Imaginary Garden

Over in the Garden, there was an art challenge.  Grace inspired us with an artist who uses nature in an unique way.  

"As poets we are always trying to capture our insides -  our thoughts, our emotions, our dreams. Michael (aka grapeling) showed me this creative work by the artist in my favorite blog, Colossal, who makes this connection about human body & nature.  Here's a blurb about the artist's work:  (since I don't have her permission to post the images here):

This delicate series of sculpted plants is part of a project by artist Camila Carlow titled Eye Heart Spleen. The photographic project is comprised of 13 images representing human organs constructed from plants and flowers."  From Carlow’s statement about the project:
The most fascinating and intricate of biological structures, yet we rarely pay heed to the organs inside our body. Regardless of whether we fill ourselves with toxins or nourishing food, whether we exercise or not—our organs sustain us, working away effortlessly and unnoticed.
In a similar way, plants flourishing in the urban environment are a testament to nature’s indifference to our goings on. They grow out of the sides of buildings, in brick walls and between the cracks in concrete, despite of the traffic and pollution.
 Grace challenged us to write about our insides with nature or a season as inspiration.  



Light Bleeds Wonder


a blanket of green stars grows my dreams
like an infant's tight fist kissed with morning dew
I watch n' wait Red Cardinal
 tickles pink and blue florets
remembrance shadows my brow
as day twirls her lacy orange skirt
salty rain pools and puddles
I learn to swim in gray frost
 pupils eclipse as
ideas zoom in n' out
quicksilver lightening
strikes
I jump in like a pink salmon
swimming upstream
to witness Fireweed
 hear the hum of tiny Taxi's
 fish eye
bleeds wonder
waiting for
intoxicating Moonflower's
 perfume makes me
fight my final
breath.



©Ellen Wilson


Comments

Jinksy said…
remembrance shadows my brow
as day twirls her lacy orange skirt

Mmmm... nice one....
Jumping like a pink salmon - do you?
Mary said…
You have really appealed to the senses in this poem, Ella. I like 'the blanket of green stars' and swimming in 'gray frost.' And, ha, I guess we all swim upstream sometimes.
Mary said…
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Brian Miller said…
swimming in the grey frost and hte use of eclipse afterward...really enjoyed those lines ella...

that flower eye is a really cool picture as well...

it is pretty fascinating how we are all put together...the organs and such in such a way to sustain life...
Michael Di Gesu said…
Another amazing poem, Ella.

You really are quit the poetess.... You imagery is just beautiful!
Sherry Blue Sky said…
Your opening lines really drew me in.....I loved making my way down the page...so many glorious images.
Kerry O'Connor said…
This is really lovely, Ella. I am so impressed you made your own flower picture, an eye wide open to take in all the beauty around it.
shelly said…
That is fabulous. Amazing! A flower eye.
Anonymous said…
gorgeous, Ella ~
Renee said…
I love the intoxicating scent of night blooming flowers. Such a romantic thought! Lovely poem.
Herotomost said…
That is some cool art Ella!!!! And the poem is so full of color and description, burgeoning would be good description I think. This was a wonderful take on the prompt...quite impressive, but then when do you not impress??? Congrats to your daughter as well, hard to see them grow up, but proud as well.
Mary Ann Potter said…
I loved it all, but those last lines that describe fighting a final breath were my favorites. Top job, my friend --- wonderful poem!
Grace said…
I love the artwork and colors in your verses:

remembrance shadows my brow
as day twirls her lacy orange skirt

Thanks so much for participating Ella ~ Wishing you happy week ~
Margaret said…
Quite struck with the coolness of the image! and "remembrance shadows my brow
as day twirls her lacy orange skirt" well that is fantastically exquisite.
Susie Clevenger said…
So much beauty and color in this piece. Where would we be if we didn't have nature's palette to color and define our world? Beautiful photo!
Ella said…
Thank you everyone so much!!!

Susie-Nature inspires so many-I am smitten with all the paint choices, the shadows and light! YOU are so right~ Thank you!

Margaret-Thank you! Yes, Rosemary means remembrance and I had to put that in there-one of my favorite herbs. Thank you so much-you surprised me-I love that~ enJOY your celebrations!!!

Grace-Thank you for sharing this artist's work-it was a beautiful challenge. I need to go back and finish reading the poems-thank you so much!

Mary Ann-I think as an artist we are constantly wanting to put ourselves out there, but there is the dance of doubt and what if-we battle! Thank you so much~
I want more stories of your farm!

Corey-You are sweet! I have missed your writing~ I will drop by more often-you always surprise me-with your insight! Yes, it is a dance of emotion. Half of me is happy, the other half is sad-where did time fly?! Thank you so much!

