when it all slows down,
music, body, brain,
you feel like you’ve
been drinking acid rain.
Lights explode into colours
and shadows are palpable;
in the dark corners of a sofa,
some are even huggable.
Darkness starts to fade,
daylight begins to hover
through gaps in the morning
and a mother of a hangover
and you leave on a high, singing
an anthem to the psychedelics of spring.
Kim M. Russell, 1st April 2021
My response to NaPoWriMo Day One, linked to dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night
It’s the first day of NaPoWrimo 2021 and this year I decided to follow the prompts at napowritmo.net, where I’ve come across some familiar names, including Namratha Varadhajaran of Namy Says So, who is today’s featured participant.
Our challenge is to write poems inspired by an animated version of ‘Seductive Fantasy’ by Sun Ra and his Arkestra. A tricky start.
The Chad Van Gaalen animation made me think of Hundertwasser, one of my favourite Austrian artists. Image is 992 City View by Friedensreich Hundertwasser, 1994, on WikiArt.
I love these ‘psychadelics of spring’ Kim, and that you’ve chosen to write a sonnet 😊
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Thank you, Ingrid. I seem to slip in to sonnets even when I wasn’t intending to. 🙂
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There are worse habits!
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I really like “psychedelics of spring,” Kim!
I did the early bird prompt yesterday, but I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to post to all the NaPoWriMo prompts this year, especially since I’m doing an ekphrastic challenge, too.
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Thanks Merril. I wasn’t sure if I would have the time for NaPoWriMo, but I’m going to try to keep it up again this year. I might take a look at the ekphrastic challenge – which one is it?
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It’s one Paul Brooks of Wombwell Rainbow is doing. You have to sign up with him, but you probably still can, if you’re interested.
I might work on some of the NaPoWriMo prompts for things I want to submit.
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Intoxicating work, kr. Well done.
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Thanks Ron!
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You’ve turned (what I thought was a very confusing video) into a lovely, well constructed sonnet. Nicely done, Kim.
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Thanks Marilyn!
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Loved how you have interpreted that video.
“you feel like you’ve
been drinking acid rain”
says a lot.
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Thank you, Namy!
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“Lights explode into colours
and shadows are palpable;
in the dark corners of a sofa,
some are even huggable.”
This rings true!
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Thank you for reading and commenting, Romana.
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I so love the ‘psychadelics of spring’ Kim 😀 a most stunning ekphrastic poem. 💝 I can’t decide which is better .. the artwork or your words!
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Thank you, Sanaa. 🙂 I prefer the artwork to the animation that inspired it.
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You’re most welcome! x
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In all the hubbub of PT appointments and obligatory exercises every day that take over an hour (but are working), somehow I totally forgot that April 1 begins napowrimo! So glad dVerse folks have reminded me! I’ve always liked that challenge….not necessarily following the real NaPoWriMo prompts.
At the end of the Party…..so much here literally….I especially like these words
“and you leave on a high, singing
an anthem to the psychedelics of spring.”
These words in particular fit the illustration so very well.
hmmmm I’m wondering how I would take this metaphorically….
I shall read it again and contemplate it that way.
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I’m so glad the exercises are working, Lill., and I’m not surprised you forgot about NaPoWriMo, you have enough to contend with at the moment. Thank you for reading closely and taking time with this one. There was an animation that went with it, but it was rather long, and really quite strange, not my kind of thing. If you follow the link to napowrimo.net, you can watch it.
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I love the way you took this from hangover to spring!
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Thanks Linda!
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You’re welcome!
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I like the idea of hugging shadows in the dark corners of a sofa. Nice.
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Thank you, Maria. It’s a very long time since I did anything like that. 😉
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Wow. You captured an actual experience perfectly. This is what so many people aspire to do and can’t, I think.
❤
David
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Thanks David!
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Boy do I sorta remember that moment. Extravagant gates opening here! A fine first step into the monthlong tango. – Brendan
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It’s going to be a long April!
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The “psychedelics of Spring” …a perfect marriage for the photo!
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Thanks Bev!
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I think you captured the bursting colors and prompt idea very well. Comparing it to the burst of color in spring is an excellent parallel.
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Thank you, Lisa!
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You’re welcome.
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Wow that is some hangover! Well done.
Like this… You know you are gone with this happens…
Lights explode into colours
and shadows are palpable;
in the dark corners of a sofa,
some are even huggable.
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Thank you, Dwight! I haven’t felt like that in many years.
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I can imagine! Some things are better left behind!
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I agree, it was a tricky start! A fun one too, though. Really like your poem!
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Thank you!
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Love the concept of Spring as surreal mind trip. Great write ~~~~~
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Thank you, Helen.
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Nature on Fire
Spring Transcends
Winter Fall Summer
F L O W E R S
Heat Fall Cools
Winter’s
Imagination
Moon Dreams..:)
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Moon dreams indeed!😘
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😊🙌🏝😀
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Don’t now why, but it reads to me as like Old Man Winter’s last hurrah of the season before Demeter sends him away as Persephone emerges. I know it’s a weird mix of mythology icons.
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I like the way you read it!
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Excellent post for this April 1st. Got me trippin’. Be nobody’s fool Kim.
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Thank you, Rob!
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I’m with Ingrid, I like these ‘psychadelics of spring’. A fun poem and the artwork is the perfect partner.
Keep shining your light.
Ali
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Thank you, Ali!
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