Sunday, April 12, 2009

Illustration Friday: Fleeting Time


I have always loved this poem. I've chosen one of my Soulcollage cards to depict the magic of childhood.


The Summer Day
Mary Oliver
Who made the world?Who made the swan, and the black bear?Who made the grasshopper?This grasshopper, I mean-the one who has flung herself out of the grass,the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.

I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass, how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields, which is what I have been doing all day. Tell me, what else should I have done? Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

38 comments:

  1. I love that poem. I've never heard it before. But I loved it immediately. The magic in it. Thank you.

    Your image is magical too. I'm reminded of the lightening bugs we'd chase after. I don't think I ever knew what they looked liked. (I can see I have some googling to do.)

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  2. Wow, beautiful image paired with a killer poem: thank you!

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  3. Really cool drawing. I like how magic the figures are.

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  4. oh lo, you are so wise. i learn so much from you. i have the honor of being your friend, and i am so glad.

    this last line says everything anyone would ever need to ask and ever need to know. thank you for the reminder. it's a question i want to ask myself every single day.
    xoxo

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  5. Magical is the first word that comes into my mind when I enjoy this beautiful illustration and the poem.
    It is powerful, sensitive and meaningful.

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  6. thank you, everyone.

    I wanted to illustrate the last line of this poem but I just couldn't think of what to draw or paint. I remembered I had a box of my Soulcollages somewhere and when I went through them this image stood out.
    I'm glad some of you are reading this poem for the first time. It's a powerful piece, for sure.

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  7. beautiful poem wonderful message
    i must get up and go do with my life
    thanks

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  8. new poem for me, wonderful ad powerful image. reminds us that 'life is not a rehearsal!' love ya lots lo.

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  9. I am also new to the poem. It would be wonderful if we had quick and fast answers to the question but I think that you spend your life searching for the answer...... finding your way.

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  10. What a powerful gift to stumble upon tonight-although I am always assured of wonderful things when I stop by here.

    cat-I'm leaving now to look up the name of the pretty snake I saw this weekend-I should honor him/her by knowing what it was I saw.

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  11. hey! what happened to my special little note? :)
    (i kinda liked it)
    :)

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  12. KJ...I realized others were saying almost the same thing and I didn't want to be rude!
    You know you're special ;)

    (I didn't know what you were talking about when you said 'special note.') I'm quick on my feet huh?
    Wicked smaht!!

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  13. there is something vey Dave Mckeanish about this one. I like it.
    regards,
    Neil

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  14. Beautiful poem!! it goes very well with your image which has a magical charm of a midsummer night

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  15. BTW this is a sweet & lovely collage:) It certainly is magical!

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  16. I just love Mary Oliver. I can so connect with her way of looking at the world. Your card is a perfect compliment to this poem with the feelings they evoke.

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  17. Really wonderful collage! It reminds me of some of Joseph Cornell's work.

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  18. Superb! I love your collage - it's just magical! I'm not that familiar with Mary Oliver but enjoyed reading this poem and will definitely have to seek out more of her work!

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  19. Oh--I love this collage! Wonderful wonderful colors and images. And though I'm a Mary Oliver fan, I hadn't read this poem before. It reminds me of one of my favorite passages from Emerson's essay "Self-Reliance": "Prayer is the contemplation of the facts of life from the highest point of view. It is the soliloquy of a beholding and jubilant soul. It is the spirit of God pronouncing his works good."

    I'm going to print out this as well. Thanks!

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  20. Raven sister the collage is amazing. Do you have a collection of cards like that that you made. I would love to go see them.

    The card is full of wonder and magic. I love it.

    The poem is you. That is how I see you. My mother always said that a person who loves animals is one of the best loving people around. That is true with you.

    Did you make the f=bomb image for me. I of course love it.

    Have a wonderful day and thank you for starting it off with magic for me.

    Love Renee xoxo

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  21. 1. The picture is outstanding. I love it.

    2. Thank you for the image, I love it.

    3. Duh, could it be the Raven who sees what others do not want to see.

    4. There are two meanings for the word x-ray and they are that you are either being decieved by someone or something and need to look beneath the surface of this person or situation. The other meaning is that you are digging deep within to find out something that has been troubling you. You need to seek the truth in either case.

    5. The heel also has a double meaning Laurel and they are oppression and vulnerability.

    6. re 4 & 5 because you had the two together wihin the same dream I tend to think that you are making real headway in a situation that has been buried deep and has left you feeling oppressed and vulnerable for years. The really exciting part is that the heels have come off and you are now in loafers which means you are done with those problems as they (think heels under your feet) are not what you are anymore. You are becoming more of what you have always meant to be. What held you tight for a long period, does not hold you in its grasp any longer.

    7. Make any sense? That is just what I'm reading.

    8. I love you. xoxoxoxo

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  22. I was somewhat surprised by this image, pleasantly so, I might add. What a powerful piece! Full of strong imagery that goes well with the poem. So much of the imagination is stirred. Fleeting is what life is really, it's us who hold on...

    Happy Monday!

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  23. An interesting piece here, Laurel.

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  24. Wow! Very beautifully expressed:)
    My mind wouldn't fleet away!

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  25. powerful...
    I just love visiting here!

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  26. I like the poem, and I like grasshoppers, and warm summer nights and lightening bugs, and the universe above me.

    Beautiful Laurel.

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  27. That's one of my favourite poems too...especially that last line. Thanks for the timely reminder.

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  28. wonderful poem and illustration

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  29. I like the picture and the poem. Mary Oliver is one of my favourite poets.

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  30. Wow! Beautiful pieces of art! Perfect for each other. I need to read more in this wild and precious life- never read Mary Oliver- parts remind me of Native Am. myth. Thanks for sharing

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  31. This is awesome beautiful...I am glad and thankful that in this one life of mine that I have met you...you bring me richness of soul!

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  32. Hi Laurel!!! Thanks for reminding me today how much I love Mary Oliver's work and this poem - especially the last line.

    Your SoulCollage card is amazing and mystical (glad you found them!) hope you'll share more of them soon :>

    Laura
    xoxo

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  33. very beautiful and filled with goodness :)

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  34. What a lovely poem, and the image is amazing! It brings back so many memories, which makes it a strong image, too! Oh, I'm loving this new banner!

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  35. miraculous!
    i love both, image and poem!

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  36. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL POEM AND HOW TRUE.HAVING EXPERIENCED ALMOST LEAVING THIS WORLD 3 WEEKS AGO FROM A VERY BAD KIDNEY INFECTION I CAN APPRECIATE ALL THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US IF WE JUST LOOK AROUND.COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS EVERY DAY NO MATTER HOW BAD THINGS LOOK.AND I THANK ALL OF YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS,GOD LISTENED AND I AM ON THE MEND.
    LAURELS BROTHER
    JIMMY

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