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Photo by Jennifer MacNeill, figurine artist and photographer,
posted by Margaret as prompt for Artistic Interpretations challenge
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Today at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, we have been prompted by Margaret Bednar to write a poem based on photographs by artist and photographer Jennifer MacNeill. The set of photos Margaret chose were taken in low light, and are from a series entitled "The Collector" — this particular photo is called "Bits and Bobs" — it brings back memories of my childhood. I love the maple leaf just right of centre near the top of the photo.
bits and bobs of this and that,
decorations for a hat,
pins to hold the hat to hair,
and do I see a cameo there?
memories of another era—
infinitely carefully carved
by a sculptor who would starve
before he’d let mistakes get by,
now to his art machines apply
heedless mechanical hands, no eye
to distinguish wrong from right
so some of them are quite a fright!
ahh, the old, the bits and baubles
of another time when trouble
was always taken with the making,
infinite care, and so painstaking.
Kay Davies, December 6, 2013
13 comments:
Yes, this does bring in the feeling of old authentic handcrafted jewelry...your poem captures this image beautifully, Kay. :)
"when trouble was always taken with the making, infinite care, and so painstaking"- Wonderful. And overall, a great rhythm. :-)
-HA
Oh how I loved to scratch through my mum's bits and bobs. Strangely, although I've "hoarded" several pieces (cameo brooch, hat pin, buttons - I love buttons - and badges) this has all but died out in the modern life. I hope you're keeping well. I've been very absent for the past four days and hope to post about the latest in our lives tomorrow. (((Hugs))) Jo
What a nice poem not so easy to do with this picture !
The care of these baubles' original makers was re-applied when MacNeill assembled took the picture of what was probably already arranged by someone who also appreciated what in sum was there: And this poem continues in that cycle of praising what has been largely lost by giving it back to the world. Nice job.
Well done, as always. I love word play! I've been tutoring pregnant teens, and to get them to write is like pulling teeth!!!!
That was a really cool pic to choose, Kay--and you delineate it well, and also kind of explain our fascination with such stuff--I can;t imagine anyone wanting to preserve and collect the mass-produced junk, bits and baubles of our own age, except for possibly those inexplicable Elvis, Coca Cola, etc lovers, who will collect anything. ;_)
A cool write. I remember my mom having some fascinating bits of jewelry, "bits and bobs" that fascinated my daughter (the jewelry gene skipped me!).
If you want something well made nowadays you have to pay!
Love this Kay. I do find it so sad that the "art" of creating something with time, care and pride seems to have disappeared for the most part.
My grandmother had a huge basket of bits and bobs my sisters and I would sift through for hours on end .. your poem brought back fond memories.
Such care, such craft the old things were made with pride and love! And treasured… I adored my grandmothers thimble, her hand held mirror, her little scissors she would clip articles out with. Little baskets filled with treasures in her bathroom… She also had a frame with fabric covered buttons (I think that is what it was) … I just remembered it … OH, and spoons. She had a dainty spoon collection on her wall too. and painted teacups that my mother inherited. This is a very sweet, reminiscent poem - love it!
This is a lovely response to that collection of memorabilia.
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