2016 Found Object Poem Project: Day 16

It’s Day 16 of our 2016 daily write-in. This year’s theme is FOUND OBJECTS. Thanks to all of the poets and writers who contributed objects for our daily prompts.For those of you who are new to the project, please read my introductory post. You’ll find more information and all of the Week 3 FOUND OBJECTS at this post.PLEASE NOTE: This year, a few friendly bloggers have volunteered to host a day or two. Tomorrow’s post, which is DAY 17, will be at Donna Smith's blog, Mainely Write. Leave your Day 17 responses here, in the comments, as usual. Thank you, Donna!FOUND: SCULPTUREThanks to Carol Varsalona for sending in today's object. I'm already thinking about what it would be like to stand close to this sculpture. How would it change what we see in the reflections?Today, I visited Professor Tara Hart's creative writing class at Howard Community College. In my role as HoCoPoLitSo's Writer-in-Residence, I've had a great time working with high school students, but this was my first group of post-secondary writers. After I explained our Found Object daily writing prompt, they did a brief response to today's object. It was wonderful to hear what they came up with.Let's start off with one of the students! Please help me welcome Victoria Costa to our daily write-in.FinisBy Victoria CostaMy quivering handsthrust forwardsinkinginto the frigid surface before meAs I watchmy hazel eyesstare back at mei’m too contentto mind the fingerprintsThe pulse beats beneathmy palmslike the distant thumpof a bongo drumMy pale skinbegins to vibratefolding together likemountains on a mapThe ringing inmy earsdrain outmy inner thoughtsMy kneeskiss untilmy legsultimately fail meMy skullstrikes the cementand I hear a familiarraspy voiceMy body goes numbit feels colderthan thisfuneralI let out a faint crybut you can’thear me***Jessica Bigi's poem is a playful mash-up of ideas, beginning with the title.Cosmic FootballBy Jessica BigiField of falling starsGarden arenaGodzilla throwing open passesKing Kong running in touchdownsGods of football chiselingGalaxy diamond ringsFor giants***The sculpture in Carol's photo made me think of another metal sculpture at the Baltimore Museum of Art.Modern ArtBy Laura ShovanAfter Olafur Eliasson’s “Flower observatory”, 2004I could have spent hoursstanding beneathwhat seemed to bea spaceship or pagodamade of metal sheets.I saw its petals levitatingin the contemporary galleryon a set of silver stems,so I pulled you under,kept your hand. Togetherwe looked up, into the gutsof someone else’s vision.We saw ourselves reflectedin the sculpture’s polished angles.Do you think the artistplanned for this moment:the two of us, examiningan exponential series of facadeson Valentine’s Day.***What intrigues me about Carol Varsalona's poem for today is that it's about the feeling our Found Object creates. If you'd like to know more about the object Carol contributed for today, I hope you will visit her blog post at Beyond Literacy Link.The Force WithinBy Carol VarsalonaThe force is upon you-each day within youreaching outto light the worldwith your awesomeness.Harness its energy!***Mary Lee Hahn is also blogging alongside us at Poet Repository.STREET ART IN ST. LOUISSome curve, some soar,some serve as a gate,I glitter, I shine,I triangulate.©Mary Lee Hahn, 2016***Donna Smith included in her poem some of the natural elements we see reflected by the sculpture.Balanced Precariously?Are you believingWhat you’re perceiving?Building or tree,Just seeIf you can –Nature or man?What do you you feel?Is it soil or steel?Balance precarious?Or scheme nefarious?Reflections detected.Relations reflected.Smoke and mirrors –Kaleidoscope jeerers.What you’re receivingCould be deceiving.©2016, Donna JT Smith, all rights reserved***What a great connection Catherine Flynn makes in her poem to another traditional art form.“The Art of Origami”Square becomesdiamond;diamond becomestriangle;triangles multiply,become mirrors:reflecting and refractingall they see.© Catherine Flynn***Diane Mayr left us a brief note about her process today. "I didn’t write this with the Grammy Awards in mind, it’s just a happy accident. I was attracted to the sparkle of the art and that got me started."Red CarpetSome in Hollywood don’t getthat glamour is nota matter of sequins, plunges,and slits up to…A truly alluring womanstands tall. She is confidentthat she has done her job well.And we can’t help but know it.© Diane Mayr***Where I saw a spaceship, Linda Baie imagined a winged creature -- manmade? natural? -- taking flight.Did You Know?A metal bird glints at the dayanticipating a getaway.At night it folds its wings and flieswinging across the starry skies.Linda Baie ©All Rights Reserved***Hooray! Robyn Hood Black is joining us today. The title of this poem makes me think of quilts, so it took me somewhere surprising.The Points of StarsIn each broken place, each of usreflects, refractsnew lightinside sharp edges, cold steellook –we’ve known wet earth and soft leavescolor in the fall– a hole here or there makes us holy–each of usa little bit Lukea little bit Darth Vader.©Robyn Hood Black***Thanks to Buffy Silverman for telling us about her writing process for today's poem. "I started writing about many different reflections, but then recalled the blackbird who I expect will soon be pecking at our windows."The Enemy WithinEach morningthe red-winged blackbirdpatrols our house,attacking rivals reflectedin bedroom windows.He raises his epaulets,a soldier in full dressflaunting his might,ready for combat,until the sun climbs higherand the enemy retreats.The red-winged rests,waiting for the battle ahead.–© Buffy Silverman***Jone Rush MacCulloch is blogging alongside us at Deowriter, where you can read her full post for today: https://deowriter.wordpress.com/2016/02/16/sol16-found-objects-poetry-challenge-day-16/darth vadar’s helmetmirrors infinity gardenssolutions for hunger© 2016 Jone Rush MacCulloch all rights reserved***And we have another silver bird of the sky from Charles Waters. I love the last line of this poem.PILOT GLORYby Charles WatersSilvery shield,festooned with gadgets, switches,rainbows of lights thatflash from console.People call you “hunk of junk”when I know the truth.You’re a vessel to the cosmos,and I am your heartbeat.Reminder: Tomorrow, we'll be spending Day 17  at Donna Smith's blog, Mainely Write. Interested in what we’ve written so far? Here are links to this week’s poems:Sunday, February 14FOUND OBJECT: Hot PotatoPoems by: Violet Nesdoly, Jessica Bigi, Laura Shovan, Carol Varsalona, Heidi Mordhorst, Diane Mayr, Linda Baie, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Mary Lee Hahn, Donna Smith.Note: You will find links to all of  the Week 1 and Week 2 poems at this post.Monday, February 15 at My Juicy Little UniverseFOUND OBJECT: Coffee MugPoems by: Jessica Bigi, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Catherine Flynn, Laura Shovan, Mary Lee Hahn, Heidi Mordhorst, Diane Mayr, Buffy Silverman, Carol Varsalona, Linda Baie, Donna Smith, Charles Waters.