Happy Poetry Friday
My poem this week, a haiku within my WIP drawing came from a contrapuntal poem I am working on. Both of these poems are about Beauty, and about being/taking in time, allowing ourself time, and connections with our past, present, and future while still in our present time. I’m focusing again on a woman for Women’s History Month, and with this end, my drawing–both art and poem echos back to the New York artist/poet Florine Stettheimer. I’m particularly attracted to the exciting way she used pinks in her paintings.
converse with beauty…
hold past, present, and future
in time’s presence…
© 2021 Michelle Kogan
Here’s one of Florine Stettheimer’s poems which may be included in a reissued collection of her poetry called Crystal Flowers: Poems and a Libretto . This collection of poems was originally assembled by her sister Ettie Stettheimer after Stettheimer’s death.
For a long time
I gave myself
To the arrested moment
To the unfulfilled moment
To the moment of quiet expectation
I painted the trance moment
The promise moment
The moment in the balance
In mellow golden tones…
Then I saw
by Florine Stettheimer
Read the rest of the poem here.
On another note, I have a new session of Online, Spring Art Classes beginning in April. I’m offering classes in Figure Drawing and Painting, Watercolor, Children’s Picture Book Illustration, Pen and Ink and Watercolor, and a Poetry and Art Workshop. Visit the Evanston Art Center and Harper College Community Education for registration info and descriptions of my classes.
Heidi Mordhorst at her blog my juicy little universe is hosting this weeks Poetry Friday Roundup, thanks Heidi! Heidi’s celebrating her Birthday with a few Birthday related poems, so drop in to join the celebration–Happy Birthday Heidi!
Visit Renée LaTulippe at No Water River to find out more about what Poetry Friday is.
Michelle Kogan Illustration, Painting, & Writing 
Michelle, as always i am in awe of your creative talents, and the way you weave your art and your poetry together.
I also love Florine’s line “Then I saw” When I first read I thought that was the end, and thought it was perfect as is – the idea of ‘seeing’ after trying to paint. When I clicked through and read the rest thought, I saw (lol) the rest of the poem, and that was perfect too.
Her poem stands on it’s own after that line–”Then I saw,” and then adds even more– glad you enjoyed it, thanks!
I love how you’ve woven the stages of every part of our lives into your poem, Michelle. We are all those layers of energy & motion, in so many “moments”! Happy weekend!
I think your comment is also a poem or the buds of one, “We are all those layers of energy & motion, in so many “moments”! ” Thanks Linda!
I can’t wait to see what your contrapuntal poem(s) turn out to be, but in the meantime, how much do I love Florine’s pinks!? “Natatorium Undine”!!! Thanks for introducing me to this woman of past present and future.
You’ll have to seek out some of her art and spend time with it, they sing of beauty and fulfillment, and more… “Florine Stettheimer Painting and Poetry” by Brown and Uhlyarik from the exhibition at the Jewish Museum is wonderful!
I’ve long believed that artists see differently. There is a training to light and line and color that I am in awe of. This image with the pinks against the figure is delightful all the way to the toes!
I never heard of her and it’s fortunate that her sister defied her wish to destroy her paintings. That’s interesting to consider. Besides pink, I also like her bright yellow in her work. She seems to bring images forth, as described in her poem, through meditation and how fascinating she describes it in her poem.
hello again creative Michelle of the pen, brush, palette & poems that weave so much beauty into our world. appreciations for a rosy introduction to Florine Stettheimer, with links & limning her life of fringes & tinsel in a fascinating family of women, especially that beloved sister Ettie.
we are all going to want to know about the outcome of the contraputnal series & also perhaps a report later on leading the group in Art & Poetry? you are boundless & we are lucky to know you.
[at Bookseedstudio, my post mentions the blog break coming up, but I’ve a call for poetry you may want to look at there. happy Wonder Full weekend!]
You always create so much beauty! Ruth, thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com
She keeps me balanced, thanks!
How lovely this woman in the painting…and my favorite modern paintings include language embedded in them. This work is stunning. A contrapuntal poem? I don’t know this form. I am intrigued and look forward to learning more from you.
Thank you for all the loveliness, Michelle. And I love the pink background…
I love the invitation to converse with beauty….
Such a coincidence that I stumbled upon one of Florine’s paintings this morning to post to FB, knowing nothing about her and now, via your post I learn she was also a poet! Her pinks drew me to the painting I posted too! Thanks for sharing your lovely drawing with haiku. Perfect prelude to spring.
I’m totally with you in the ponderment of time!
What a lovely haiku/painting. I do love all the pink–and can’t wait to see what it looks like when it’s finished! And thanks for introducing me to another poet/artist who I’ve never met before. I love the poem of hers that you shared. What a wonderful riff on time–and I like how it connects with your poem and art.