cherita and a definito poem.

23 comments:

  1. oooh, la, la! What wonderful poetic gifts. I love how Tabatha takes a line from you and makes it part of her gift. She's crafty that way. And, the presentation of the poetry on the pretty paper is really cool. I love Summer poem swapping.

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    1. Yes, Linda, I think summer poem swapping is a perfect gift to nourish our summer souls. Tabatha created a beautiful assortment of gifts for me.

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  2. Wowsers! I clearly need to up my Zentangle game! These are GORGEOUS and contain such truth! How fun to see your own words remade into something new. (Kinda reminds me of another swap, heh heh!)

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    1. As I opened the gift, I also thought of another swap, mary Lee. Can't wait to showcase that one. I also want to dip into Zentangle poetry again so I can make my poems pop.

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  3. So many treasures here from Tabatha and you! My favorite today is "Everything is home / sweet and shadow"

    Beautiful!

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    1. I do love the same poem you enjoyed, Denise. Poetry is such a gift especially when it comes from friends.

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  4. I'm agreeing with Mary Lee, those zentangles continue to be more and more beautiful! I love that Tabatha used your own words in her poems for you, Carol! And love the "Everything is home. . ." especially! Happy summer times!

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    1. Linda, I have missed sharing notes and thoughts with you this month but I know you were enjoying life at the beach with your grandchildren and I doing the same last week. It is marvelous that we have the opportunity to do so despite the surge of the Delta varient.

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  5. These entangles are exquisite, all a celebration of being alive as a person, in the "sweet and shadow" and as a writer. What an wonderful gift to receive.

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    1. Life's sweet and shadow parts are intertwined so we continue to write to continue our paths. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, Janice.

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  6. How fabulous these all are the beauty is in the giving and the joy is in the knowing - and Tabatha knows you. I love your response poem, too.

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    1. Thanks for dropping by, Kat. Stay well in your Aussie homeland. I have some Aussie Twitter friends who keep me informed about the lockdowns. It is such a sad happening in this big wide universe. There is such joy in our world of poetry that it is hard to understand the shifts we have all gone through this past year.

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  7. What lovely treasure-filled zentangle art-poems, they're all bursting with color and movement. And as said above, I love that Tabatha built the poem from your words, and like your uplifting response poem, thanks Carol!

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    1. Thanks for joining me to see Tabatha's wonderful swap. It is special that she took the time to use my words to create new poems. I enjoyed receiving her package and writing a response.

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  8. Thank you for your "Poem Swap Wishes," Carol, and thank you all for the sweet comments! It was a lot of fun to make those zentangles for you. :) Here's to welcoming new seasons with new stories!

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    1. As you know, Tabatha, I always look forward to new seasons and new stories. Thanks for making this season memorable for me through your summer gift.

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  9. What wonderful treasures from Tabatha! Hope you have a great week!

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    1. Thanks for dropping by Becky. I am excited about this swap and have one more swap to showcase for all to see.

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  10. I love seeing how one poet/artist can draw inspiration from another to create something new. Beautiful!

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  11. What gifts from Tabatha. The zentangles are beautiful. So lucky to have this community.

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  12. What an amazing gift from Tabatha! Thanks for sharing those. The Poem Swaps always bowl me over. I always worry I won't have time to participate with the level of care needed, so I haven't done one for a long time. Maybe next summer! :)

    Your cherita made me so hungry. :) And the definito poem on Respect was truly lovely. Thanks for this entire, absorbing post!

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