Renee-I wanted to write about the passion of the muse and as day twirls all she or her collects, until the last breath. Thank you so much~

Grape-Thank you ;D

Shelly-I see you-put the chocolate down-lol. Now, share~ Thank you so much~

Kerry-I use to doodle eyes! I had to give it a try-the daisy helped to give it dimension. It wasn't quite open yet. Thank you so much~ My muse had fun gathering and arranging flowers. I love your last line and this is what poets do-collect beauty n' pain and try to cast the light and shadows of its mood~ Thank you!

Sherry-Yes, those green stars excite me as much as the night diamonds in the sky~ Thank you so much!

Michael-Nature does inspire me! I am happy to hear you are thawing out-up your way! Same thing in Maine-spring skipped a few steps~
Awe, thank you so much-you are so kind!

Brian-It is fascinating-what a puzzle of miracles! Thank you-yes, I had to toss the eclipse in there-the way the pupil works I thought it paired well. Thank you so much~ My muse n' I had fun gathering those flowers!

Mary-Art and writing are swimming upstream at times-for me. Other times I am good! It is funny how the muse teases us-thank you so much!

Alex-Yes, I am trying to reach the sun. It gets cold with central air~ lol

Jinksy-Thank you! Yes, I want a lacy orange skirt-too. I don't think I am going to find one ;D
Ella said…
Thank you everyone so much!!!

Susie-Nature inspires so many-I am smitten with all the paint choices, the shadows and light! YOU are so right~ Thank you!

Margaret-Thank you! Yes, Rosemary means remembrance and I had to put that in there-one of my favorite herbs. Thank you so much-you surprised me-I love that~ enJOY your celebrations!!!

Grace-Thank you for sharing this artist's work-it was a beautiful challenge. I need to go back and finish reading the poems-thank you so much!

Mary Ann-I think as an artist we are constantly wanting to put ourselves out there, but there is the dance of doubt and what if-we battle! Thank you so much~
I want more stories of your farm!

Corey-You are sweet! I have missed your writing~ I will drop by more often-you always surprise me-with your insight! Yes, it is a dance of emotion. Half of me is happy, the other half is sad-where did time fly?! Thank you so much!

Renee-I wanted to write about the passion of the muse and as day twirls all she or her collects, until the last breath. Thank you so much~

Grape-Thank you ;D

Shelly-I see you-put the chocolate down-lol. Now, share~ Thank you so much~

Kerry-I use to doodle eyes! I had to give it a try-the daisy helped to give it dimension. It wasn't quite open yet. Thank you so much~ My muse had fun gathering and arranging flowers. I love your last line and this is what poets do-collect beauty n' pain and try to cast the light and shadows of its mood~ Thank you!

Sherry-Yes, those green stars excite me as much as the night diamonds in the sky~ Thank you so much!

Michael-Nature does inspire me! I am happy to hear you are thawing out-up your way! Same thing in Maine-spring skipped a few steps~
Awe, thank you so much-you are so kind!

Brian-It is fascinating-what a puzzle of miracles! Thank you-yes, I had to toss the eclipse in there-the way the pupil works I thought it paired well. Thank you so much~ My muse n' I had fun gathering those flowers!

Mary-Art and writing are swimming upstream at times-for me. Other times I am good! It is funny how the muse teases us-thank you so much!

Alex-Yes, I am trying to reach the sun. It gets cold with central air~ lol

Jinksy-Thank you! Yes, I want a lacy orange skirt-too. I don't think I am going to find one ;D
DEZMOND said…
a blanket of green stars grows my dreams - I liked that line!
Unknown said…
Love the poem, Ella! Makes me think of spring and love. :)

And that flower sculpture is amazing! I'm very partial to hydrangea. :)
Johanna Garth said…
I love the rosemary in that nature sculpture and "learn to swim in gray frost" evokes so much for me! Really beautiful Ella!
Unknown said…
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Anonymous said…
Hey Ella--I am soi sorry for my delay in getting back to you--a very busy week. This is a lovely poem as was your challenge poem on With Real Toads--they are both very sensual poems, jammed with imagery and imagination. One senses you taking all these things in and taking us with you. Thanks for your sweetness always. K.
Anonymous said…
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Ella said…
Karin-Thank you always for you K-kindness! You have been a great online friend~ @>----------

Johanna-I hope you are doing well-summer is such a fun, busy time! I will be by to visit~ Thank you so much~
Ella said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Ella said…
Thank you Dezzy and EJ!! I could of sworn I left a comment?! oops~
21 Wits said…
Thank you for the capture of your garden in my world today.