The first paired piece in The Poetic Art Pairing Project, which features my poetry inspired by art, comes partly from San Francisco Bay artist Sytiva Sheehan who primarily uses acrylics and oils along with pens and inks to bring her art alive. She often uses children, the elderly and people with disabilities as creative influences. I chose the following piece from her collection to base a poem on because although to the eye it may seem like a simple piece, it spoke volumes to me. To see more of Sytiva’s work check out her lovely website:Â http://www.sytivapainting.com.
Now, here follows the art piece and the poetry, which I am calling FLORAL DISSONANCE:
Hypnotic honey bees are buzzing
The chorus of their ravenous symphony is disconcerting
I can never have a day off
My petals always gleam with a glorious glow
As I prepare for my daily floral show
I’m a rooted advertisement
See my beautiful colors
My nectar is so devastatingly sweet
Come one come all and taste my savory treats
I so long for some me time
I’d love to enjoy the sunshine and relax my mind
A flowers work is never done
It’s a chance to shine for most and a burden to some
Even though all of this attention is sometimes tiring
I guess I’d miss it if it were gone
But I wish my suitors would understand
I am more than my sweetness
More than my color
More than my shape and form
I have substance on the inside
That often goes ignored
So I hide
In plain sight of course
You don’t want to hear of my travels
The angle in which I landed and became one with earth
How I was baptized by the life-giving fire of the sky
The conversations I’ve had with the one on high
Stories of my petals soaked by tears of princesses and paupers alike bore you
So I stay silent and beam rays of splendid beauty while dying inside
Is there anyone to whom I can confide?
Perhaps a woman would understand my plight
She is also known for her ability to affect one’s sense of sight
If those pollinators only understood
With equal footing we could rule the world
We would be their partners in life instead of just a flower or just a girl
So for a day in protest I will not bloom
I will shut my eye to the sun rays and spit out the rain drops
I will only open up my beauty to you when the ignorance stops
See me as a whole flower and not just my bloom
Smarten up soon nectar lover and you just might see me
Growing, living and laughing by the light of the moon
© 2010 – 2014, TamekaMullins. All rights reserved.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Beautiful! I love it!
Tameka
wow!
DEEP and understood.
I love these lines a whole lot
..”Is there anyone to whom I can confide?
Perhaps a woman would understand my plight
She is also known for her ability to affect one’s sense of sight
If those pollinators only understood
With equal footing we could rule the world
We would be their partners in life instead of just a flower or just a girl”
AND
..”I will only open up my beauty to you when the ignorance stops”
Thank you for taking time to enjoy and feel the art. You have just made Moonlit Rose come to life.
Did this just roll out of you? I bet it did. You have a wonderful gift Tameka.
your friend
Sytiva
Hi Sytiva! I was nervous and hoped you’d like what I came up with. Your art inspires great thought and lyrics. I have to be honest, it didn’t “roll out of me” as fast as poems usually do. I spent some time looking at your piece and actually listening to it. Then I started to write.
This was such a joy! Thanks so much for participating and being the first artist featured! Please feel free to share this on your site or where ever you’d like!
Cheers and have a Happy Sunday!
Tamstarz
Hi Stefanie! I miss you on Twitter girlie! Thanks so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it.
Have a creative week ahead!
Tamstarz
I love these lines. Your message is so simple, but unfortunately true, yet the way you word it, you show the strength, too.
I’ve liked you on facebook, but if you follow me I hope it’s because I’m worth it. Anyway, I really liked your rhyming – it’s something I can’t do without losing the message, and you managed it nicely. 🙂
Thanks Laurie! I appreciate your feedback and comments! I will check out your blog too!
Tamstarz
What a wonderful poem! And I really like the whimsy of the painting. I have a friend who writes poetry to art, and I’ve always been intrigued by the idea.
I’m glad I found your blog and I’ll be looking forward to reading more of your work.
Hi Lisa! Thanks so much for your wonderful comments about the poem and the art. If you have a blog I’d like to see it as well. Have a lovely week ahead!
Tamstarz
Hey, Tam I need to get my piece to you–can I just scan and send it or do you need the original? I love this idea & the work you’ve completed so far–good stuff:)!
Hey Lesley! Yes, please scan and e-mail it to me. I can’t wait to get started! Thanks so much for your comments as well.
Have a wonderful week ahead!
Tamstarz
Wonderful idea and wonderful poem. I started following you. Looking forward for more.
Thanks so much Husitka! I look forward to connecting creatively with you! Have a wonderful day!
Tamstarz
Marvellous poem. Read it aloud and you’ll get its beauty.
Thanks so much College Admission… 🙂