Maxims for a Refugee Artist (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, April 18, 2024, feast day of the “Maximov” Icon of the Mother of God, (above) Blessed Marie of the Incarnation (mere Marie), Blessed Maria Anna Blondin, Saint Agia of Hainault, Saint Athanasia of Aegina (of star miracle), and Blessed Savina Petrilli (..."vowed not to complain deliberately about external and internal afflictions, and vowed to completely abandon herself to the will of the Father"). On Jewish calendar today is Miriam's Passing (1274 BC), and Israelites Cross Jordan (1273 BC). Image from here.)

Maxims for a Refugee Artist

(after John Keats)

Beauty is truth, truth beauty—that is all

                you know on earth, and all you need to know.

Patience is prayer, prayer patience---that is all

                you sense on earth and all you need to sense. 

Art is unfolding, unfolding art--that is the only road open

just now, but the only one you need

*See John Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn”

**From combined prompts: Freewrite as inspired by “Try to Praise the Mutilated World” by Adam Zagajewski. From Lisa Freedman’s BreathReadWrite, April 18, 2024. Also inspired by a Lenten homily from about a month ago, (cant remember the parish: “Our normal rhythm of life is not present anymore.... We have crammed more things into 24 hours than we used to do in three or four days. And it doesn't work. We get unhappy, we get impatient…” And further inspired by Daisy Barrett's Writers At Play winter series in January 2024, in which after writing down what experiences instinctively come to you when looking back on each month of the past year(even if simply holidays and weather), scan to find metaphors that hold one's experiences last year (one that holds challenge, then using another angle of looking at this image to find one of promise; my eg refugee and artist) and carrying these images somehow into the new year with a poem.

Earth-glance (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, April 14, 2024, feast day of Our Lady of Kamalen/Guam, Blessed Virgin of Grace (Italy, Robegano district apparition, 1534), the (above) Vil'na Icon of the Mother of God and Saint Lydwina of Schiedam. Image from here.)

Earth-glance

Dance of sun upon dew, morning

new-–to-do’s ancient. Clear the 

head, make the bed. Birds to feed,

set on the tea. If moon hasn’t set quite yet 

she surely will—with promise to refill

when stars surround. 

*From prompt: Free write as inspired by “I love you. I miss you. Please get out of my house.” by Donika Kelly.

From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, April 14, 2024.

Unfinished (WC)

 

(Wendy Cabell, April 14, 2024, feast day of Our Lady of Kamalen/Guam, Blessed Virgin of Grace (Italy, Robegano district apparition, 1534; somewhat related image above), the Vil'na Icon of the Mother of God and Saint Lydwina of Schiedam. Image from here.)

Unfinished

task (n.): from Latin tasca, “ a duty, assessment”

Joseph’s boat (see it just out back window, his tools tossed round nearby)

Seeds as yet planted, lying out front door here on the porch

My schedule needing weeding

A partially filled commemoration list, prayers for the living and departed 

(shouldn’t this be topping the list?)

Snoozed emails

Jumbled papers 

Yet to be covered books

Crowding in my head

Paintbrushes patient, nudging 

My arms, they need stretching

My breath needs gentle expansion

 

                               s  l  o  w    f  i  l  l

                         now buoyant

                     balloon

*From prompt: Free write as inspired by “My Sister, Who Died Young, Takes Up the Task” by Jon Pineda, and the etymology of “task”. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, April 14, 2024.

Out the Back Window (WC)

(Wendy Cabell, April 12, 2024, feast day of (above) Our Lady of Charity, the Virgin of the Valley, the Belynich Icon of the Mother of God, the Murom Icon of the Mother of God, Saint Anthusa of Constantiople, Saint Athanasia of Aegina and Saint Teresa of the Andes. Image from here.)

Out the Back Window

Lacey mist come morning

Star of Bethlehem lights the park come Christmas 

Ever the tiny post office (think Norman Rockwell)

and these hills, sproat puffs of green

or leaves red pulse, gold spark or

rain plip plop, soft sculpt snow—

so know this, says heart: 

                 earth-Sky 

                  is home.

*From prompt: Make a list simple phrases or facts about a favorite place, then weave into a poem, then reweave where needed to say things in a fresh way. From Carrie Voigt Schonhoff’s Free Verse workshop (Hope at Hand’s Jax Poetry Fest), April 12, 2024. 

A vessel now, (WC)

  

(Wendy Cabell, April 2, 2024, feast day of Mary in the Ruins (related image above), Our Lady of Highest Grace, Martyr Polycarp of Alexandria, Saint Ebba the Younger, Blessed Mary of Saint Joseph Alvarado Cardozo, Saint Musa of Rome. On Jewish calendar today, the Mishkan assembled; 7 "days of training" (1312 BC). Image from here.)

A vessel now,

safe place. With milk and Sun, 

wiggling space. Must be held 

to find this grace. So please—

a vessel now

just in case

*From prompt: Freewrite as inspired by “The Man Who Gave Birth to a Panda” by Idra Novey. From Lisa Freedman’s BreatheReadWrite, April 2, 2024.