Form: Haiku
ghostly the shadows
that dance free at All Hallows
welcome home, my love
©JezzieGFarmer2022
Haiku
Day: September 25, 2022
Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge Monthly Review – Achille-Etna Michallon
Inspired by and written for Weekly Prompts Weekend Challenge Monthly Review – thank you Sue and GC
Warning: The video clip contains artistic nudity
Thank you, GC and Sue, for running the review challenge again. No surprise I am going with the world of art and another of my favourite artists – this time a French man and a journey back in time to the turn of the 19th century – Achille-Etna Michallon. It was not a hard task to choose him, as today is the 200th anniversary of his death.
Achille-Etna Michallon
Michallon was a prodigiously talented artist who tragically died at the very young age of 25. He was the son of a sculptor and studied under Jacques-Louis David and Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes. In 1817, he won the Prix de Rome for landscape painting. He studied in Italy for two years but died of pneumonia before he could develop what he had learned.
After the death of both his parents, Michallon was raised by his Uncle, the sculptor Guillaume Francin. Michallon drew from life from an early age and studied with Pierre Henri de Valenciennes. Jacques-Louis David, and Jean-Victor Bertin. He began exhibiting in 1812. In 1814 he travelled to Vichy, and in 1815 drew the fortifications erected around Paris
I first encountered Michallon as a teenager on a school trip to Paris and we visited the Louvre. My classmates were all rushing to see Da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa” but my eye became enraptured by Michallon’s “Éruption du Vésuve, la nuit”. I have no real clue what I thought back in the 1980s but whatever it was it struck me enough to buy a print, the first print in my collection. It hangs on the landing wall opposite my bedroom door so each morning I am reminded of the awesome power of Mother Nature and how devastatingly destructive that power can be. Painted in 1822 it amazes me how a young man not yet 25 captured all that in a painting.
“Waterfall at Mont- Dore” is among Michallon’s landscapes that forced art historians to change their views in the 1930s and the artist’s role as one of the new school of landscape painting became apparent having been obscured by his pupil Camille Corot’s work. For me, it is the embodiment of the vigorous aesthetic of waterfalls in woodland which I adore and where I feel so at peace.
My final choice is a sentimental one. One of the last gifts given to me by my late partner was “Portrait of a Peasant from the Environs of Rome”. Michallon’s vibrant palette brings the painting a sense of being alive and, of course, for me, it brings Gabbie, or my memories of her, back to me every time I see it.
In Love and light
Raven xx
So Starts Another Day
So Starts Another Day
Form: Free Verse
As the coffee pot sighs with arousing aroma my mind slowly awakens inviting the first imaginings to worm slowly into my thinking cradling the cup in my hands a screen flickers the creative adventure has begun
©JezzieGFarmer2022
Sheep by Robert Francis
Sheep
1938
From where I stand the sheep stand still
As stones against the stony hill.
The stones are gray
And so are they.
And both are weatherworn and round,
Leading the eye back to the ground.
Two mingled flocks –
The sheep, the rocks.
And still no sheep stirs from its place
Or lifts its Babylonian face
Robert Francis
Born: 12 August 1901, Pennsylvania, USA
Nationality: American
Died: 13 July 1987, Massachusetts, USA
Francis was a poet best known for his classic work ‘The Pitcher’ that demonstrates how physical activity is not only acting on the environment but is an interactive communication with all its elements of it. Francis lived most of his life in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
Sadje’s Sunday Poser – #99
Inspired by and written for Sadje’s Sunday Poser – thank you, Sadje
OUCH!!!! The urge to run away from writing this is absolutely huge but I will try. If I fail no one will ever see it so not really a problem is it? I am in the middle of some heavy-duty mental health healing therapy, part of which is to write letters to myself. For me, this prompt echoes the ones I get but this time I won’t write it to myself but as I need a focused audience rather than a generic one I am going to write it to you. Of course, others may read as they will, and I hope it offers some help to them if they need it.
Dear Sadje
I have just noticed this is a site for women over 50, well I hope you are okay with me answering your prompts as I am now very much a man albeit I was a woman once, but I am well over 50 and getting closer to 60 really.
Anyway that’s just avoiding the question you set, isn’t it? So I will get on with it and stop distracting from it. What criteria of behaviour do I set myself? Impossibly high is probably the short answer. Like most writers, I am my own worst critic and slam pretty much everything I write at some point. I have learned to step back from a piece of writing for a day or two before doing the read through and edits, that helps. This is one of the few prompts that I do that is instant – and yes that makes it challenging. I am already self-critiquing but sticking with it.
