This will be the last edition of “poetry & paintings” until December, because my online classes don’t participate in this activity. I hope that anyone who has read these student-created poems has enjoyed them. I think it’s important to mention that the students don’t get a lot of time to think about their poems and polish their poetry: this exercise takes place on the last day of class and the students have about 15 minutes to select paintings and then compose their haiku. These poems came from my long semester on-campus Spring 2018 class. I hope you enjoy the haiku selected for inclusion here.
The Roses of Heliogabalus — Lawrence Alma-Tadena, 1888
“The Roses of Heliogabalus” by Madelyn Medina
What a royal meal!
Sweet roses fall on the guests,
For evil or bliss?
Seascape at Saintes-Maries — Vincent van Gogh, 1888
“Seascape at Saintes-Maries” by Hannah Marshall
Spontaneous sea,
Pushing and pulling colors.
I am soft, yet harsh.
The Great Wave of Kanagawa — Katsushika Hokusai, c.1833
“The Journey” by Abraham Garcia
As we head to base,
The waves hit with a big roar!
Please, please God, no more.
A Wheatfield with Cypresses — Vincent van Gogh, 1889
“A Pretty Day” by Jacob Gedde
The trees are swaying
While the wind is still playing.
So, are we staying?
Good Friday, Daisy Nook — Laurence Stephen Lowry, 1946
“Good Friday, Daisy Nook” by DJ House
Fun times at the fair!
But no one asked the question:
Is Waldo in there?
Golconda — René Magritte, 1953
“On Magritte’s Golconda” by Morgan Bandy
Observe, my dear son,
The grid of frozen people
dying in neckties.
– – – – –
They and I and you
are inky punctuations,
shot through nothingness.
words & music 