I received a surprise envelope all the way from tropical Hawaii this week. With these lovely drawings and haiku to accompany. They came from Joy Acey, and she also sent me a beautiful card with a view of their “island light house,” at Kilauea, that looks down into the magical cobalt and cerulean blue waters. Thank you for these tropical treasures Joy!
Hawaiian ginger In the grass
red torches light up the night shower trees
scenting the air rain down petals
Joy Acey © 2017 Joy Acey © 2017
In a crystal vase
Bird of Paradise dances
yearning to fly
Joy Acey © 2017
Also at Kilauea, Joy mentioned there is a bird sanctuary, and one of the birds there is the Nēnē Hawaiian Goose, (pronounced Nay-Nay). As a response and thank you I’m sharing this painting that I did a while back of the Nēnē and a few haiku. I have for a long time been creating art on many endangered species to shed more light on their plight. Here’s more info about the Nēnē. Fortunately the Nēnē have made a remarkable come back in Hawaii, and I hope this continues. I used a bit of fantasy and set my Nēnē in one of the tropical greenhouses of our Chicago Botanic Garden. As I was painting it, I had a few people ask me if the birds were in the area. Joy also talked about these additional birds in this same sanctuary, Shearwaters, Egrets, Albatross, and the Red Footed Booby. This last bird is stunning and I will return to it for both painting and writing.
nēnē visits
imaginary tropics
longing for home.
hawaiian nēnē
need native habitat
to survive
nēnē transforming
claw feet carry them across
their lava land.
©2017 Michelle Kogan
This weeks Poetry Friday Roundup is being hosted by Jone MacCulloch, thanks Jone! Stop by her blog for more poems at Check it out,
P.S. Slipping in a slight add for myself …
I’m having a SALE in my online Etsy Shop:
Michelle Kogan Fine Art
(Nēnē’s are there as cards and prints)
Pre~Post Labor Day Sale,
through September 17, 2017
Thanks!
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Such beautiful artwork, Michelle. The down feather-affect is so real. (And the alliteration in your final haiku is lovely!) Enjoying the rain in Joy’s haiku – and that wistful bird of paradise!
Have a lovely weekend!
Hi Kat, Thanks–Happy weekend to you too!
Oh wow, tropical treasures, indeed! I love Joy’s red torches especially. And your art (and art sale!) is lovely and rich. Thank you! xo
Thanks Irene, I’m enjoying all of Joy’s artwork, they are all lovely!
Gorgeous words and images, Michelle. Thank you for brightening my overcast morning!
Thanks Christie, color always helps me on those dreary days too!
A nephew posts pics of his bird of paradise, and I do love Joy’s poem about it. They do look as if they’re “yearning to fly”. Your art is wonderful, Michelle. I’ll look for that red booby in the future, it with the blue-footed ones are favorite birds! Love hearing about the nēnē, too, new to me!
Thanks Linda, I think the bird of paradise is mesmerizing, at least I felt that way when I painting it a while back.
Both your work and that of Joy are a delight. So colorful and full of hope. I can’t imagine what it like in a lush landscape–I’m head-over-heels when I find a simple red columbine in the woods!
Thanks Diane, I think that’s what makes me appreciate the color so much because for a long stretch of the year there’s very little color–having less has helped me to appreciate it even more.
Gorgeous! I loved encountering NeNe in Hawaii, glad to hear they’re making a comeback!
Thanks Jane!
I feel as happy as if I were going to visit Hawaii. I love that Bird of Paradise, yearning to fly. I know just how it feels. Wonderful post.
Thanks Brenda, I’m there in my heart!
Me, too. I fear I left the best part of my heart there.
Michelle
I have art envy. What a beautiful watercolor. You’ve captured the corded neck of the Nene perfectly and the antheria is fantastic. I must come see those gardens.
Thanks Joy, this is a favorite painting of mine–I hope to see the Nēnē in their native land someday, and all of your floral creations there too!
Such lovely paintings and words–both offered and received. It makes my heart happy to see all the poetry swapping around this summer.
Thanks Kay, yes it’s been a real literary and visual treat in so many ways!
Love the tropical treasures that Joy sent you–and your nene is beautiful!
Thanks Buffy,
You are too kind.
Wow – I was a lucky recipient of Joy’s treasures this summer, too, and I sure love seeing these here. Your work and hers together in this post, and the stories and locations behind them, all sing together.
I look forward to sharing my colorful gifts from YOU soon! :0) (PS – Good luck with the Etsy sale.)
Hey Robin,
I’m at Highlights for a Poetry Retreat with Eileen Spinelli. I’m staying in “Uncle Jack’s” cabin. The guest book has a sketch you did of a robin in its nest on the porch. It is a beautiful sketch. Wish you were here too.
What a visually gorgeous post. Joy and you are quite the artists and poets. So enjoyed this, Michelle, as well as your Etsy shop. You do beautiful work!
What a beautiful blending of the arts here!
A wonderful combination of poetry and art!
Gorgeous offerings from Joy and response from you. Just lovely. Paradise in a post, you might say.
Lovely!!
You two did a delightful conversation! I love birds of paradise, and real birds 🙂
A rich array of color and imagination. You and Joy make a great tag team!
Michelle, as usual I am always appreciative of your beautiful artwork. The nene bird is vividly portrayed by you and your poems take me to Hawaii. Speaking of Hawaii, Joy provided inspirational image poems for the swap.
Such beautiful tapestries of art and words. I always enjoy the envelopes from Joy such neat surprises! Thank you for sharing your Etsy shop.