The other day I ran across a quote from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. “‘Tis always morning somewhere, and above/The awakening continents, from shore to shore,/Somewhere the birds are singing evermore.”
I love poetry. (I might have mentioned that.) But mostly I love poetry that speaks to me at a certain time in my life. I think that’s because poetry is meant to reach inside you and pluck at your soul. I think that’s our job as poets. We aren’t lovers. We don’t play heartstrings. We play soulstrings. This particular quote spoke to me. I hope you find something today that speaks to you.
Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye
I think this is the fourth year in a row that I’ve done some sort of self-inflicted poetry challenge on here. Every year, I wonder why. Why do I want to add one more thing to my to-do list?
This year, my focus (that word again) has shifted a little internally. Why do I almost always only write poetry with illustrations now? This renga is a perfect example of how it might be easier to just write the poem. By the time I’ve moved on to the next verse, I’ve forgotten what was in the one before.
But this verse is an illustration of what I love about writing illustrated poetry. Poetry is everywhere. Even in a tiny blade of blooming grass.
Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye
Less than a week to go. It seems like just yesterday I was struggling to draw ice. lol. I mean, if I tried again, it would still be hard. But I did it once, so…
Once this is done, I’ll be putting together my poetry book. There are still a few illustrations to be done, possibly a few poems yet to be written, but I’m hoping to get that taken care of next month. Maybe I can even have the book out by the beginning of June. Mid June? I wonder how far my hypercreativity can carry me.
Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye
I’m better at capturing flora than fauna, so the little critter in this one caught me off guard. I didn’t even notice him until I started drawing. He seemed perfect for this spot in the renga, though. One of those “happy accidents” that happens sometimes.
Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye
I’m really loving my new keyword/motto “Focus”. I’m a mom all the time, a writer and poet constantly, and a business owner when I can lol. So focus can be a challenge but is important in every aspect of my life. I’m also an amateur photographer, so I know what happens when you take pictures that are out of focus. They suck.
Most of my illustrations for this renga come from photos I shot on my iPhone while walking my dog. Very few of them were actually in focus lol. Which makes this new word of mine all the more pertinent. When I turn the pictures into illustrations, it’s like I’m improving the focus. Like this one.
Illustration and poem copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye
I wrote the renga out (thus far, I’m only one or two verses ahead of what I post here). I was surprised it fit together so well. I look forward to sharing it in Hypercreativity. It’s not cheating to use it there, is it? lol. I want to see it all together.
On a different note, my drawing has gotten better since 100 Warm Days of Haiku. Tomorrow’s is actually really beautiful. And I had to work hard on it. Not as hard as I’ll have to work on the one for the day after. But pretty hard.
Poem and illustration copyright 2022 Michelle Garren-Flye
As it is tax day here in the States, I’m betting many of us have done a lot of searching for the insignificant…but that’s not what the poem is about. 😉
Poem and illustration by Michelle Garren-Flye
Halfway point makes me wonder. What will I do when this is done?
Trying to figure out where this one came from. Like all of these verses, though, it emerged while I was drawing. It’s also quite pertinent to my life right now. What do I wish for? What are my expectations about those wishes? I’m hardly what my mother once called a “spring chicken”, but that doesn’t mean I’m done with this life. I’m not even really started on the fun part yet.
BREATHE: Michelle Garren-Flye 