This morning in the Writing Circle our inspiration came from a calendar that showcases some of the art and artifacts from the vast collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. These small poems popped up in response to 10 images.
my old friend
looks more and more
like her old dog
inspiration: Egyptian Papyrus, c.1050 B.C.
after dinner
my mother twists chopsticks
into her long grey hair
inspiration: "The Oiran Yoso-oi Seated at Her Toilet," by Kitagawa Utamaro
filthy creekside
how delicately he steps —
the heron we call Rupert
inspiration: "Black Stork in a Landscape," 1780, Indian watercolor
four of us at the lake —
nude, aging
blessedly nearsighted
inspiration: "Bathers," by Paul Cezanne
when we sketched each other
I was less talented
but kinder
inspiration: "Young Woman Drawing," by Marie-Denise Villers
crow on the roof
his caw interrupted —
Friday drumming circle
inspiration: a Chinese watercolor of a musician playing a drum, late 18th century
young frog
on a lily pad —
until a hard rain knocks him off
inspiration: "Water Lilies," by Claude Monet
delicious
this orange
you just peeled for me
inspiration: "Lizzie at the Table," by Fairfield Porter
shoved behind the dullest knives
a doily
you no longer treasure
inspiration: "Victorian Interior II," by Horace Pippin
your diary
left in the dorm bathroom so long ago
I'm sorry —
I read it
inspiration: "Portrait of a Woman," by Egon Schiele
