Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Tree Ring Life Rings Journal Pages with Poem


More journal pages inspired by Misty's workshop. The life rings are comparable to tree growth rings, which, in my case, are 62 around. Then I needed a poem or story to go with. I don't claim to be a poet, but I gave it a try, and I used a gelatin print background page from another class to write it on with a Pitt pen. I glued the page into the journal with gel medium, transferred the bird from a magazine image onto the page. I need more practice. The transfer didn't turn out as well as I wanted, so I added some pastels and colored pencils to fill in the places that didn't transfer. I also added a couple of small stamps and colored them with colored pencils.

I am pondering adding something to the right upper corner, but I can't think of anything I want to put there. Besides, for now, I like it like it is. :)

The poem is in typed version at the bottom of the post.

The bird is holding a tiny pink heart carefully in his beak. The heart represents my birth and first ring of life. I was born in my Granny's house on a Tennessee riverbank a long time ago, and I've lived near the river my whole life, except for a couple of short periods when I was little.

My life has ebbed and flowed from these river banks for 62 years, just like the water lapping at the shores, every day the same, yet every day different.

Life Rings
By Sharon Prater Pope (Feb. 2012)

Sixty-two ripples
Spreading out from my Clifton riverbank birth rock,
Cast into life with abandon,
Each ripple encompassing
All of the people shuffling in and out through the years,
All that I learn and absorb,
The effect that I have on others,
The effect that they have on me.
Circling ever wider with each passing year,
Receding into the distance
Until I fade into oblivion
And all that remains is a faded memory
And the effect that I had on others
The short time I was here.




Wednesday, February 8, 2012

I tried my hand at creating poetry using found words for the writing class in Misty's workshop. I don't claim to be a poet, by any means, but this was so much fun! There will be more! :)
Reaching Out

The words to Reaching Out:

buried beneath the
loneliness in the night
I reached out
but don't hear anything
fear is momentary
imagine strength
remember childhood
connection with everything
reach out
our harried lives
somewhat intense
amnesia of the heart
I believe
clutter of voices
talking about God
always be there
reach out and listen
all my happiness has not vanished

I had a few words left over from the above poem, so I used them to create the short poem below. I was raised not to be wasteful. ;)

Black and White

The one below was created using found words in a different way. You may have to click on the pictures to be able to read the poems.

Self Discovery

The words to Self Discovery:
Overwhelmed,
I just want to be enough.
Pondering contribution,
Offering to the world
Content and openhearted self-discovery.

These poems will more than likely find their way in to one of my journals. Hope you enjoyed them!