© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
July 30, 2017
Happy Haiga Day!
I have two phone apps that purport to be able to identify photos of unknown (to the photographer) plants. Neither could ID this striking range of green to raisin-colored leaves! I'd love it if you can tell me what they are.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
July 28, 2017
Poetry Friday--Zorach Family Art
On a recent visit to the Currier Museum of Art in Manchester, I became enamored of a small bronze titled "Affection." The piece is by William Zorach. It was the only work of art I photographed that day.
I wrote an ekphrastic cherita* to pair with it:
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "Affection" (1933) by William Zorach [1887-1966].
The Currier also has a painting, "Plowing the Fields," by Zorach.
A Wikipedia entry on William Zorach let me know that Zorach spent time in New Hampshire and lived and died in Maine (our neighboring state). I also found that Zorach was the father of illustrator Dahlov (Zorach) Ipcar, a name some of you may recognize. Ipcar passed away on February 10, 2017, at age 99.
Dahlov Ipcar wrote and illustrated many children's books, such as The Wonderful Egg (recently reprinted), and, she illustrated books by other writers such as Margaret Wise Brown.
Flying Eye Books.
Head over to A Word Edgewise where Linda is hosting the Round-Up for this week.
*A cherita is an unrhymed, untitled, poem that tells a story in 3 verses. Verse 1 is one line, verse 2 is two lines, verse 3 is three lines. Click on the "cherita" label on the right side of the page.
I wrote an ekphrastic cherita* to pair with it:
The Currier also has a painting, "Plowing the Fields," by Zorach.
A Wikipedia entry on William Zorach let me know that Zorach spent time in New Hampshire and lived and died in Maine (our neighboring state). I also found that Zorach was the father of illustrator Dahlov (Zorach) Ipcar, a name some of you may recognize. Ipcar passed away on February 10, 2017, at age 99.
Dahlov Ipcar wrote and illustrated many children's books, such as The Wonderful Egg (recently reprinted), and, she illustrated books by other writers such as Margaret Wise Brown.
Head over to A Word Edgewise where Linda is hosting the Round-Up for this week.
*A cherita is an unrhymed, untitled, poem that tells a story in 3 verses. Verse 1 is one line, verse 2 is two lines, verse 3 is three lines. Click on the "cherita" label on the right side of the page.
July 25, 2017
July 23, 2017
Happy Haiga Day!
With many thanks to Tara Smith who took the photo at her farm in upstate New York!
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo © Tara Smith, used with permission.
Text:
the flap of sheets
fans the labrador's nose
July heat
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Photo © Tara Smith, used with permission.
Text:
the flap of sheets
fans the labrador's nose
July heat
July 21, 2017
Poetry Friday--"Dear Bee"
The other day I deliberately and forcefully applied the sole of my slipper to a large ant in my kitchen. I found myself apologizing. I really would rather redirect little creatures back outside, but with ants, it's too daunting a mission.
I wondered what Emily Dickinson would have done. (This really didn't come out of the blue, I had recently watched the newly released DVD, A Quiet Passion.) The internet is wonderful and it allowed me to find her poems online and search for "ant" within the text. I have to assume that the negative result is because Miss Emily didn't write about ants. Probably because she'd dealt with them in the same manner as I did!
Of course I found a gazillion references to bees. So, I wrote this little ditty à la Emily Dickinson. It contains her beloved bee, and also, the neglected ant.
I hope it scans well for you. I tried singing the lines to both "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and the theme song to Gilligan's Island. It worked for me, but it might not work for you. (I wrote about singing Emily Dickinson poems here; also check out the comments for that post.)
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
Dear Bee:
You and all your kindred folk
dwell in the world outside.
In the fields, among the oaks,
there's nought for you inside
My cluttered home, where you will see:
the gray of dust and grime.
Do not come in. Heed my plea,
or, be subject to my crime
Of expelling you. Whacking you.
Rendering you nonextant.
Warn all your friends! It's up to you!
My apologies to the ants.
Katie at The Logonauts is playing host to the Round-Up this week. Do stop by!
I wondered what Emily Dickinson would have done. (This really didn't come out of the blue, I had recently watched the newly released DVD, A Quiet Passion.) The internet is wonderful and it allowed me to find her poems online and search for "ant" within the text. I have to assume that the negative result is because Miss Emily didn't write about ants. Probably because she'd dealt with them in the same manner as I did!
