The Painting & Poetry Project 2021

Week 4: Music & Dancing

Year 2021. What does it mean to you? To Addie and I, it is full of hope and promise. It is a turning point. The beginning of the end of a pandemic. The end of a volatile presidency and a return to sensible governance. The end of quarantines, isolation, and social distancing and a return to physical human interaction. We will once again congregate, gather with those we love, see them up close, touch and feel again … not in an impersonal virtual space, but in the very real and beautiful world.

We want to celebrate 2021 with an outpouring of creativity and optimism!

Each week, we’ll choose a theme upon which to write and paint. We have many exciting topics to explore, and we are excited to share our work.

So, without further ado, let’s continue this year’s adventure!


WEEK FOUR

The fourth theme for the new year is music & dancing.

If I had to live my life again I would have made a rule to read some poetry and listen to some music at least once every week … The loss of these tastes is a loss of happiness, and may possibly be injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character, by enfeebling the emotional part of our nature.

Charles Darwin, The Autobiography of Charles Darwin: 1809-1882

ADDIE’S PAINTING

Dancing by Moonlight
(Studio door)


MY POEM

Two Winged Thoughts

Two winged thoughts.
Two winged steeds.

Hobbled by the fog of night,
Reared among the lifeless trees.

What’s your name?
I’ll call you friend!
‘Tis your soul,

your quickened flesh alone,
with whom I’ll dance
upon the loose and shallow graves.

But why dance here
among the long but restless dead?
Let’s frolic by the sea instead!

We’ll make our way
from moon and wood to sun and sea—
our passage born
winged and gilded upon the morn—
from path and sylvan canopy,
to harbor and forgotten quay.

Loose Argo’s lines, beloved mine!
Set sail upon the silver sea!
Upon her magic prow we’ll sing
to golden lyre an offering
to Phoebus’ fires for tailwinds strong—
prophetic wings we’ll race upon.


ABOUT THE PAINTING & POETRY PROJECT

Brad & Addie

We’ve selected 52 themes (one theme per week for the year), and each week for 2021, I will write a poem and Addie will paint a painting inspired by that theme.

Expect an outpouring of creative energy! This is the sort of big project that artists live for … where we can say what we yearn to say.  Big picture stuff. Heart wrenching stuff. Expect surprises, love, and a passion for life.

Check Out Addie’s Instagram Account: www.instagram.com/alchemy.of.art.addie.hirschten/

Check out Addie’s art studio — Studio Alchemy:
studioalchemy.art/


Every month or so, I’ll send a newsletter via e-mail to my subscribers. More often than not, it will contain a list of my new blog posts.  You may find something in it that interests you! Or more likely, you’ll be bored to tears and curse my very existence. In either case, you should sign up. You may unsubscribe at any time!