Today the sun was out so warm and I eventually found myself in the backyard in a lawn chair for the first time this season. I pondered my journal and things going on in my life, then before you know it I was writing a poem. So I’m sharing it with you here, hope you like it. (I also typed it at the end so you can read it minus the typo’s! 😉
“The Journals’ Answer” by Mary McAndrew
My poem "The Journals' Answer" on parchment
As usual I like to share with you a little about how I did something. Below are color swatches to show what color’s I used making this parchment. The top five are water soluble crayons, the bottom one is Derwent’s Inktense black water soluble pencil. I used the top four mostly, and at the end I added some black right next to the edge of the paper. I then added some black water soluble crayon over it just to try it. The paper was Bristol Vellum and it’s great for a journal you’ll paint in but it only handles a so much ‘rubbing’ when you’re blending layers of colors.
Color chart for what I used making the parchment
I jotted the poem on some lined paper I keep at the back of my journal then started to write it ‘neatly’ (hahah) on the journal page. I didn’t realize it was going to grow to be so long so I drew the parchment borders after I got the whole thing written. Oh and as a side note, I didn’t really cry though I felt a frustration with some things on my mind. Writing about crying was like crying for real.
*
“The Journals’ Answer”
Holding my journal in my hands,
I think of things I don’t understand.
Breezes warm upon my face,
Leave behind no sign or trace.
Of feelings that welled from inside.
Tracks of wet tears that from my eyes
Ran freely down upon my cheek.
Leaving nothing for me to speak.
Where will this future take me now?
I ask my book, my pages, “how?”
Can they not give me some support?
I listen hard for it’s retort,
Is it my book I hear replying
Or the breeze in yon willow sighing?
My heart tells me what I’m feeling
Write it, draw it, find your healing.
Pages open wide for me
Put to paper what I see.
Draw and write what I hold dear
Focusing on these makes it clear.
Leaving my writing for all to see
Nature drawings now history.
My world is your world, this my gift,
To hope it gives a little lift.
No time for tears or heavy sighs
Lift your spirits to the skies.
Find your path, do what you will
Just remember “don’t sit still”!
Futures come and futures go
This you can be sure to know.
Thank you journal, you showed me how
To stop and see what’s here now.
Now is all that matters much
The rest is all “out of touch”.
Draw it, share it, live it, breath it,
In my journal I will leave it.
(c) Mary McAndrew 2011
I may change the line that reads “Futures come and futures go” to “The future comes then it goes”? Usually when I write a poem I finish it pretty fast, all in one sitting because it just kind of flows out at that time. Sometimes I go back and rearrange a bit.
Well leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Ponderings of a poet-naturalist-artist!
OH Mary,
It’s a beautiful poem! It’s a quite sad at the beginning. I hope the sun shines for you soon if you are feeling blue.
If I credit you and link back to your blog would it be alright to share your poem on my blog The Dao of Doing? Every Friday we do someting inspirational. This would be so perfect.
You really should write a childrens book. Painting isn’t your only talent.
On a seperate note, a while back you had painted some snails. I just LOVED them so so much! I was just in California and found a few in my friends garden. I’ve made a little house for them and am going to try to sketch/paint them.
Wish me luck!
Best Wishes,
Kel
The Dao of Doing
Hi Kelly, so nice to hear from you again! I’d be honored to be featured on your blog! Please do! (Let me know when you do so I can mention it on Facebook and on my blog!)
Funny you should mention the childrens books, I’ve written a few stories but just need to illustrate them, sometimes not sure where to begin! Kind of like your blog…just do it right? Life is keeping me busy with some other things right now but I REALLY want to get them published someday.
I’m glad you liked the snails too, I wrote a cute poem/story about “Cuthbert” the snail, that’s one I want to get done! When I went walking the other day on my land, I found a tiny golden snail and did some drawings, it’ll be my next post!….I hope you like it and I’d love to see some sketches you do.
Please keep in touch,
Mary
That’s a lovely poem…and I hope you’re feeling better. I gather you’ve gone through some changes. I have as well and sketching is a wonderful means of therapy. Glad you have your journal and an awareness of the moment. That will serve you well 🙂
Thanks Don, by the end of the poem I felt a lot better, like I was working my thoughts out in my head and on my journal page. All things came ‘right’ in the end as my journal reminded me of how much I like to study things (nature especially) and record it for all to see. I don’t know what I’d do without a sketch journal nowadays! I took at quicky look at your blog and love the groundhog and a few other things. I’ll check it out more later.
I plan to go through your work and have saved your site in my favorites—I relate a lot to your words and love what you’re doing……………
Hi Winna, thanks for stopping by and glad you liked it! I do hope you keep coming by and see what I do. I checked out your flickr set and liked the stone angels and mute swans, nice!
Love you paintings and love the poem! It is very moving!
thank you Janine,I’m glad you like it. I’ve written poetry for years but just starting to include it here. I like the images you have of people (women) on your blog, ( I snuck over and checked it out!) I bet you’d like my goddess and fantasy paintings. Thanks for stopping by.