August 9, 2018

Poetry Friday--Library of Congress Challenge

When I don't have a photo of my own to illustrate a poem, or if I'm in need of a subject to write on, I often turn to the Library of Congress collection of photographs. They have 14 million photographs! Currently, an exhibit curated by Anne Wilkes Tucker, is appearing at the Annenberg Space for Photography in Los Angeles, CA. The exhibit contains a selection of 440 LOC photos. They are projected digitally, or appear in gallery print format, for the exhibition titled, "Not an Ostrich." (Margaret Simon, if you're reading this, take a look here for the photo that inspired the exhibition title.)





For today, I've chosen a Library of Congress photo in the public domain (rights information is included on the image description page), which I've paired with a cherita.


© Diane Mayr, all rights reserved. "Geese on the farm of a French-Canadian potato farmer in Soldier Pond, Maine" by Jack Delano (1940).

Text:
The New Flock: The Riddle in the Pun

One day the chicken
jumped out of the way
of a sickening array
of hell-bent and honking,
frantic, full-feathered fowl.

"Who are they?" she shrieked.
"Answer! Answer me, Farmer!"

"My clever chick!" said Farmer.
"You ansered your own question!"

He went on to advise her,
"Don't get in a tizzy!
They only get hissy
when you stand in the
way of their supper."


Anser anser domesticus is the scientific name of the domestic goose!

I'm posting a challenge for you to visit the LOC collection of images find an animal, and use it as inspiration for a poem of your own. Perhaps the easiest way to do that is to decide on a particular animal, for example, I selected "goose," then put the name in the search box. "Goose" resulted in 287 images ("geese" returned 121, there is significant overlap). Some of the hits are photos, some are drawings, some are photos of a baseball player whose first name is Goose. For the purposes of this challenge, use whatever strikes you as being poem-worthy!

Come back on August 24 where I'll have "mounted" a virtual exhibition of participants' work. I've decided to title it, "Surprise! A Goose." Let me know in the comments if you're interested, and if so, email a link to the LOC image and include the poem by Tuesday, August 21 [dianemayrATdianemayrDOTcom]. Or, if you combine the poem with the image, send me the LOC link plus the jpg for your project. Let's do it--it'll be fun! If no one participates, it's going to be just geese poems, so please anser my challenge! Please note: I'm be traveling this week, so I may not acknowledge your email for several days.

And, if you're participating in Christie Wyman's bird challenge--do a LOC search, find a bird image, and then use your poem for both challenges! You'll kill two birds with one poem! (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone is this week's Round-Up hostess!

18 comments:

  1. I love the idea of searching the Library of Congress photo collection for poetry ideas--I'll definitely have to spend some time looking. I especially enjoyed the alliteration in your poem ("hell-bent and honking, frantic, full-feathered fowl") and the clever way you wove in the goose's scientific name.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've been known to spend hours on the LOC site!

      Delete
  2. Oh, this is WONDERFUL! And, wouldn't you know? I happen to have a file of LOC photos I've been collecting to use for inspiration. Challenge accepted. I think I'll look for a bird photo so that I can meet Christie's challenge as well. Great cherita....so funny that the chicken is flustered by those honkers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I look forward to your bird poem hanging in the gallery!

      Delete
  3. What a surprise to see a personal note to me on your post! "Floradora goose" will be my choice. Now to write the goosey poem. Thanks for the challenge. I am back to school and my brain is crowded. I think my Facebook video must've helped inspire your poem. Geese and chickens don't mix. Ha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your FB video did inspire me! That goose was such a good chicken mimic!

      Delete
  4. How fun to see that chicken's face poking out of the corner of the photo! LOVE your punny poem!

    I think I'm going to "wing it" (Christie's words!!) and "kill two birds with one poem" (although I won't kill them, really!).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know you'll come up with a killer poem, Mary Lee!

      Delete
  5. I just love your sense of humor and the righteous indignation of that chicken! Your riddle cherita is so clever! I'm most thankful that you provided us with the answer ...or anser as it were! I'm tentatively planning to participate in your challenge, but have to figure out how to juggle all the lined up PF goodies--swaps, bird challenge, etc. I'm looking forward to browsing through the photo collection.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No pressure, Molly! This is just for fun. If it's not fun, why do it?

      Delete
  6. I am intrigued. I've wanted to explore the LOC collections, and this is the push I need. Put me down as a definite maybe. I'll see what I can find amidst all the tomatoes.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hilarious poem, although I was confused how the chicken had answered until I read the explanation, since I had no idea what the scientific name was. Adorable personification of the chicken. I have a bird poem up my sleeve for next week. Such fun.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. For some reason most of the poems I write that contain rhyme are less than serious. Rhyme is generally outside my comfort zone, but if I add some humor, it's bearable.

      Delete
  8. What a clever name for an exhibit, "Not an Ostrich," great video of the exhibit too. I liked that fish-house that flashed by. And your funny poem is delightful. I'm working on a bird poem for Christie's challenge so perhaps the winds will carry it your way. Happy travels Diane!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hope the anser, my friend, is blowin' in the wind!

      Delete
  9. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I know I commented...hmm. Anyway I love getting new resources for images! Thanks. And I love new challenges! Thanks. And I'm glad you gave the answer to the riddle! Thanks.

    ReplyDelete