Hello everyone – hope you are doing well. My turn to host the poetics and this is what I have in mind – history, which has always been a remarkable field of interest for me; more because of what we don’t know than what we do.
This started with my love for historic novels – I read all of them I could get my hands on. I absolutely loved it when a writer picked one real character and used their imagination and narration to re-create a period they had not seen themselves and in this process gave us unique insights into the then social or political landscape. Back in my childhood and adolescence, I was absolutely crazy about those stories – the change of society under one rule to another, the rise and fall of dynasties, romance, power, spirituality, jealousy, conspiracy and what not. Truly inspired by all those chapters, I even wrote a short story once about the origin of coins – loosely based on facts from central Asia, on how it might have evolved in practice – how the first coin was made.
I was recently talking to a friend and fellow poet, about history of art and how it might have evolved. I have been to some of the places in India where sculptures were made on the wall of temples or paintings made on the walls of caves, telling numerous stories and many of which were very sensual in nature. Some of those places are world heritage sites today, like Ajanta and Illora, Khajuraho, Konark. All of those amazing works of art, once made, could not survive the ravages of time. What is still left of them tells a series of stories, though the real history of the sculptors or the artists are not known. This is something I absolutely loathe – that history that has been written or remembered speaks very little of the common people. Instead only the names of dynasties or important rulers are saved. I don’t wish to remember those great artists by the name of the kings they worked for. I don’t think anyone in today’s world would.
If I look at artists working on sculptures today – they use a variety of elements – from clay, plaster, slate, wires and so on (adding some photos I could find). Yet if I look at the styles they very much follow the same patterns, the same styles from the old sculptures on temples. So I sometimes feel sad that a great amount of history is still to be known. So tonight, I wish my fellow poets to write about historic inspiration for art.
I know this may sound a little difficult – but here is what you can do.
- Take an example from your part of the world or look up those names I used in my text above.
- See some of those examples.
- Try to think what would have inspired those artists – love, passion, creativity or freedom, for example.
- You can tell the story of a sculptor as you see it – it doesn’t have to be real or factual. Use your imagination vividly to bring out a hidden story that might not have been told before.
- Even if it is a popular story in your part of the world, you can retell it in your own words and share it with everyone.
One more thing – please use only one or two photos that correspond with the artistic example you have chosen to write about. I hope you have a wonderful experience remembering history and paying a tribute to all the unnamed artists whose works go un-credited.
Now, if you are new to Dversepoets, this is what you have to do.
- Write a poem and post it to your site/blog.
- Enter a link to your poem and your name by clicking Mr Linky below.
- You will find links to other poets. Read and comment on other poet’s work.
- If you are promoting your work on social media, use the tag #dversepoets.
- Lastly , please visit others and read their work.
Thank you all. Have fun.
Good evening.. A great poetic prompt… I will go out and see what there is. Personally I love to find stories in pictures so this worked fine for me.
I obviously missed when you came back, as I was away myself. How was your trip bjorn?
Ah.. I had great times both in Kayak and up north.. the weather was not the best, but we could still do a lot of the things we wanted… including reading, and living with nature…
Nice. Spent a lot of time outdoors, and in the water while I was away. Went airboating through the Everglades and met quite a few gators. Got bit by a curious school of large fish in the ocean, which totally freaked out everyone else on the beach. Lol. My bite was not as bad as a lady about 10 feet away, they actually drew blood on her.
When I was in everglades (in the winter) we went canoeing .. very exciting.. But summer, I guess you got acquainted with mosquitoes 🙂
They were not too bad actually – and I am not sure why. Did see quite a number of gators. And a few Cormorants. Kinda glad we did not run into any panthers in the wild. Did see one that was in recovery healing.
We saw arctic fox.. there was a den by the path with a mother and 4 cubs playing.. I have never seen that before.
Love this prompt Abhra.. off to Doctor’s Appt.. will be back later to read and comment on all..:)
Welcome back later..
History makes for interesting poetry. Thanks for the prompt, Abhra. A few things happening may keep me from joining in but I’ll try…at least to read a few!
It was really fun to find a piece of art .. and a story within…
I have been thinking on this for last few days – and probably I am going to write a long piece – and this gives me the start I needed. I wanted to post some photos, but there wasn’t any of my own…
It is interesting to look at history, especially when you start talking about what motivated people because that is not always captured in the history books – or assumptions are made based on their body of work and the conditions around them – but I wonder at times what truly grabbed them.
Just coming back from an adventure the last couple weeks. Look forward to catching up with many of you.
I hope you had some really great adventures.. summer is the best time of the year for that, and yes there are som many anonymous pieces of art in our world, there are so many stories embedded here..
