Author Archives: Laura

Poetry Wednesday 10/15/08: Sign in and take the tour

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Painting: “Siamese Newspaper” byTascha Music: “Come on a My House” by: Ross Bagdasarian & William Saroyan Hello, and welcome back to Poetry Wednesday 10/15/08. You can sign in today and take the tour thru Thursday, so take your time. I’ll be your hostess again this week. My sister, Sans Souci, is on a break, putting together her own poetry book, but she will check in.   Before we get started, please make sure that your post has a link to get back to this page to make it easier to take … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 11/05/08: Man Belongs to the Earth

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Man Belongs To The Earth The Earth does not belong to man, man belongs to the Earth. This we know. Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself. All things are connected. Whatever befalls the Earth, befalls the children of the Earth.                Chief Seattle, 1854       Link back to the Poetry Wednesday tour on Laurita’s page    18 CommentsChronological   Reverse   Threaded   deletereply billatplay wrote … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 11/19/08: Calligram Poetry

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It was believed that the style of writing calligrammes was originally developed in 1918 by the French poet, Guillaume Apollinaire, when he published a book of poems that did not look like poems. He named the book Calligrammes which means “beautiful writing”. He used words and lines to form his poems. Sometimes the shape related to the subject of the poem.  But actually the calligram style of poetry was written before then. It was called “shaped poetry” or “pattern poetry.”  English poet George Herber wrote “Easter … Continue reading →

Art Weekend 12/28/08: Andrew Wyeth

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Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth Oil on canvas The Museum of Modern Art, New York City Christina’s World is the most famous work by American painter Andrew Wyeth, and one of the best-known American paintings of the 20th century. Painted in 1948, this tempera work is displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. It depicts Christina Olson, who had an undiagnosed muscular deterioration that paralyzed her lower body—likely Polio. She was a strong and independent woman who did not let anything stop … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 01/07/09: Malvina Reynolds

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Malvina Reynolds (born as Malvina Milder on August 23, 1900, died March 17, 1978) was an American folk/blues singer-songwriter and political activist, probably best known for writing the song “Little Boxes”. Born in San Francisco to two Jewish immigrants and socialist opponents of World War I, Malvina Milder married William Reynolds, a carpenter, in 1934 and had one child, Nancy, in 1935. She had earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts in English from the University of California, Berkeley, and later went on to earn … Continue reading →

Art Weekend Mystery 01/18/09: Who was The Fornarina ?

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Raphael and the Fornarina, 1814 Jean Auguste Ingres Oil on canvas Ingres’ imaginary double portrait (shown above), Raphael and La Fornarina (1814), which shows the dark-eyed lady perched on the artist’s lap, helped turn Raphael’s painting into a cult icon.  The scenario also caught Picasso’s interest; in 1968 he made a series of drawings of Raphael and his lover caught in flagrante by the pope, sometimes with Raphael’s rival, Michelangelo, peeking out from under the bed.     Raphael and the Fornarina close-up by Jean … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 01/21/09: Listen to the Warm

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The poems and songs of Rod McKuen express a bittersweet, aching tenderness towards life that has endeared him to millions of fans. During the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was perhaps the most popular poet in the United States. His songs have been recorded by over 500 artists, and he himself has produced over 200 albums. Born in a Salvation Army hospital during the Great Depression of the 1930s, driven by brutal abuse to run from his family, and forced to earn his own … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 01/21/09: Poetry In Motion

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Hello, and welcome back again to Poetry Wednesday for 01/21/09. This is going to be a big historical week in American history because of Inauguration Day on Tuesday, so I will keep the poetry lounge open all week. Take your time posting.   I’ll be your hostess again this week. My sister, Sans Souci, is on a break, putting together her own poetry book, but she will check in. Before we get started, please make sure that your post has a link to get back to this page … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 02/11/09: God Gave A Loaf To Every Bird

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  God Gave A Loaf To Every Bird by Emily Dickinson God gave a loaf to every bird, But just a crumb to me; I dare not eat it, though I starve,– My poignant luxury To own it, touch it, prove the feat That made the pellet mine,– Too happy in my sparrow chance For ampler coveting. It might be famine all around, I could not miss an ear, Such plenty smiles upon my board, My garner shows so fair. I wonder how the rich … Continue reading →

Poetry Wednesday 03/04/09: Changes

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I can remember back in the sixties, before the days of mass media, the folksinger was often a traveling newspaper spreading tales through music. There was an urgent need for Americans to look deeply into themselves and their actions, and musical poetry was perhaps the most effective mirror available. I can remember every newspaper headline being a potential song. Remembering the poetic lyrics of Phil Ochs… Changesby Phil Ochs  Sit by my side come as close as the airSharin’ a memory of greyAnd wander in my … Continue reading →