Of course I found a gazillion references to bees. So, I wrote this little ditty à la Emily Dickinson. It contains her beloved bee, and also, the neglected ant.
I hope it scans well for you. I tried singing the lines to both "The Yellow Rose of Texas" and the theme song to Gilligan's Island. It worked for me, but it might not work for you. (I wrote about singing Emily Dickinson poems here; also check out the comments for that post.)
Text:
Dear Bee:
You and all your kindred folk
dwell in the world outside.
In the fields, among the oaks,
there's nought for you inside
My cluttered home, where you will see:
the gray of dust and grime.
Do not come in. Heed my plea,
or, be subject to my crime
Of expelling you. Whacking you.
Rendering you nonextant.
Warn all your friends! It's up to you!
My apologies to the ants.
Katie at The Logonauts is playing host to the Round-Up this week. Do stop by!
July 18, 2017
July 16, 2017
Happy Haiga Day!
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
binge-watching
...the bouquets that go
unpicked
July 14, 2017
Poetry Friday--It's National Mac and Cheese Day!
Inspired by Tabatha Yeatts' post on donuts two weeks ago, I have decided to celebrate another beloved food--macaroni and cheese. July 14 has been designated as National Mac and Cheese Day and I'm celebrating with a non-caloric mac and cheese poem! I hope other bloggers will be celebrating the day, too.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
It's All about the Crumbs
Macaroni and cheese is
a diet-busting
cheddary
toothsome
tongue coating
easily going
down the gullet
dinner-time staple.
Go the extra step
and finely crush
a sleeve of crackers
sprinkle them over
the top, dot with
butter and bake
until the crumbs
are golden brown.
What you now have
is a magnific
mac and cheese.
That little crunch
surprises the palate
pleases the plebeian
gratifies the gastronome
exemplifies America.
Who knew I'd be writing a patriotic poem? If I were to go back, I probably would have used a word other than magNIFic. [Imposing in size or splendor : exalted.] It's not common, and people will probably read it as magnificent, or magnifique. Magnifique sort of negates the American emphasis of the poem. What word would you suggest?
My favorite addition to macaroni and cheese is fresh tomatoes. What's yours? Or do you prefer it plain? The good old blue box kind? Cheddar, American? What cheeses go into your mac and cheese? Do you make a cream sauce first? And as for the crumbs, I like the original Ritz crackers, but you may have another preferred crumb. What a versatile dish! I even love it cold.
I feel badly for those with dairy allergies. At least there's now plenty of gluten-free varieties of macaroni for those with gluten or wheat issues.
If you're short on time, you can whip up a single-serving size in a microwaveable coffee mug. I've done it and recommend you give it a try! Here's the simple recipe I've used (your quantities and cooking times may vary):
In a large mug or deep bowl (a Pyrex one-cup measure works well), stir in 1/3 cup uncooked macaroni and 1/2 cup water. Microwave for 3 minutes, stir, then microwave for an additional 2 minutes.
Stir in a scant 1/4 cup milk and approximately 1/2 cup shredded cheddar. Cook one minute more.
You can add crumbs at this point and put the mug under the broiler, but that makes for more prep, risks burning the crumbs, and, results in a mug that is too hot to handle. In other words, skip the crumbs.
Word of warning: you may need to soak your mug for a while after eating, although you could probably begin by greasing the mug.
Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference is hosting the Poetry Friday Round-Up, so head over there for more non-caloric poetry treats!
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
It's All about the Crumbs
Macaroni and cheese is
a diet-busting
cheddary
toothsome
tongue coating
easily going
down the gullet
dinner-time staple.
Go the extra step
and finely crush
a sleeve of crackers
sprinkle them over
the top, dot with
butter and bake
until the crumbs
are golden brown.
What you now have
is a magnific
mac and cheese.
That little crunch
surprises the palate
pleases the plebeian
gratifies the gastronome
exemplifies America.
Who knew I'd be writing a patriotic poem? If I were to go back, I probably would have used a word other than magNIFic. [Imposing in size or splendor : exalted.] It's not common, and people will probably read it as magnificent, or magnifique. Magnifique sort of negates the American emphasis of the poem. What word would you suggest?
