Students - Today's poem grew from my writing assemblies with the third, fourth, and fifth graders of Coolidge, Washington, Lincoln, and Sicomac Schools in Wyckoff, New Jersey. I so enjoyed my time visiting them this week, and one thing we talked about was how art is an endless well and source of writing ideas.
Sometimes when I'm not sure what to write about, I simply look at a piece of art and allow it to bring me to a new place. Today's poem also explores the joy of art as a way to escape. I began writing the first few lines of this poem during a school assembly this week as we all wrote about a piece of art together. Thank you to the young writer who shared how she sketched a sunflower as I am certain that her sharing brought sunflowers into this poem today. I also thank my friend Kateri Ewing, my wise artist friend who posted this week about the importance of making art during difficult times.
The painting you see above was made by my friend Alixandra Martin. I love to stare at it and imagine what it would be like to slip right into those golden colors, to chat with the angel.
When you wonder what to write, look for art. You can find it in books, calendars, on walls, websites, and in museums. And always, art can bring us somewhere new. Art is, indeed, a place to go. And poems about art have a special name - ekphrastic poetry.
Teachers - A lot has happened over the past few years, but not so long before the pandemic, I wrote a book about how studying poetry can strengthen all of our writing. This book is full of poems by comtemporary poets, student writers, and full of lessons and resources put together by me. One of the lessons is about this very topic, writing from art.
Molly is hosting this week's Poetry Friday roundup at Nix the Comfort Zone with a hauntingly lovely poem and photographs celebrating winter trees. Please know that all are welcome each Friday as folks share poems, poem books, poetry ideas, and friendship.
May you live joyfully in your life...and inside of art too!
xo,
Amy
