So the Connect 4 PLAY party was on Saturday night, and in my role as artist on demand I wrote 24 haiku (well, technically most were senryu, but that's beside the point), sitting at a table with the lovely Renee and Shannon, who were drawing amazing portraits, and Natalie, who was drawing her incredible designs and doodles (follow the link to her blog about the night).
It was an intense, exhilerating experience! Some of my poems were a bit average, as it was loud and difficult to think, especially before I got into my stride, but when they worked, they really worked, and it was fantastic to watch a few people read and connect to what I had written. So this experiment out of my comfort zone was definitely a success!
I hope the people I wrote them for don't mind me sharing some of the ideas here.
Apocalypse
the sky is not blue
more, unnatural colours
and clouds don't bring rain
Arts vs Science
methodic conflict
hemispheric argument
distracts from the goal
Snails
more often see trails
evidence but not presence
of slow, shy creatures
Trains
sit down and sigh
cross section of the people
watch the land blur past
Bella (the dog)
lying in the shade
affection on demand
waiting patiently
Peace (inner)
an active stillness
won through meditation and
intangible steps
Moving towns for love
new streets to explore
lanes and paths to follow
with a hand to hold
And my two haiku about the art party itself
highly engaged
among pulsing noise and light
some mingle, some watch
strange sights
paw prints, mimes and playing cards
too odd to describe
There are a few other poems that I really like, but they feel too personal to post, which is amazing- as my only interaction with the people I wrote them for was when they handed me the card with their topic, and I handed them back the poem (and some small talk about how long it would take in between). It really was an incredible experience.
