Writer. Educator. Artist.
Home & Heart! © arlene s bice
Sometimes I come home
flop into a chair
exhausted, whew!
a glance around shows
crystals in the window
plants, objet d’art, paintings
all familiar
chosen carefully by me
reflections of my life
items I hold dear
surrounds me
with warmth
I’m home.
A new turf
moved into
a stranger raises
a hand, waves,
shouts a ‘hi’
a smile
it feels good
my heart says
here
I belong
here.
Albo’s Strauss Waltz© arlene s bice
‘twas a painting, a print really
in my Mediterranean dining room
hung over my stereo console
back in the early days
married, becoming an adult
a perfect union, one glance
created music in my head
dropped down to my heart
while the stereo was off
impossible to be sad, silent
added life to a dinner party
gaiety before mellowness
circled the table formally set
guests mentally share a waltz
strangers became friends.
Photo by Farhad Ibrahimzade on Unsplash
Downsizing© arlene s bice
It’s time, trim the sails, a last move, for sure
gone, the Toulouse Lautrec dinner set for eight
no need, daily life is different from ever before
changes are made, my new life settled by fate
adore the fancy new dishes, two of each design
cooking, eating less, use only luncheon plates
adjust, make life easier, all worked out fine
it’s fun to wash this crockery, they’re so pretty
and placed on the table with a glass of wine
next to the flatware, a journal, a book so witty.
Photo mxx @unsplash
Off to France © arlene s bice
To the land of the Impressionists
to walk where they stood with easels
to create a new style of exquisite art
to enjoy plein air countryside beauty
to stroll in the gardens of Monet
to share a table, wine, talk of colors
to still feel the presence of Renoir
to sit with Cassatt and Morisot’s spirits
to see them linger as I would linger
to see Degas approach, bottle in hand
to be there, outside a Parisian café
where I once appeared in a former life.
Brother Bob & Me
Childhood Pictures ©arlene s bice
Dad, an amateur photographer
of curious mind to satisfy
equipment was plenty; quality
developed his own negatives
chose favorite spots
now remembered
cozy bookcase corner
backyard pale pink rosebush
front porch entry
dressed in holiday clothes
church steps next door
on ground donated by
great grandmother Rachel.
10. One of the purposes in my life that I am thankful for, is the making of memories that can be relived again and again.
Emily Eve Weinstein https://emilyeveweinstein.com/home
Back when my new, used and rare book shop was in full swing in Bordentown (NJ) many authors and artists came to introduce their books and work. Emily Eve Weinstein, on her way from Durham (NC) where she taught, to visit her parents in NYC would stop and spend the night at Exit 7 on the NJ Turnpike. She ventured into town and drew many fans from the area excited to see her newest book. Emily always gave some kind of art presentation. The year of the Cat Book, she showed how to do a ‘reverse painting’ by painting on glass then placing art paper on the wet painting and voila`. An original painting resulted. This painting that she did of my cat Lizzie (named for Elizabeth Bennet of Pride & Prejudice) was the result of her visit that year. She captured Lizzie’s expression perfectly! I purchased prints of each picture in the book for resale, but she gifted the one of Lizzie and I kept it these 20+ years for my own pleasure.
Cat Book started out simply enough. Emily Weinstein set out to create a series of monoprints of cats she knew personally. As she explored her subjects, she saw that each cat had a story. So she wrote the stories down, and began hearing of fascinating cats farther afield. The trail led from North Carolina up the East Coast to New York City, where she was able to paint the much-heralded Brooklyn heroine cat, Scarlett, who rescued her five kittens from a ravaging fire. Other cats depicted include Snappy, who has sailed around the world; Wild Boy, feral in the High Sierras; the talking feline Regis, and Max, who has learned to box. It’s all great fun….and wonderful art!
From her website: Emily Eve Weinstein is a muralist, portraitist, and teaching artist, While creating murals in various towns over the years, Emily realized that many of the youth were drifting about and getting into trouble. In response to this, Emily would hand them a brush and send them up the scaffolding to help. Recognizing their value to the community, Emily taught the youth important skills which enhanced their self-esteem. As a result of encompassing the youth into her work, Emily’s murals soon began to foster a new and intrinsic community value.
Her murals may be seen in Durham and Carrboro (NC) and Long Island (NY)
Arlene S. Bice
Last year in an IWWG conference poetry workshop of Marj Hahn’s
we wrote from postcards of original paintings:
YELLOW LANDSCAPE/artist/JOHN MATLACK
arlene sandra bice
brilliant yellow in a living urban landscape
where color shows up to reveal
special pocket spaces indicating
poets
artists
musicians
are bringing life to a city setting
the creatives gather, cluster, whisper
vibrant partnerships form, friendships, really
latching on as extensions of self
easy to spot, these oases of art, poetry, music
colors abound, signage, posters, murals
in the unlikeliest places, just emerge
unplanned, fed, watered, nurtured
suffering? yes, those who try too hard
seeking perfection; art is life
with scars showing character
your choice, enjoy or no
absorb the blues
taste the reds
seek the yellows
notes fly out as the doors open
flooding the golden light
onto the sidewalks
where it leaks over the curb
into the street bleeding away
spreading love
leaving spots of life on a blue-
blackened night
It’s time for greeting cards to be sent out. It matters not which holiday you celebrate; Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Chanukah, Happy New Year, and maybe others that I am unfamiliar. I save most of the cards I receive (all with the hand-painted envelopes) and enjoy them again later. . . maybe even years later. Here is my take on it all.
Greeting cards from long ago
written by a familiar hand
declaring feelings of
someone now gone
Cards with a personal note
wonderful to read years later
encouraging, reassuring
remembering dear friendships
Note cards with thank you
sent for some little thing
or maybe some thing big
a long-forgotten thoughtfulness
Hand-made cards sent
designed with loving care
expressly with me in mind
treasures to keep forever
Cards spark memories
always dear, loving, caring
before good times turn to bad
or in times of sorrow, so sad
I remove cards from the box
sketch the graphics
into my daily journal
re-living a happy moment
And then there is Celeste
who paints the envelope
to match the card inside
giving the carrier some cheer
and me over and over again
It isn’t whether the cards are large
fancy, or expensive
it’s always, it’s the words
written from the heart
communicating sentiment
Writers need writers. Though we ply our craft alone, in between writing sessions, we need other writers. Today, when we cannot gather on sidewalk cafes or in coffee houses, we can come together via the internet. No need to go totally alone in the still-new century.
One recent gathering of writers & poets has pooled talents to present, Sitting with a Drunken Sorceress, Poems & Prose to invite you, excite you, & delight you. This anthology is a collection of poetry & prose from writers across the country; a simmering pot of races, ethnic heritage, age, gender, and seasoning.
You’ll see a smattering of ART, feel the emotions of LIFE, the PASSION roiling around inside us, why we do the WRITING, and the dreams & nightmares of THE UNDER 30 CROWD.
COMING SOON ….VERY SOON, FOR YOUR PLEASURE. SITTING WITH A DRUNKEN SORCERESS $14.95 PLUS $2.00 SHIPPING FOR EACH BOOK ORDERED.
PS: The photo is NOT the Sorceress, it’s my psychic, sleepy cat Lizzie who loves it when I read poetry to her.