Monday, March 14, 2011

"Grandmother's Journal" - a Triolet Poem, 167/365



My daughter picked some blooms Sunday from a flowering tree in our backyard and put them in a jar.  I asked her to set them on the patio table so I could photograph them... and look what I found.   We weren't the only ones enjoying their beauty.  Needless to say, she decided to leave the vase outside.  I have decided this is perfect for "Movement in March".  This is also for "Macro Monday".  Of course the above photos are also part of my "365 Photographic Journey"

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Over at One Stop Poetry, it is "Form Monday" and the featured poetry form is Triolets (Part II).   Copying from their site:  The features of the Triolet are: 8 lines.  Two rhymes.  5 of the 8 lines are repeated or refrain lines.  First line repeats at the 4th and 7th lines.  Second line repeats at the 8th line.  There is also a specific rhythm... Here it goes, again...


Grandmother's Journal

A century old, they still ring true,
These words of yesterday are dear.
'Tis faint and small these words in blue.
A century old, they still ring true.
A time of youth and deja vu,
Enlightened life at which I peer.
A century young, they still ring true,
These words of yesterday are dear.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 03-14-11


I have in my possession a box full of photos taken in 1916 when my grandmother, Marguerite Hutchins Beckington, and her friends traveled to Yellowstone National Park to work for the summer.  She was, I believe, 23 at the time and had just finished college.  I mentioned to my mom how I was copying and using Photoshop to restore and preserve these almost 100 year old photos.  My mom surprised me with saying she had a dainty size journal of my grandmother's youthful experience.  My job now is to pair up as many photos as I can with these precious words.  I had to laugh as my grandmother talks about dancing around the firelight and even missing a curfew once.  Truly insightful as I NEVER would have associated her with either!  I will be sharing this journal and accompanying photos as it nears completion here on my blog.

16 comments:

knot eye said...

very nice...after my Mother passed I found some of her stuff...every one of her college composition books...she was an English Major

such a find

Peace, hp

Kala said...

Great details you've captured of the little critter on the flower petals! Wonderful macro.

Rosie Grey said...

How wonderful, Margaret! I love your macros and also your poem together with those old photos! What a great thing to have your grandmother's journal - must really be exciting!

Tess Kincaid said...

Your box of photos is such a treasure! I inherited 30 albums of old photos when my grandfather passed aways a few years ago. I'm in the process of scanning all of them. It's truly a labor of love.

(Last night I dreamed one of your daughters won a singing competition. Strange, huh?)

TexWisGirl said...

Love the beautiful little lacewing or whatever type of insect it is! :) Can't believe you have your grandma's journal to go with the photos. :)

Brian Miller said...

smiles. i like the context of your triolet...going through my grandfathers things he was not a writer but we found several things that really spoke his heart in ways he never could verbally....

Carol Blackburn said...

Love the photos of the bug, I do believe he is smiling in that second photo (look closely). How awesome that your Grandmother kept a journal. Imagine the treasure you will glean from it.

G-Man said...

Is there NO end to your talent WOMAN?

Margaret said...

hpicasso - That is awesome! It truly is a treasure.

Kala - I was surprised to see the little guy... and doesn't it look like he is posing?

Rosie - I am really excited about creating a book of my drawings, poems and her writing and photos surrounding her time in 1916 at Yellowstone... for a Christmas present to my sisters and mom.

Tess - how awesome ... 30 albums! It is funny that you dreamed of my daughter who used to sing like Christine Chenoweth (Wicked). She got nodules on her vocal chords and now is focusing on art (she has her own blog - Artistic Adventures on my side bar). She is waiting to here if she got in to University of North Carolina's visual art's program for Jr & Sr. year of high school. So she IS waiting for a BIG opportunity...

Texwisgirl, Brian & Carol - :) Thank you!

G-Man - My husband says I am not the greatest driver ... :P LOL

Tammie Lee said...

so wonderful, words that ring true throughout time. So lovely to see and read your post.

Sean Vessey said...

What priceless momentos of your Grandma's life. Thank you for sharing through your pictures and poems.

JL Dodge said...

Totally awesome that you are granted that look in the past ! your poem is beautiful !

Pitterle Postings said...

I love the pictures and the poem. They are amazing. so, where are you learning how to write poetry from?

Margaret said...

Tammie Lee - Yes, reading that my grandma danced and broke at least one curfew made me realize how little we really know our parents and grandparents when we are young. And how little my kids realize who I really am...

Sean Vessey & JL Dodge- Thank you. I plan on posting much of the journal and photos on this blog.

Patty Ann - Believe it or not, from just doing it. Magpie Tales and Ruth from Synchronizing were two blogs that I followed for a while and got the "bug" from. Then I stumbled upon One Stop Poetry. All are on my side bar. I bet you could do it too - you write nicely.

rmpWritings said...

beautiful triolet. i think it is wonderful that you find inspiration in your grandmother's words and are working to recapture those moments.

Margaret said...

mohdhafifi - thank you for visiting.

rmpWritings - triolets are fun. I wish my grandmother had written more! I am going to post some of it here on my blog.