Art Post: Happy National Poetry Month!

[minoanmiss]

This is the post I MEANT to make today. *laugh at myself* It's National Poetry Month in the USA so here is a poem accompanied by an illustration!


Quiet Girl, by Langston Hughes

I would liken you
To a night without stars
Were it not for your eyes.
I would liken you
To a sleep without dreams
Were it not for your songs.



I really love how evocative Hughes is with so few words.



Last year I did a whole Project and posted a poem and illustration almost each day. This year I'm not nearly that organized but I do hope to post a couple of things! And if you know of an illustratable poem, let me know; I can't promise anything, but I might manage it.

Hooray for poetry!

Comments

[thnidu]

And in particular, hooray for Langston Hughes, this poem, the artwork, and YOU!

[minoanmiss]

*blush* Thank you :)

[hitchhiker]

that's a beautiful project! looking forward to seeing whatever you do illustrate.

[hitchhiker]

some ideas:

tennyson, "the eagle" https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/45322/the-eagle-56d224c9a41d1
sarojini naidu, "the palanquin bearers" https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/palanquin-bearers/
adrian mitchell, "beattie is three" https://www.poetryinternationalweb.net/pi/site/poem/item/13621/auto/0/BEATTIE-IS-THREE

[minoanmiss]

Thank you for these suggestions! "Beattie is Three" is really sweet. :) And "The Palanquin Bearers" is really lovely -- it makes me think of a cherished princess and her retainers.

And then there's The Eagle, which I wish I could illustrate from the POV of his impending dinner. :D

[annonynous.livejournal.com]

Beattie Is Three really struck a chord for me. Thanks for the link.

Ann O.

[minoanmiss]

It reminded me of J and E being little, of course. OTOH, there are things about their being three I do not miss...

[sabotabby]

OH YAY!

[minoanmiss]

I do love this use of April. :)

[baranduin]

I love this! It’s like he wrote it for you to illustrate!

[minoanmiss]

He's been a major influence on me all my life, so it might be a bit chicken and egg. :D

[acelightning]

How did Langston Hughes travel in time to meet you, so he could describe you in a poem?

[minoanmiss]

Oh you make me blush. :) (And I owe you email)

[acelightning]

Even though I've never met you in person (yet), I know you have stars in your eyes, because you have stars in your head. And I know you love to sing (I miss the time when journals allowed voice-posting, which let the world hear you sing). So there :-)

And now I have the prospect of email from you to look forward to!

[tibicina]

Oh, I like her!

[minoanmiss]

Thanks!

[cmcmck]

Hughes was a new discovery for me a while back and I like his work a lot!

[minoanmiss]

Some kind person told me about him when I was a child because like me he was Black and a New Yorker, and I have loved his poetry ever since, and would love to meet/have met him, from all I've read about him.

[darkmarcy]

What a lovely poem, and a beautiful illustration to it! She looks so serene and graceful.

[minoanmiss]

Eee, thank you! Serenity was what I was going for!

[ororo]

Lovely! Thank you for sharing.

[minoanmiss]

*beams* Thank you for telling me so.