From Rodin to Deer and Back
Let's talk about process, shall we?
Yesterday, my head was full - of questions, thoughts, worries, wonder, delight…
In no particular order:
Worry about my husband and his back - what’s causing the pain? How did he wind up in the ER? Is he dying? (probably not) Are we getting old? (yes… most certainly)
In love with Suzan Colón’s post in which she asks ‘How do you refill your cup?’ and talks about my idol, Danny Gregory.
A bike ride (to escape the worry, the inertia I was feeling, the pull of heat and sun and a season turning toward the light…).
On that bike ride, four deer walk out of the river toward me.
Along the familiar path beside the river, a sudden wash of heartbreak - this was the route I took dozens of times during long phone conversations with Dad. Those deer - I should call him, send him a photo.
A little library in the neighbourhood delivered The Big Questions: A Short Introduction to Philosophy, by Robert C. Solomon into my hands. I took it home, opened it.
Rodin’s The Thinker (detail) is featured on the first page under the heading DOING PHILOSOPHY.
I was intrigued - wanted to ask all the big questions - find answers - draw them.
I opened my sketchbook to a fresh page and drew loose and fast.
It was time for our monthly poetry group. I shared a poem called Walking Through a Deer, by Jim Tallosi from St. Bonniface, Manitoba, a place I have never been. The poem was printed in the Summer, 2018 issue of prairiefire.
I thought of a post I read
in praise of little literary magazines and why they are so important.
The meeting ended and I sifted through all the detritus of the day and wondered - what do I do with all this? How can I draw any of that? I couldn’t.
So, I didn’t… I wrote a poem instead.
Which is how yesterday’s poem came to be…
Deer in the River (a poem)
Four deer, all ears and long legs wade across the river toward me, my thoughts stirred and focused – This is their river, the mountains behind a backdrop they don’t see. The leader stops, gazes at me as I gaze at her in this long moment of sun and breeze
Why does the process have to be so messy? So constant? So all-consuming?
Wonderful--and the piece you read in praise of "little literary magazines" was here, my dear: https://marytabor.substack.com/p/literary-magazines-why-bother-lagniappe and looking forward to your guest post on my site. ~xo Mary