I am still going to say I set myself impossibly high standards in life, and certainly don’t expect others to meet them. Sometimes it is useful, sometimes it is not. However, by setting the benchmark so high I have learned to, with a lot of therapy, to be kind to me when I don’t meet the standard I set. Learning to forgive myself has been challenging.
Not allowing myself to just take the blame when something doesn’t go right, even more so. I have gotten far to used to being the scapegoat for other people. I have to remind myself their lives are their responsibility, and their mess ups are also. Thinking about this that includes stopping myself from saying ‘oh it’s my fault’ when it isn’t.
I believe I am courteous, maybe not free with a smile as that isn’t me, but I am always polite. However, I am not free with respect, as I believe that should be earned and not demanded. I may respect the choices that others make but that does not mean I have to actively be a part of them. And I am learning that is okay, as it is respecting my own beliefs and boundaries. I don’t apologize for everything now, if it is something I messed up I apologize but if it isn’t then I don’t, not anymore.
I think setting my standards high, even if they are impossibly so, is actually liberating me from being knuckled down by external opinion, especially negative external opinion. My mental health cannot take that. Actually, I think it makes me reach for the stars and with luck, I will land on the moon one day.
Well, Sadje, I got this far so I will post. Thank you for making me think.
Raven x
Doctor Zhivago Suite by Maurice Jarre
Doctor Zhivago Suite
1965
Film and TV
Maurice Jarre
Film and TV
Born: 13 September 1924, Lyon, France
Nationality: French
Died: 28 March 2009, California, USA
Jarre was a composer and conductor best known for his film scores, including Lawrence of Arabia and A Passage to India. Jarre received nine nominations for the Academy Awards, winning Best Original Score for Lawrence of Arabia in 1962, Doctor Zhivago in 1965, and A Passage to India in 1984. He is also the father of Jean-Michel Jarre.
Your Daily Word Prompt – Strategic
Inspired by and written for Your Daily Word Prompt – thank you, Sheryl
Form: Haiku
this is not her plan
a world in self-destruction
death in pollution
©JezzieGFarmer2022
Night People by The Human League
Night People
Album: Credo
Date: 2011
Genre: Alternative/Indie
Artist: The Human League
An English synth-pop band, The Human League formed in Sheffield in 1977. The group signed to Virgin Records in 1979 and gained widespread commercial success with their 1981 album ‘Dare’. The album included the UK/US number one hit ‘Don’t You Want Me’. Further hits followed throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s.
Paper Wasps — Family Portraits — Sonoran Images
You may enlarge any image in this blog by clicking on it. Click again for a detailed view. I took an early morning walk a few days ago at Sabino Canyon National recreation area. I was approaching a bridge that crosses Sabino Creek not far downstream from the canyon’s dam, when I noticed wasps coming […]
Paper Wasps — Family Portraits — Sonoran Images
Song Lyric Sunday – Sweet
Inspired by and written for Song Lyric Sunday – thank you Jim
Well, with the prompt for something sweet, there is a band pinging into my brain we really don’t hear much of these days but were hooooge when I was growing up. I’m going to stick with that as I feel like hitting some glam rock
A British glam rock band, Sweet rose to fame in the 1970s. The best-known lineup consisted of lead vocalist Brian Connolly (1945-1997), bass guitarist Steve Priest (1948-2020), guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker (1947-2002). Formed in London, UK, in 1968 the band was originally called The Sweetshop.
I want to close with “Ballroom Blitz” so will start with “Love is Like Oxygen” from the album “Level Headed”. Co-written by Andy Scott and Trevor Griffin, the song was a departure from Sweet’s more guitar-driven sound and featured high vocal harmonies.
Love is Like Oxygen,
You get too much, you get too high,
Not enough and you’re gonna die.
Love gets you high.
Love is Like Oxygen,
You get too much, you get too high,
Not enough and you’re gonna die.
Love gets you high.
Time on my side.
I got it all.
I heard that pride
Always comes before a fall.
There’s a rumour goin’ around the town.
That you don’t want me around.
I can’t shake off my city blues.
Everywhere I turn, I lose.
Love is Like Oxygen,
You get too much, you get too high,
Not enough and you’re gonna die.
Love gets you high.
Love is Like Oxygen,
You get too much, you get too high,
Not enough and you’re gonna die.
Love gets you high.
