National Poetry Month 2018
Three Trees by John Gibson
I have watched my father draw all my life. He is still doing it in his 80’s. I marvel at how he creates shapes with ink dots. One of his favorite subjects is trees.
I am using Amy Ludwig VanDerwater’s book Poems are Teachers and following her posts on The Poem Farm to prompt my students writing every day. She has opened padlets for each prompt, so my students are posting on these.
Poem number 3 was a mask poem. She tells what a mask poem is here.
I wrote alongside my students, so today’s poem is not ekphrasis but a mask poem from the point of view of the artist.
The Artist
I begin with an image
a photograph, a landscape,
a walk outside.Drawn to the space
between light and dark,
I trace a line, soft and simple.As time stands still,
my hand moves, dabbles, dots
until a shape appears.Art is a way of seeing,
a definition from my eyes,
a miracle of my hands.Margaret Simon, (c) 2018
For more Spiritual Thursday posts, click over to Carol’s Beyond Literacy Link.
Today is the first Thursday, and a group of fellow bloggers link up and share our spiritual journeys.
The theme for this month is Poetry as a Spiritual Practice. If I were to analyze word choice in my poetry, I would find many words that speak to the spirit, words like miracle, grace, sacred, God, and love. The spirit breathes through these words. I am forever grateful for the gift of writing, for I believe it is a spiritual gift. I am not alone when I write. The Holy Spirit guides my hand. Poetry is a spiritual practice.
On Good Friday last week, I was moved by Psalm 22 to write my own psalm. I am reposting it here as a response to Carol’s call for today’s posts.
Deus, Deus meus
My God, my God, why have you forgiven me?
The toll of the cardinal song
echoes You are my child.
Long ago, I carried a child in my own womb
felt her heart beat with mine,
felt the soft body roll inside.
Is this how you love me, God?
I held the hand of his father
as he passed into your light.
I let go of his quiet strength.
Is this how you love me, God?
When I think on these things,
I can know kindness.
I can hear stillness in the noise.
I can feel love in the bird’s song.
When you are near me, God,
My soul lives for you.
–Margaret Simon (c) 2018
Reflections on the Teche 
Margaret, this post in rich in the fruits of the Spirit. Your father’s art work always amazes me and your poem from the artist perspective is beautifully rendered, especially the last stanza. Your muse, the Holy Spirit, is a wonderful guide on your journey. I just love the idea of having the Spirit of Love guide the hand. I shall think about that as I write further. I did read your Good Friday post before but am so glad to have a second look. Great ending: “When you are near me, God, My soul lives for you.”
I am amazed at your father’s work, too, Margaret. Pointillist’s work seems so exacting to me, such patience. It’s wonderful that you wrote about him drawing.
Art is a way of seeing is a theme today! I, too, love that you are continuing your conversation with your father’s art. What a gift to him and to us. xo
I love how “The Artist” defines his art as “a miracle of my hands.” And I appreciate that your gift of writing is a spiritual gift that blesses many. I love these lines from your psalm:
“When I think on these things,
I can know kindness.
I can hear stillness in the noise.
I can feel love in the bird’s song.”
Your words are a blessing!
A beautiful post, Margaret. Your father would love these poems, I’m sure. As does your heavenly Father. As I sit on my sunporch listening to bird song, I feel wrapped in love by your words. Thank you.
This is very beautiful, Margaret! I love your idea of writing a psalm, and how you point us to spiritually loaded word choices. Your psalm is deep with emotion and authenticity. Your reflection on the art work of your father and mask poem speak to me too!
I love your Psalm and the parenthood images. Beautiful! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
Oh, Margaret! Your thoughts, your words, have enriched my afternoon. I feel the entwined forgiveness and love, life and death, and know that these questions only have answers because “When you are near me, God, / My soul lives for you.”
What beautiful poems….I know the first is a mask poem. I also see it as a process poem. I love how you describe the artist’s process. The second psalm is extraordinarily touching. Thank you. Once, I thought I’d pour my spiritual thoughts into poems….and then I kinda lost that thread. I’d love to pick it back up again.
I love your psalm and the repetition of the questions. Beautiful!
I read your psalm when you first posted it and it has moved me again today. Thanks for this. (Also, I love your father’s work – wow.)
Beautiful and rich poems Margaret! I like this line from “The Artist,” Art is a way of seeing,” that says so much about the creative process–probably in many fields of art too–along with writing! Compelling drawing by your father, I love the negative shapes in his composition, thanks!
Every picture from your father is such a gift! As I peruse your blog, seeing picture after picture, I am truly amazed at the beauty in each piece. They truly are miracles! Your inspired Psalm is lovely beyond words. The questions are powerful and help the reader reflect and truly consider your words. Thank you!