My favorite addition to macaroni and cheese is fresh tomatoes. What's yours? Or do you prefer it plain? The good old blue box kind? Cheddar, American? What cheeses go into your mac and cheese? Do you make a cream sauce first? And as for the crumbs, I like the original Ritz crackers, but you may have another preferred crumb. What a versatile dish! I even love it cold.
I feel badly for those with dairy allergies. At least there's now plenty of gluten-free varieties of macaroni for those with gluten or wheat issues.
If you're short on time, you can whip up a single-serving size in a microwaveable coffee mug. I've done it and recommend you give it a try! Here's the simple recipe I've used (your quantities and cooking times may vary):
In a large mug or deep bowl (a Pyrex one-cup measure works well), stir in 1/3 cup uncooked macaroni and 1/2 cup water. Microwave for 3 minutes, stir, then microwave for an additional 2 minutes.
Stir in a scant 1/4 cup milk and approximately 1/2 cup shredded cheddar. Cook one minute more.
You can add crumbs at this point and put the mug under the broiler, but that makes for more prep, risks burning the crumbs, and, results in a mug that is too hot to handle. In other words, skip the crumbs.
Word of warning: you may need to soak your mug for a while after eating, although you could probably begin by greasing the mug.
Tabatha Yeatts: The Opposite of Indifference is hosting the Poetry Friday Round-Up, so head over there for more non-caloric poetry treats!
July 11, 2017
Haiku Sticky #417
For today, a cherita instead of a haiku.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
political rants
go unanswered
by a cat
one of several
reasons she prefers
to live alone
Text:
political rants
go unanswered
by a cat
one of several
reasons she prefers
to live alone
July 9, 2017
Happy Haiga Day!
A little something inspired by my friend Pamela Ross. We, along with several others, have been discussing attending the Highlights workshop, "The Craft and Heart of Writing Poetry for Children" in October.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. The photo was taken several years ago at the Andres Institute of Art.
Text:
poised on the threshold
in or out?
the doorknob remains
in your hands
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. The photo was taken several years ago at the Andres Institute of Art.
Text:
poised on the threshold
in or out?
the doorknob remains
in your hands
July 7, 2017
Poetry Friday--Back by Popular Demand
Some of you asked that I continue my Katku series, so, since you asked...here are three more Katku!
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "The Rider" by Edwin Lord Weeks.
Text:
cat perched...
the swivel desk chair
holds a surprise
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "Cherry Blossoms" by Lilla Cabot Perry (1911).
Text:
none actually
saw the vase tip over
...mopping up
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "Morning Light" by William MacGregor Paxton.
Text:
east-facing window
cat hopes to catch the birds
if only by glimpse
Carol at Beyond Literacy Link will be rounding up the poetry links this week!
Next Friday, July 14, is National Macaroni and Cheese Day! Mac and cheese is one of my all-time favorite foods, so, I'm planning on having a mac and cheese poem ready to celebrate. How about you? Will you join the celebration, too? Have a great week!
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "The Rider" by Edwin Lord Weeks.
Text:
cat perched...
the swivel desk chair
holds a surprise
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "Cherry Blossoms" by Lilla Cabot Perry (1911).
Text:
none actually
saw the vase tip over
...mopping up
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "Morning Light" by William MacGregor Paxton.
Text:
east-facing window
cat hopes to catch the birds
if only by glimpse
Carol at Beyond Literacy Link will be rounding up the poetry links this week!
Next Friday, July 14, is National Macaroni and Cheese Day! Mac and cheese is one of my all-time favorite foods, so, I'm planning on having a mac and cheese poem ready to celebrate. How about you? Will you join the celebration, too? Have a great week!
July 4, 2017
Haiku Sticky #416
Happy Independence Day. This a a rather melancholy senryu. It's not a good feeling when you're constantly thinking about moving to another country.
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
7/4/17
a renewed wish to be
independent
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved.
Text:
7/4/17
a renewed wish to be
independent
July 2, 2017
Happy Haiga Day!
© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. Dude ranch ad Sunset, 1898. Cowgirl photo courtesy George Eastman Museum.