Day 62 - Poetry

Unfinished Watercolor
One of my favorite poems in college was by Nikki Giovanni. I still find it incredibly moving and beautiful to this day. I used to read it to my husband back then. Thoughts of a younger time.

kidnap poem

ever been kidnapped
by a poet
if i were a poet
i'd kidnap you
put you in my phrases and meter
you to jones beach
or maybe coney island
or maybe just to my house
lyric you in lilacs
dash you in the rain
blend into the beach
to complement my see
play the lyre for you
ode you with my love song
anything to win you
wrap you in the red Black green
show you off to mama
yeah if i were a poet i'd kid
nap you

Day 61 - Beginnings

Watercolor
New beginnings are always tenuous. They are frightening and exhilarating and make you feel both confident and unsure. I am facing many new beginnings right now and will wait to see how they play out. I took some time to reflect on the past three years and could see how far I've come. I'm ready for change and the unknown. In football terms, I think I can tackle it.

Day 60 - Mercy

Watercolor

Watercolor

"I have always found that mercy bears richer fruits than strict justice."
----- Abraham Lincoln, from a speech in Washington D.C. in 1865, said as he was preparing the United States for life after the US Civil War.

Mercy is the compassionate relief from distress.

No one deserves mercy, but God freely gives it to us which means we can follow His example if we choose to. Next time when I don't "feel" like forgiving someone, maybe I can still extend mercy and be compassionate. The feelings will follow.

Day 59 - Fun

Watercolor

Watercolor of Mickey on skis

Snow days can be so much fun. After working this morning I got a workout in, played with Mickey and painted. The day is not over. It's one of those moments you want to last forever. Enjoying the serene between the daily crises is one of life's simple pleasures. It's still snowing...

Day 58 - Snow

Colored Pencil

I have several projects to finish today, but I can't stop looking outside at the falling snow. It is just breathtaking. Thinking about skiing in it, walking in it and shoveling it. Snow is clean, white and almost cleansing in a way. I always liked that Bible verse that said Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow." Isaiah 1:18. There isn't anything God won't forgive if I ask. I love that.

Day 57 - Relief

Colored Pencil
It is the end of the weekly three day marathon, teaching, prep work, meetings, shoveling and crashing. I am SO looking forward to the weekend. Life is very good right now and I feel fortunate to even be able to say that.

I had to create my spiritual autobiography for my art therapy course and it was a soul searching effort (as it should have been). Below is a piece of poetry I used to illustrate personal symbolism in the work.

“Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;

The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity”.

William Butler Yeats, The Second Coming
This is one of my favorite poems and although I don't have the entire piece here, these are my favorite lines and very meaningful to me. Some food for thought as always.

Day 56 - Overload

Watercolor

Worked from 6 am to 9:30 pm plus had to shovel that darn driveway again! I would like to relax this weekend but I'm not sure I know how. Have to complete 3 more paintings tomorrow and finish this one. I am learning a lot about finishing but still need to call it a night!