Poetry Painting Project: Day 25

ABOUT THE POETRY PAINTING PROJECT

We selected 30 poems (from the public domain) and each day for the next 30 days I will write a poem inspired by it, and Addie will paint a painting.

So, without further ado, let’s get to today’s painting and poem, inspired by The Song of Songs (The Song of Solomon), in the Bible.

To read this poem, click here (or scroll down near the bottom of the page)


ADDIE’S PAINTING

I Slept But My Heart Was Awake
By Addie Hirschten

MY POEM

MY HEART IS AWAKE

When you sleep, my heart is awake.
A sound! A train drones like a cathedral organ—
freight cars rumble between planets—
through the pitch of space
as the city sleeps—
miles upon miles,
from stockyards to farmland vistas,
vanishing into darkness,
and again I hear the rubber wash of highways,
and all is quiet, close, and in focus.

In my heart I walk in the homeland,
where true words are written on the wind.

In my heart I climb a cloud-covered mountain,
and upon its summit I see the broad world,
stretched like an archer’s bow—
a fire-tipped arrow for the sun,
and I weep for joy to see you winged and soaring
in a sky ribbon red and orange.

Your body is warm next to mine.
Your body is my hearth,
your breast a bellows,
the contours of your face
the outer walls of my temple.

And your dreams are my home.


OUR INSPIRATION

THE BRIDE SEARCHES FOR HER BELOVED
from Song of Songs 5 (The Song of Solomon)
The Bible

I slept, but my heart was awake.
A sound! My beloved is knocking.
“Open to me, my sister, my love,
my dove, my perfect one,
for my head is wet with dew,
my locks with the drops of the night.”
I had put off my garment;
how could I put it on?
I had bathed my feet;
how could I soil them?
My beloved put his hand to the latch,
and my heart was thrilled within me.
I arose to open to my beloved,
and my hands dripped with myrrh,
my fingers with liquid myrrh,
on the handles of the bolt.
I opened to my beloved,
but my beloved had turned and gone.
My soul failed me when he spoke.
I sought him, but found him not;
I called him, but he gave no answer.
The watchmen found me
as they went about in the city;
they beat me, they bruised me,
they took away my veil,
those watchmen of the walls.
I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem,
if you find my beloved,
that you tell him
I am sick with love.


Notes:
About the Song of Solomon: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Song_of_Songs
Link to the Song of Solomon: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Song+of+Solomon+5&version=ESV


ABOUT THE POETRY PAINTING PROJECT

For the past couple of months I have been working on a huge new secret project with my painter, Addie Hirshten, of Studio Alchemy

We selected 30 poems (from the public domain) and each day for the next 30 days I will write a poem inspired by it, and Addie will paint a painting.

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. I feel so inspired by the poetry we are working with AND seeing Addie’s process as well. Expect daily surprises with our posts. Expect passion. Expect love. Expect 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/

Give what you have. To someone else it may be better than you dare to think.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

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