Monday, October 14, 2013

gathering




I collected a basket of lichen, moss, and birch bark for a future project.
Maybe I'll arrange little deer in it for a personal portable forest,
or make a diorama like the shoebox ones we made in grade school.

I'd like to make some crazy outsider art version of a diorama. And...


I'd like to get away from earth awhile
And then come back to it and begin over...

... I'd like to go by climbing a birch tree,
And climb black branches up a snow-white trunk
Toward heaven, till the tree could bear no more,
But dipped its top and set me down again.
That would be good both going and coming back.
One could do worse than be a swinger of birches.

                                   from Birches, by Robert Frost








22 comments:

  1. I could see a diorama with a whole bunch of little birches so we could watch their peeling bark...and yes, a little deer for some color and whimsy. Maybe with a red nose. Have fun!

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    1. Thanks--I'll let you know what (if anything) happens.

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  2. I love the icy blue-green color of lichen. Those are some nice ones you gathered.

    Wondered if you were able to see the amazing Northern Lights in Catskills earlier this week? I saw them on TV; they were unbelievable.

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    1. I didn't hear anything about northern lights in the Catskills--are you sure that's where it was? Would love to see that!

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  3. or maybe a little rabbit? can't wait to see what you come up with. my mum always took me to the woods in fall to gather mushrooms and pine cones and berries for fall and Christmas decorations. I miss that....

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    1. Once I saw a big rabbit made out of Cheese Doodles.

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  4. I never read that poem by Frost - it's nice. I like your taste in poetry. It's like you're introducing me to someone I should have met earlier, but didn't. Rilke, for instance.

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    1. I'm so glad. So many people don't like poetry, but it's an important part of my lie--so I have to put some here now and then.

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  5. A lovely idea Jen.
    The poem fits your post so well.
    I think it looks lovely in the basket.
    Have fun with decorating with it.
    val

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    1. Thanks, Val. Maybe I'll just leave it in the basket. :)

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  6. I think it would be a great idea to have a portable decoration..I like the idea of a deer or rabbits x

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    1. You can never go wrong with deer or rabbits. Or ducks.

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  7. That would be good both going and coming back...this truly express what arts are.

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  8. I've been a big poetry snob about Robert Frost, and it looks like I've been poorer for it. That is a wonderful poem, Jen!

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    1. I know what you mean--he has suspiciously popular appeal.Last night Matt asked what I was reading. When I said Frost, he said "oh, he's a nature poet" and I said "nature with an edge". There's darkness and complexity in much of his work.

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  9. It is a wonderful poem Jen - nature with an edge - I like that. I love gathering bits like this too. It's hard to resist a lichen covered branch! x

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    1. I love Steve's description of lichen as icy blue-green.

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  10. I never made a diorama at school and feel deprived, plus the poem tugs at one of my many heartstrings.

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    1. Oh my goodness, you could be the diorama queen. There's still time!

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  11. Indeed, Mr. Frost, indeed.

    Must have moss. Send me a soft parcel full please.

    xo J

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    1. Will do, though I can't get back until early Nov. Don't know what will be there.

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