I thought I would try painting four paintings at once, all on a given theme. I chose the Greek Isles. I have not visited there, but found the colorful images of this theme to be very beautiful. I finally finished them this week. You may recognize some of the locations such as Santorini or Chios.
Paintings: Dwight L. Roth
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
I am also posting this for d’Verse Poets Pub open link night.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
The Cologne Cathedral is a majestic structure. We visited Cologne this past summer and were in awe of the fine detail in every aspect of its architecture. Looking up, it appears to stretch upward like a giant skyscraper. The most amazing thing is the cathedral was built without the help of modern technology or tools. Skilled craftsman sculpted every stone by hand. Many who visit find this magnificent cathedral to be a very spiritual experience which brings them closer to God. Others simply enjoy the history and appreciate the wonderful architecture.
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Amaya at d’Verse asked us to use the word Majestic in a poem of our choice.
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Today, in the US, we are celebrating Columbus Day. To me, a conflict arises, as I think of the Indigenous People who were affected by this event. The arrival of white Europeans meant the beginning of the end of the lives of the Native American people. In North Carolina, the Cherokee people were force off their land and driven to the Oklahoma desert land to live. It became known as the Trail of Tears. Many died on the long march west. Some hid in the North Carolina mountains and a refused to leave. There is still a Cherokee presence in the Great Smokie Mountains.
When we visited Banner Elk a couple of years ago, we saw symbols of Indian heritage in the stone walls erected in the center of town. This was very interesting to me, since I read that there are numerous gated communities in the Banner Elk area. I would guess that very few, if any, of those residents are Cherokee.
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Frank Tassone, at d’Verse asked us to write a poem for Haibun Monday using the word indigenous. I decided to take the viewpoint of the displaced Cherokee people who once lived in the NC mountains.
In 1977 participants at the United Nations International Conference on Discrimination against Indigenous Populations in the Americas proposed that Indigenous Peoples’ Day replace Columbus Day. Indigenous Peoples’ Day recognizes that Native people are the first inhabitants of the Americas, including the lands that later became the United States of America. And it urges Americans to rethink history. While Columbus day remains the Federal Holiday, many communities in the US celebrate Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year.
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Cooler weather brought out crowds of people today to the Waynesboro, Virginia Street Fair. Venders’ tents dotted the main street. People wondered in and out of booths with their children and their dogs. It was a great day to be outside.
Photos taken today with iPhone: Dwight L. Roth
Frank Tassone’s Haikai challenge is to write a poem about the Fall season and the October Hunter’s Moon that rises tonight over the Eastern Blue Ridge Mountains.
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, we are exploring the use of Pop Art in poetry. Andy Warhol and others created art by using the mundane items of everyday life. The most common is probably Warhol’s Campbell’s Soup cans painted in repeated variations on the canvas. Today I decided to use bicycles I saw parked in Amsterdam. This is my Pop Art version.
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Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Anmol, at d’Verse, asked us to write a poem that uses description of a person that paints a picture of that person for the reader. I decided to write about one of the elderly persons who comes to hear my stories and songs at the local nursing home.
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This morning I heard a tap, tap, tapping on my kitchen window. When I went to see what it was, this cute little brown capped nuthatch pecking at his mirrored reflection in the tinted glass. The overcast day tuned our Low-E windows into mirrors. He was trying very hard to chase away that bird he saw in the window. So funny! How often do we want to try to chase away that person we see in our mirror!
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
