
Mid the woods,
snowdusk shadows are
spare–lovely
but cold, dark,
clinging like shaded brume and
wandering silent and deep.
Drawn here but
not belonging, I
do not have
promises
of morning or an end to
this vigil I keep
of if and
beyond—all those miles
now lost to
me. I go
in circles of before–I
beg the night for sleep.

The Kick-About prompt this week was the last 4 lines of Robert Frost’s “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”. I was struggling with my poem, a shovel poem (using the words of Frost’s lines as the last words in the lines of my poem) in the shadorma form, when Sarah at dVerse posted her prompt suggesting titles taken from “Surfacing” by Kathleen Jamie. The idea of traveling in the wilderness helped me find a focus.

I had already spent a long time fooling around with the art. The diorama I planned didn’t work out as I expected, but I liked the background paintings I did more than I thought I would.

Done on very wet rice paper, with black ink and silver and pearl metallic watercolor, they had much more of the feeling of Frost’s words than I expected. The diorama on the other hand, failed to match my vision, and I took 50 photos to come up with just a few that I liked.

Still I learned from the experience, including how natural light is much more blue than that from my drawing table lamp which has a yellow cast.

And I got a surprise in the monoprint that emerged from under one of the wet rice paper paintings which also seemed to capture well the feeling of my poem.

Oh yes! So evocative, and I love the table-top sets too! Smashing 😀
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Thanks Phil. These prompts really get my mind working–thanks!
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I love the Frost poem and how you’ve woven it in here, Kerfe! I really struggle with these, but you’ve created a beautiful golden shovel poem and your artwork is just fantastic. I feel as though I’m in the poem when I look at it!
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Thanks Ingrid. I did struggle, but Sarah’s title suggestion helped me to figure it out. I was pleased with this artwork too, even though the diorama didn’t work as expected.
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You are immensely talented ……..
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Thanks Helen, I appreciate it.
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All of this is beautiful! The trees are like a birch forest, so cold and starkly lovely.
We chose the same title 🙂 I admire you writing a shovel poem. I didn’t even understand the operating instructions.
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Thanks Jane. I enjoy the challenge–it’s like a puzzle.
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For us, it’s certainly worth the/your effort.
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All of this artwork is very beautiful. I do like the ink and watercolour picture best, but that is always my choice. I like those mediums.
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Thanks Robbie. Watercolor is a favorite medium of mine too.
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What Helen Dehner said.
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Thanks Petru.
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Thank you for sharing your poem and including an art tutorial as well! Your talents are impressive.
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Thanks Beverly. I like to include process, as I always enjoy reading about it myself.
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There was a beautiful darkness in this poem. And I really like the artwork. Great post.
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Thanks Rob. Winter is upon us.
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Your poem is wonderful. And your art is breathtaking. Truly.
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Thanks Sherry. I like how watercolor always surprises.
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When I read your poem coming from the dVerse prompt I immediately thought of “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”… you captured that mood perfectly
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Thanks Bjorn. I’m glad the association worked!
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Great shovelling here – it’s hard to get them to flow. This is perfect – you create a mood of coldness and weariness for me. And your artwork is great.
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Thanks Sarah. It’s a form I like, although I also find it difficult. But I loved how the title suggestion helped me to get it to work. Titles are difficult for me too.
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your shovel flows beautifully and your art is exquisite, it echoes Frosts work so reflective!
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Thanks Kate. Even though it’s an iconic poem it still resonates.
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absolutely, well done Kerfe!
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You did a lot with muted tones and shadows. Very cool on all pieces showing a good range of effects. I’ve noticed how natural light has a much different effect on images also. Some collages in sunlight where grass and other shadows fall on it looks cool also.
I love your Frost shovel poem as well!
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Thanks Jade. I agree about sunlight and shadows. Endless fascination.
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I am literally swooning right now 😀 This is fantastic!
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Thanks so much Sanaa.
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I’ve never tried to write a golden shovel, though I do admire them. Yours is in keeping with the theme of the Frost stanza and the title prompt, which is great. While taking it in a direction that is lost in the darkness with no promise of morning light, you’ve added even more depth to that theme.
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Thanks Ken.
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