Pondering, © 2019 Michelle Kogan, watercolor pencil, after the sculpture Clytie, by William Henry Rinehart, 1872, Marble, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and my trip there.
Happy Poetry Friday!
Dani Graham Burtsfield is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup at her blog Doing the Work that Matters–thanks for hosting Dani! Stop by for your fill of poetry goodness.
PONDERING…
Scrutinize eye and hand,
breathe…
Slow down,
look around,
find a space
of deep breathing,
find a space
of deep thinking,
find a space
of pondering…
© 2019 Michelle Kogan
Here’re some pics from my trip to NYC last week. Click on the images for a larger view. The Images include:
Sanctuary from the Museum at the Eldridge, in the Eldridge Synagogue; Books in the library of the Morgan Library; Les Paul Guitar belonging to Steve Miller from the exhibit Play it Loud: Instruments of Rock & Roll – Metropolitan Museum of Art, (Met); Women painted on Doors in the High Line; Ukifune’s attempt to drown herself, inspired by the painting Ophelia by John Everett Millais by Yamato Waki, 1992, from the exhibit The Tale of Genji, Met; Fashions from the exhibit at the Met: Camp: Notes on Fashion; Pomegrantes from the exhibit at the Met: The World Between Empires, Art and Identity in the Ancient Middle East; Painting and Sculpture from the Whitney Biennial 2019.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
I read your poem a few times Michelle because I needed to slow down and get into a space to truly appreciate it. Thank you.
Your poem and painting are beautiful and calming (something we all need so much these days). Thanks for sharing the wonderful gallery of photos — looks like you had a grand time (those women painted on doors are esp cool).
Thanks Jama–it was a grand trip in so many ways!
I agree with the others, Michelle. Your painting is beautiful and the poem meditative. I found myself reading it again and again for a soothing effect. What a bunch of great pix from the Met! I have a journal with that same photo of a young Oscar Wilde, but my favorite is the outdoor installation of the doors with women painted on them.
This poem seems like something my yoga teacher would read at the end of class! Thanks for the calming words and painting.
Michelle, I love the word ponder and the power it brings to my creative state. Thanks for sharing a wonderful poem and illustration along with the photos from your NYC trip. I love the fashion shots. I just posted my PF post before the stroke of 1. I have a spring challenge that I am offering and I hope you will send me one of your fabulous imagepoems.
Thanks Carol, I’ll take a peek at your challenge…
I love your poem and painting (and miss you!). I’m breathing more deeply after reading it. It looks like a great trip to NYC. Thanks for sharing your photos–it looks like an inspiring trip.
Thanks Susan, miss you too… It was a terrific trip, most inspiring. Hope all is going well in your new home and city–fill me in sometime.
Your poem holds lots of big truths. Thank you. Looks like you had a fabulous time in NYC!!
Pondering is something that does not come easy to me. Your poem is one that I need to hold at the forefront of my mind when I’m on fast-forward. I wonder how many things I have missed in the rush mode I often find myself in. Thank you for your post!
I’m so ready to find these spaces for deep pondering and reflecting! I know I’ll feel much better when I do. Thanks for helping me look forward to it when I do!
That guitar is SO COOL! We are house hunting right now, looking for a place that invites deep pondering and reflecting. Yes to slowing down and observing.
The entire exhibit was really COOL! Thanks for stopping by Laura! Good luck with the house hunting that’s a challenging task…