Here are a first few poems written this week during our spring Art Connects Us residency with poet Verandah Porche. These are pantoums, a poetic form originating in Malaysia. On Tuesday night, 24 area residents of all ages came to the Cook Library to hear Verandah read her captivating poems and to write one of their own. Leaving aside a few outliers, a common theme emerged in many of the poems. It really has been a very long cold winter. Here are three: Verandah Porche Pantoum Workshop Cook Memorial Library 03/25/14
Discontent
By Laura Campbell, age 48
Now is the winter of our discontent Ragged boots shuffle restlessly on chair rungs Restless for bare feet again Soft air nudging, urging
Ragged boots shuffle restlessly on chair rungs Unendurable, longing for escape Soft air nudging, urging Awaken, release, run!
Unendurable, longing for escape Shifting toward the distant glorious summer Awaken, release, run! Too far, it seems, to ever reach
Shifting toward the distant glorious summer Longing stirring, forgetting where we are Too far, it seems, to ever reach Fast asleep, under the char, dreaming
Longing stirring, forgetting where we are Restless for bare feet again Fast asleep, under the char, dreaming Now is the winter of our discontent
Verandah Porche Pantoum Workshop Cook Memorial Library 03/25/14
Looking Beyond
By Sandy Trask, age 12
Sliver branches, glow in the light Doors open the hinges of possibility I sit by the fire-place Looking beyond
Doors open the hinges of possibility Molecules fly before my eyes Looking beyond Books untouched for centuries
Molecules fly before my eyes Paintings of the future Books untouched for centuries Truth under-lies
Paintings of the future Water flowing like dreams Truth under-lies Peace
Water flowing like dreams I sit by the fire-place Peace Sliver branches, glow in the light
Pantoum Verandah Porche’s workshop, 3/25/14 Kate Thompson
The ice stays stuck on the roof just like a month ago. You’d think the sun might melt it but it’s frozen in shape
just like a month ago. On Tuesday it started to curl down, but now it’s frozen in shape again - over the eaves, like a helmet.
On Tuesday it started to curl down, when it actually got up to 36 - over the eaves, like a helmet - but only for three hours.
When it actually got up to 36 some of us unbuttoned our coats... but only for three hours. What a joke.
Some of us unbuttoned our coats. You’d think the sun might melt things. What a joke. The ice stays stuck on the roof.
Image may be NSFW.
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ACT is able to bring this talented, experienced, dedicated and joyful teacher and writer to Carroll County with help from many: The Verandah Porche residency is supported by generous sponsors BEAM Construction Associates, Inc. and Cooper Cargill Chant, the K. A. Brett School, the Tamworth PTA, the Tamworth Foundation, UUFES, and Yeoman's Fund for the Arts, and is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England state arts agencies. Media sponsors are The Conway Daily Sun, 93.5 WMWV and Magic 104FM. You can support it, too! Help us continue to program school and community-wide artist residencies by donating below.