This is the first in what I hope may become a regular feature on this blog. A collaboration between my son ( the poet) and I ( the photographer).
Friends
I walked with friends,
On rusted railroad tracks,
We stumble peacefully over the ruts.
We come to rest and sit,
And join the butterfly’s whimsies,
Feeling as monarchs do.
We idled and in idleness,
I spied a grasshopper,
Sparkling shades of green.
As I watched it birthed,
Into the stock of wretched rail-locked wood,
Eggs egressing in stoic solitude.
These rails that embrace the earth,
Hold too this poor thing’s spawn,
And the future holds little promise for either.
Both will be painted with tar,
And cut by steel.
My son submits some of his poems to the website The Creative Act.
I Love this project! How amazing!
and I Love baby toads as well, thanks for the image!
Posted by: mavis | February 20, 2009 at 08:30 AM
This post makes me miss the
summer even more. Great poetry
and photos. Your children have
your talent margie.
Posted by: Rane | February 20, 2009 at 08:55 AM
Such beautiful images and poetry. I love that you are collaborating with your son, Margie. It's nice when art can be a family affair.
Posted by: Mary Ann Wakeley | February 20, 2009 at 11:01 AM
This is really perfect Margie!
Mother and son together, bringing something beautiful to the world. Both, the poem and the photographs connect with each other in total harmony, I really see a book here.
Ben is a natural with words and he also has a beautiful mind. I was reading the super interesting debate that generated one of his poems here: http://thecreativeact.ca/2009/01/idiots-know-better/#comments
I enjoyed reading Ben,s points of view a lot. I feel inspired to write a poem myself, I wish that I could do in in English. I used to write poems and short stories in Spanish when I was living in Cuba and I got some things published but at some point I abandoned the writing.
In the end I think that poetry is the language of soul and it could translate into words, pictures, sound and movement. Every creative person has a little poet within.
Thank you sooo much for this beautiful post my friend!
Elsita :)
Posted by: | February 20, 2009 at 11:16 AM
I feel lucky to have read that. Beautiful, beautiful collaborative project. Keep it coming!
Posted by: Laura G. | February 20, 2009 at 01:24 PM
you have such a lovely blog here...
Posted by: andrea gutierrez | February 20, 2009 at 03:03 PM
such a nice idea - and talent runs in the family
Posted by: jan | February 20, 2009 at 05:47 PM
This is just beautiful. One day, I hope to collaborate with my daughter as well. What lovely photos and words. What a blessing to share this together.
Posted by: cyndy | February 20, 2009 at 08:45 PM
This was so beautiful... the words, the images, the collaboration. Everything you do continues to inspire. Thank you for sharing the potential of what could be in the next chapter of parenting. Maybe it's not too early to start. You're son is gifted. I'm so happy that I didn't get to stop by until right now... bedtime. I will dream of summer and old trains chugging through fields...
Posted by: mayaluna | February 21, 2009 at 12:34 AM
Beautiful. You are so lucky to have complimentary talents so you can share projects :)
Posted by: del4yo | February 21, 2009 at 03:35 AM
Thank you everyone for your encouraging and appreciative comments regarding my humble word-work. If I possess talent it is because I was encouraged to read a lot from an early age, and have been provided with a fine education by my parents. Thanks for the space Mom, I think it looks great. Lots of love.
Posted by: Ben J. O. | February 21, 2009 at 02:54 PM
How beautifully poignant. What a blessing to work with your child and how lovely your talents compliment each other! Can't wait to see more.
Posted by: Leigh Chandler | February 21, 2009 at 04:31 PM
what a lovely collaboration. Looking forward to more.
Posted by: arounna | February 21, 2009 at 05:25 PM
Beautiful poem and images! I'd love to hear more about the collaboration--which came first, the words or images?
Posted by: Patricia | February 21, 2009 at 08:04 PM
Beautiful. How old is your son? I am so impressed. Did you give him photos and he wrote, or did he write and you looked through your photos for what would compliment the words?
Posted by: Melissa R | February 22, 2009 at 06:53 AM
That was lovely!
Posted by: Lisa | February 22, 2009 at 12:15 PM
Wow it's all so beautiful... I'm glad it's gonna be a regular thing...
Posted by: Jimena | February 22, 2009 at 04:15 PM
Absolutely awesome.
Posted by: abby | February 24, 2009 at 02:16 PM
What a beautiful poem and pictures.
Posted by: Vegetarian Man | September 17, 2009 at 05:54 PM