Day 24 ... NaPoWriMo / Poem-a-Day 2017

24 Divisadero. If you're San Francisco born and bred, like me, that's what the number 24 conjures up: a bus line. But let's get to today's poeming. Maureen Thorson’s NaPoWriMo prompt: "write a poem of ekphrasis — that is, a poem inspired by a work of art. But I’d also like to challenge you to base your poem on a very particular kind of art – the marginalia of medieval manuscripts. Here you’ll find some characteristic images of rabbits hunting wolves, people sitting on nests of eggs, dogs studiously reading books, and birds wearing snail shells. What can I say? It must have gotten quite boring copying out manuscripts all day, so the monks made their own fun. Hopefully, the detritus of their daydreams will inspire you as well!" Robert Lee Brewer’s Poem-a-Day prompt: "write a faith poem. For some people, faith means religion. For others, faith means trusting in science and mathematics. Still others, think George Michael’s 'Faith' just as some immediately conjure up Faith Hill. Regardless of where you put your faith (or don’t), today’s poem gives you an opportunity to express yourself." Okay, here is my medieval marginalia — marginalium? — a bit of nunnery humor in a "bas-de-page" or bottom-of-the-page illustration found in a mid-14th-century manuscript of the Roman de la Rose, attributed to manuscript illuminator — illuminatrix? — Jeanne de Montbaston. Yup. That's what they are. A little pale . . . I suppose they grow where the sun don't shine. Sister Marie Considers Faith A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, thought Sister. Since I have two in my basket, and four more in yon tree, I'll soon be the happiest woman in Christendom, so long as I keep faith they can make me fly. —Draft by Vince Gotera    [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.] Here is Alan's medieval illustration: “Jael and Sisera” (from Speculum Humanae Salvationis, Westphalen, c.1360.) You can read this Bible narrative in "The Song of Deborah" (Judges 5). If you click on the image above, you can view the full illustration — a two-parter. Jael Unwieldy the tent peg and heavy the maul, how easy to give its tip purchase, sleeping Sisera in his exhausted assumption that she, peasant woman, oppressed by his occupation, would watch at her tent’s flap to warn him, his bearing a foil to his cowardice, retreating and hiding, asleep. Unwieldy the tent peg and heavy the maul, how easy to give its tip purchase, through an eye socket of the unseeing commander, through the ear canal of the unhearing oppressor, through the open mouth whose voice could level her camp, suffering and hurting, bereft. Unwieldy the tent peg and heavy the maul, how easy to give its tip purchase, choosing his temple, not obscuring his face or his recognition of his last mistakes that her subjugation meant weakness, that homely implements are not weapons. —Draft by Thomas Alan Holmes    [Do not copy or quote . . . thanks.] Alan tells us more about his process today, "Of course, one of the first things I did was ask Thomas Crofts, medievalist, if he had a favorite image that he might recommend. He directed me to a British Libraries site, where they offer a digitized version of The Luttrell Psalter, and it is a lovely work that deserves far more consideration than I have the luxury to spend today. I will return to it, however, for its variety of images. I told Thomas that I was going to start drawing in the margins of all of my books. Get a look at this fine webpage here." Alan also told me, "I used to draw flipbook animations in lab manuals, so I am happy." An interesting quandary today, with regard to the blog being "family-friendly" or not. With these illustrations and their matching poems, we have the old problem of PG-13 vs. R vs. NC-17 ratings: which is worse? Sex or violence? I like the old Saturday Night Live joke: sax and violins . . . what's so bad about that, really? Friends, won’t you comment, please? Love to know what you’re thinking. To comment, look for a red line below that starts Posted by, then click once on the word comments in that line. If you don’t find the word “comments” in that line, then look for a blue link below that says Post a comment and click it once. Thanks! Ingat, everyone.  ヅ

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