Dotty Wassily Kandinsky, #4: Movement and Change
Magic Show
My bright baby boy
Naps in my warm arms;
Won’t be laid down.
Nurses night and day,
Past walking and words;
Won’t be put off.
Sleeps between his dad
And me, touching both;
Won’t be sidetracked.
Is afraid to stay
Alone at a friend’s;
Won’t be left there.
Molds himself to me
When we read aloud;
Won’t be detached.
Then,
My baby boy,
Cool as the shade
In the dugout,
Pitches a ball
Across the plate —
Batter never
Even sees it:
Stee
rike!
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8 x 8″; watercolor, watersoluble colored pencil, watersoluble wax pastel,
and paint marker on paper
concentric circles and squares after Wassily Kandinsky
2025
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Notes About Poem and Painting:
• I wrote “Magic Show” when my son Jay was about eleven years old. I knew the story I wanted to tell and created a format using a syllabics pattern. When I use syllabics, I typically generate a narrative rough draft first, find a bit of wording I don’t want to change, count the syllables in those words, and impose that syllable count in some way as a structure for turning the draft into a poem. The syllable pattern here: 5-5-4 in each of the first 4 stanzas, followed by an ending pattern of 1-4-4-4-4-4-4-4-1-1.
• Kandinsky’s concentric circles and squares exercise makes for a great way to experiment and explore. In this 4th such exercise my primary goal was to continue playing with watercolor paints (using my very-limited don’t-even-know-where-they-came-from-or-when supplies, i.e. two small inexpensive pan trays). Much more to learn about all things watercolor, for sure. Below the embellished mixed media form of the piece, I’ve posted it in its work-in-progress watercolor-only stage.
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12 responses to “Dotty Wassily Kandinsky, #4: Movement and Change”
I am enjoying these poems from your past. Having raised boys…I can relate to every syllabic patterned line.
And I continue to enjoy your Kandinsky series. This watercolor work in progress will be fun to watch evolve. You are a master at layering.
And….you’ve got me dreaming of playing with circles!
MaryAnn, thank you for the poetry of your commenting that you can relate to every syllabic patterned line—fun to hear that the poem’s content resonates with you AND that you also appreciate its music.
The Kandinsky series continues to engage me. I value having a structure within which to experiment. With this one, I particularly enjoyed taking it from its watercolor-only stage through several rounds of mark-making to its completion.
Hope your circle dreaming becomes circle creating : )
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So magnificent to learn that your urge to write poetry is already so old!
Lola, I am so grateful for your feedback, cheerleading, encouragement, generosity, and way with words in your unwavering ongoing commenting at my blog, and for your mindbending art, brave vulnerability, thoughtful teaching, and generous spirit in your own blog posts. win win win win win. Thank you!
Though my art and poetry are less often effortless and organic, more often effortful and deliberate, I am very drawn to and nourished by the creative process of both regardless : )
And I couldn’t be happier than to know that, either way, my art and poetry resonate with you!
xo
Roseanne, thank you for your comments. I’ve been challenged this afternoon by iphone conundrums that are beyond my expertise and navigation conundrums with an online course I signed up for and I can’t get my hearing aids to synch up as they’re supposed to, all of which is to say, what a treat to discover your affirming comments here
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed learning about syllabics as a device for structuring poems. It’s such an accessible strategy!
I had fun playing with this painting’s embellishments once the watercolor circles and squares were in place. Glad you liked the marks, patterning, and character that evolved : )
Sheila, thanks for the home-run affirmation! Thanks for being a faithful fan in the ballpark of my blog : )
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