Time is no healer.
If you’re not there.
Holy fever.
Set words in the air.
Some things are better left unsaid.
I’m gonna spend my days in bed.
I walk the streets at night,
To be hidden by the city light. City light.
Love is Like Oxygen,
You get too much, you get too high,
Not enough and you’re gonna die.
Love gets you high.
Love is Like Oxygen,
You get too much, you get too high,
Not enough and you’re gonna die.
Love gets you high
Released in 1973 “Blockbuster” is from the album “Sweet”. Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman it spent 5 weeks number 1 in the UK Singles Chart as well as topping the chart in the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland and Germany.
Ahh ahhh, ahh ahhh
You better beware, you better take care
You better watch out if you’ve got long black hair
He’ll come from behind, you’ll go out of your mind
You better not go, you never know what you’ll find
Ahh ahh, ahh ahhh
Can’t look into his eyes, you’ll be surprised
If don’t know what going on behind his disguse
Nobody knows where buster goes
He’ll steal your woman out from under your nose
Does anyone know the way, did we hear someone say
(We just haven’t got a clue what to do)
Does anyone know the way, there’s got to be a way
To blockbuster
The cops are out, they’re running about
Don’t know if they’ll ever be able to blockbuster out
He’s gotta be caught, he’s gotta be taught
‘Cause he is more evil then anyone here ever thought
Does anybody know the way, did we hear someone say
(We just haven’t got a aho)
Does anybody know the way, there’s got to be a way
To blockbuster
Does anybody know the way, did we hear someone say
(We just haven’t got a clue what to do)
Does anybody know the way, there’s got to be a way
To blockbuster
Ahh ahh, ahh ahh
Ahh ahh, ahh ahh
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
Buster buster blockbuster
From the album “Desolation Boulevard”, the single “Ballroom Blitz” was released in September 1973. Written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman it reached number 1 in Canada, number 2 in the UK, and number 5 in the US Billboard Hot 100 and remains a favourite with more than 30 million streams on YouTube. And nearly 50 years on I still think it’s rockin’
Are you ready Steve? Uh-huh
Andy? Yeah
Mick? Okay
Alright fellas, let’s go!
Oh it’s been getting so hard
Living with the things you do to me
My dreams are getting so strange
I’d like to tell you everything I see
Oh, I see a man in the back as a matter of fact
His eyes was as red as the sun
And the girl in the corner that no one ignores
‘Cause she thinks she’s the passionate one
Oh yeah! It was like lightning
Everybody was frightening
And the music was soothing
And they all started grooving
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
And the man in the back said, “Everyone attack”
And it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said, “Boy I want to warn you”
It’ll turn into a ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz
Oh reaching out for something
Touching nothing’s all I ever do
Oh I softly call you over
Then you appear there’s nothing left of you
And the man in the back is ready to crack
As he raises his hands to the sky
And the girl in the corner is everyone’s mourner
She could kill you with a wink of her eye
Oh yeah! It was electric
So frantically hectic
And the band started leaving
‘Cause they all stopped breathing
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
And the man in the back said, “Everyone attack”
And it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said, “Boy I want to warn you”
It’ll turn into a ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz
Oh yeah! It was like lightning
Everybody was frightening
And the music was soothing
And they all started grooving
Yeah, yeah, yeah-yeah-yeah
And the man in the back said, “Everyone attack”
And it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said, “Boy I want to warn you”
It’ll turn into a ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz
It’s, it’s a ballroom blitz
It’s, it’s a ballroom blitz
It’s, it’s a ballroom blitz
Yeah, it’s a ballroom blitz
Sunday reflection . . . Those who master themselves have abundance of courage
*
*
Courage allows you to run your own race. Courage allows you to do whatever you want to do because you know that it is right. Courage gives you the self-control to persist where others have failed. Ultimately the degree of courage you live with determines the amount of fulfillment you receive. It allows you to truly realize all the exquisite wonders of the epic that is your life. And those who master themselves have abundance of courage.
Robin Sharma
*
*
*
*
Text and image source: Andrew Ezeudegbe https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02RUkXzhjTqdCFuGLpWs7HR5BDMBkeBu8AiYH9GX1aKN9W7w61UNeAR3QbErwTDq6Fl&id=100003959785265
Sonnet September: How do I love thee by Elizabeth Barrett Browning
How do I love thee? Let me count the ways,
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight
I love thee freely, as men strive for sight.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise;
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints; I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life? and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
Jezzie G 