I am a little sad that this one happens to be the lowest turnaround in my prompt…I thought the subject was very encouraging.
good evening… don’t give me a can of spraypaint or i’ll forget everything incl. the pub opening hours.. smiles
history and its hidden artists and today and its hidden artists… so many of them… and they def. deserve to be mentioned…
Ha.. I have to check out what came out of that spraypaint when it’s ready. Hope it’s new poetry as well… Love all those stories that can be found in artifacts and art…
i may have ruined a painting or improved it… ha
Be careful with the fumes–
Ha.
Hi All….I had a nap to wake up after midnight for the prompt…good to see you 🙂
Now that is dedication Abhra.
Good morning. Or Good middle of the night.
He he, thanks…yes it is 1:30 am here 🙂
oh wow – this i call heroism
I just found some photos from my old collection and added them here…..
Thank you for the photos Abhra.. now get some sleep 🙂
Interesting prompt. I hope I meet the prompt as my poem is about folk art, mostly made by the women in my family. I’ll be back later to read and comment. Good to see X and Bjorn back with us. On the NC coast, when the blue fish are running, if you are on a boat, you don’t want to fall into the midst of a school of them in a feeding frenzy! those buggers will do more than draw blood. Glad you escaped the Monster Fish, X!
I think your art was of the best type.. Wonderful art to write poems on,
Thank you. When times are hard, it is good to sleep under the quilt my mother made with her loving words on it.
Thank you Toni…yes sure folk art is a part of it and shares an interesting history, the photos I shared were handicrafts designed by women….mostly baked clay…
I noticed those. Such beautiful things they are and to still survive. Those things we think most fragile somehow seem to stay with us and share their beauty
Truly – and what is of interest to me that – how the art survived over generations. In India, there was once a profession based caste system that run a society. In those days, my family used to be in pottery and painting…today some segments of our family still does it.
Glad to see you again Toni.
I was just glad that it was not something with sharper teeth.
Ha.
Yo X…..next weekend is a trek to NC for BBQ and Brunswick stew. Going to Bob’s outside my hometown. I will fill up on hot hushpuppies smeared with butter and a couple of glasses of sweet tea. We’ll bring back the Q and Stew to put in the freezer for future feasting! I truly do believe we should start a d’Verse bbq club.
Cool. Have fun. Def a good plan to have some in the freezer – for those times you just need it. Ha.
Was thinking about you today. Was hoping everything was ok when I did not see you pop in to read.
Hospital busy times but okay. I jumped in late. Thank you for thinking of me. New MRIs show light at the end of the tunnel!!! 🙂 one always needs Q and stew for icky cold days. Northerners just don’t have a clue. And….my link worked!!!!! Xxxxxooooo
yes it did
ha.
This is a great prompt and one I shall certainly revisit as my first take is on the liberal side 🙂
Really didn’t think I’d make it today, but got stampeded by wild horses a la sculpturess Deborah Butterfield. Will read and comment tonight and tomorrow after a book signing.
You chose a beautiful sculpture V.
That sculpture is beautuful and primal…..wonderful.
Sorry, Abhra, I tried to come up with an idea but just could not do so. Wish I could have though.
Good morning, everyone! Sorry I missed the pub opening last night – I was at a committee meeting that went on for much longer than initially planned… you know the kind… Such a lovely prompt, look forward to reading all your poems.
Ah no problem Marina, I hope you can join today
I’m afraid I have no time to write something for the prompt – I’ve got a tricky deadline this week and the children are not letting me get on with my work as much as I would like (or need). But I can at least admire the work of others and imagine myself away from obligations for a short while…
Thank you Abhra for dragging me out of the poetic doldrums – though my poem is a very loose interpretation of your wonderful prompt!
I am glad you find this challenging Viv…
good morning… caught up and off now to do some indian cooking with a friend for whoever shows up for lunch – ha
wow, what are you planning to cook? I recently heard about a Kashmiri dish and want to try that at home sometime…
Ha
Catching up was easy considering the only readers since Katiemia we’re Victoria and Grace.
Lame
Sigh! Pretty sad. Some things don’t seem to change.
I really couldn’t think of a poem, as hard as I tried. I just couldn’t figure out where to take it……
Well, I am late to the party but I am here as I took my time to figure out how to respond ~ I recall that I went to our art gallery here and saw some massive sculptures by Moore ~ So I went with that as he depicted women, not in ivory or marble & not in the classical way either ~ I will be hitting the poetry trail in a bit ~ Happy Wednesday to all ~
Thanks Grace – I am glad you could join even late – but then I am a little sad too that very few actually joined my prompt this time.
I did not arrive in time
http://gailatthefarm.blogspot.com/2015/08/i-am-seth.html
Glad you could make it…
So sorry, Abhra I posted it to my blog in plenty of time yesterday. Unfortunately, I got distracted by a phone call and completely forgot to click Mr. Linky and share it here. It’s just a well considering the liberties my muse took with your wonderful prompt.
http://wp.me/pPury-1gE
Thanks for joining. I am glad you enjoyed my prompt.