Poetry Jam "Glimpses of Gray" - Wrapping up my series on Monticello

Glimpses of Gray

History shouldn't be viewed
in black and white

with minds that accuse,
fingers that point.

In living color
we'll never see the past

lucky, perhaps, to view
glimpses of gray

help us understand
the hows, the whys

help us build
a better tomorrow

and pray future generations
will view our lives

with compassionate,
forgiving hearts.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, May 1, 2012

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This is for "Poetry Jam - It's All About History".

"A Thin Thread" (Monticello continued)

Mulberry Row... the buildings were on the right, the left is the "kitchen garden

A Thin Thread

With hands, black, and voices moaning

Monticello rose brick by brick

under Virginia's blazing sun.

With voices moaning and calloused hands

lowland's water carried bucket by bucket

for a gentleman's country estate

under Virginia's blazing sun.

With calloused hands and aching backs

earth's red clay dug and cleaned

for an idealized realm

under Virginia's blazing sun.

With aching backs and hearts longing to be free

two thousand bricks per day, molded, dried, burned, refined

for a Roman Neoclassic

under Virginia's blazing sun.

With hearts longing to be free and hope a thin thread

bodies labored, hammered, timbered, quarried

for Jefferson's architectural masterpiece

under Virginia's blazing sun.

With hope a thin thread for six hundred slaves,

ten found freedom.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 10, 2012

This chimney and rocky foundation is all that remains of the "joiners shop" one of the first
structures on Mulberry Row.  Here free and enslaved workmen produced some of the finest
woodwork in Virginia.  The enslaved children of Sally and Thomas Jefferson, Eston and
Madison Hemings, were trained as artisans here by their enslaved uncle, John Hemmings.  

* * * * *

Linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Open Link Monday"

HERE is the 1873 memoirs of Madison Hemings, the son of Thomas Jeffeson and Sally Hemings, who was only 1/8th black.

I DO admire Thomas Jefferson, but I am having a hard time wrapping my mind around the fact that he was so "enlightened" and an educated deep thinker... and yet, he still lived his life as a slave owner.

Perhaps what I and others need to keep in mind, to paraphrase Annette Gordon Reed:  "...celebrate Jefferson's accomplishments, his importance, and tolerate his flaws...  flaws don't mean the person is worthless... "

Everything that Jefferson did... his accomplishments are NOT lessoned because he loved a black woman.  The Hemings oral family history is that he loved Sally Hemings.  His actions towards her, her children and extended family point towards this truth.

I am reading Professor Annette Gorden Reed's book "The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family and I am finding it quite educational... a bit bogged down in detail in the "origins" section, but I feel it is necessary and very insightful as it "humanizes" history.  She is very interesting (I could listen to her for days)!  If you have time, watch this video.  (she DOES speak for over an hour... but if you have any interest in this subject, I think you should grab a glass of wine or a cup of coffee and enjoy it!  :)

She is working on Part II of the Hemings story, picking it up where the first book ends (1931).  She is also working on a biography of Thomas Jefferson.  I can't wait for both of these.

IGWRT's A Word with Laurie "Effervescence"

Effervescence

An overfamiliar embrace
is evening's kiss
between Monticello's
reclining lovers
as entwined passion
simmers, fingertips
cling loosely to curves,
Champagne-like effervescence
glistens from their limbs;
day's passion cooling,
restoring, promising
a night of passion when
presumed liberties resume.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 13, 2012

This is linked to Imaginary Garden With Real Toads "A Word with Laurie" theme word: Effervescence.   I was quite taken with the trees of Monticello and they were also a passion of Thomas Jefferson.  My poem is an attempt to express how intimately the trees blend with each other and the earth... some have their limbs resting upon the ground and growing back into mother earth.  I hope I was successful in how the sun ... actually the morning and evening, give an intimate "kiss" to the landscape.

My photos of the trees were mostly taken, unfortunately, during the full exposure of the sun... how I would love to be there upon the grounds at 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.!

Poetry Jam "An Item Owned"

An item owned

Historic significance preserved
found beneath Monticello's red clay:

iron hammer head, saw and wedge,
copper alloy measuring device.

Admired for beauty
they helped create

but within the hand
of the enslaved

just another item jotted down
and owned in a "farm journal book".

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 10, 2012

This is linked to Poetry Jam "Tools"  Please check out this fun poetic challenge!

I am reading several books on Thomas Jefferson and I do, despite his being a slave owner, greatly admire the man.  But it is increasingly troubling to me that as educated and "enlightened" as he was he didn't free his slaves.  HERE is a link I think does a pretty good job of being fair to Jefferson, not sugar coating his views on slavery.  We MUST remember to put Jefferson in his OWN timeline of history, his OWN circumstances and the times and family that formed him.

HERE is a another link of frequently asked questions about slavery at Monticello.

And HERE is a fascinating link I have yet to explore.  It is "The Getting Word oral history project...  I especially want to check out the "HEAR STORIES" of "way back"...

"The Earth Belongs to the Living"... Thomas Jefferson

Monticello Tulips

Make the most of now!

Earth belongs to the living,

the dead had their chance.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 9, 2012

How Will My Garden Grow?

With soil between my fingers
god-like I squish and mold
poke a belly-button hole
into earth's rounded dome

ponder responsibility
wonder if I care enough
to nurture, to guide
tiny seeds awaiting
a chance at life,

or will I prop vintage
seed packet art
upon my windowsill,
content?

Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 9, 2012.

(I'm not known for having a "green thumb" and sometimes think I am better off admiring the artwork upon the seed's packet! :)   Click on the link "seed packet art" (above) - and see stunning art work!

Linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Open Link Monday"

The above image I used Kim Klassen Cafe texture : "Let Go"

* * * * *

Just before Jefferson left Paris in 1789, he fell sick for six days and was treated by an atheist physician, Dr. Richard Gem.  They had certain personal tragedies and intellectual convictions in common, and it seems the theme he lived the rest of his life by came from this interaction.  Of course, this has been greatly studied and commented on, but it seems the following can be read on several levels, political, personal, and deeply psychological.

"A subject comes into my head... the question Whether a generation of men has the right to bind another".  


"... a question of such consequences as not only to merit decision, but place also, among the fundamental principles of every government.  I set out on this ground, which I suppose to be self evident , 'that the earth belongs in usufruct to the living': that the dead have neither powers nor rights over it."


"...the earth belongs to each of these generations, during its course fully, and in their own right"


"...the earth belongs to the living, and not to the dead."


"...the earth belongs always to the living generation.  They may manage it, and what proceeds from it, as they please, during usufruct.  They are masters too of their own persons, and consequently may govern them as they please."

Europe "belonged to the dead" not the living as it was entrenched in ancient laws, religious ritual, social protocol and sexual prohibition.   His life back home was a "bondage" of debt from his relatives and the GREATER bondage of black people to the white men.

This just goes to show one how much Jefferson struggled within the confines of his times...  What a hero he would have been if he had only freed his slaves like a few other slaveowners did.  But due to his debt, he couldn't had he wanted to.  He spent too much money on Monticello, artifacts, and "things" and the institution of slavery, it can be argued, cost more than if the plantation owners had them working as a free people.  He died with a huge debt, his slaves probably the most valuable thing he "owned".

"Kitchen Garden" at Monticello

I am reading two books right now:  'Thomas Jefferson, an intimate history" by Fawn. M. Brodie and "The Hemingses of Monticello, an American family" by Annette Gordon-Reed.  Both are FASCINATING reading and I highly recommend them.

Happy Easter 2012

Thomas Jefferson was a Christian?  Many say he was not... but he did what many do; use the bible and select what he wants from it.  His form of Christianity was certainly a "cut and paste" as he LITERALLY cut passages he liked and created his own version.


I believe the bible is not "agenda" driven by those who wrote it... I do believe letters and sections were written for specific audiences... but apply to us all.  I believe in the miracles, virgin birth, resurrection, etc... but much of the essence of how Jesus wanted us to live are in Thomas Jefferson's version.


I'm not saying we should cut and paste like Jefferson, BUT he carefully read through and thought about the bible.  I admire that.  He searched and came up with his version.   On one hand, as a Catholic, I find huge problems with this, BUT, on the other hand I admire his searching for truth...  (I don't want to debate this issue, I'm just stating what I think)


Many "so called" Catholics (and Protestants) do what Andrew Sullivan noted in the attached article:  "What does it matter how strictly you proclaim your belief in various doctrines if you do not live as these doctrines demand?"  This is a thought that has been going around in my head lately, life-long Catholic that I am.  


Here are two articles regarding Thomas Jefferson's "cut & paste":

Andrew Sullivan:  Christianity in Crisis

and

Smithsonian Magazine

I do find Andrew Sullivan's article troubling.  But it made me think about my Christian faith and whether I have taken responsibility to KNOW it on a personal level.  


In order to "Live the Message" we need to know what that means individually, and not worry so much about what others think of our journey.  The important thing, as I see it, is that we take a journey and search for answers to our questions.  


Happy Easter, everyone.

"A Tulip's Season" a poem & more Monticello photos

A Tulip's Season

Springtime's belles
gaily promenade their colors
beside Monticello's
southwest winding walk.

A few bend low,
flirtatiously expose
abundant decolletege,
whilst others preen
slender and tall,
corset-shaped allure enough.

With cherry hued cheeks,
some perform the St. James Bow;
others eagerly display
soft yellow taffeta gowns.

Divine debutantes all,
graciously receive guests
with a "How do you do",
pray not to be deflowered
without a crystal vase
to rest their stems.

Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 6, 2012

Thomas Jefferson loved to be outside and surround himself with nature.  He felt the flower beds would limit the variety and number of flowers he might wish to have, so he came up with the idea of an informal "winding walk" with a narrow border (or ribbon beds) of flowers on each side.

Starting in 1808, by 1812 it had become quite a project with ten foot sections, each compartment numbered and planted with different species of flower.   Jefferson did not concern himself with being fashionable and loved the idea of his flower beds being balanced with "the workhouse of nature".

I really enjoyed the naturalness myself, and I love the thought that perennial bulbs continue to flourish 115 years after Jefferson's death.

"Monticello" a poem, Friday Flash 55

Thomas Jefferson's "Monticello"

Monticello

Upon gleaming pillars
Monticello rests, stately
beneath trees majestic

enjoying sea views
of red clay farmlands

glorious sunsets
of a mountain's blue ridge

whose walls hold dear
hummed songs sung low
of old Psalms and Scotch melodies.

A foundation seemingly restful
until one walks Mulberry Row

upon a dark history, unseen,
treading a path contemptible.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, April 5, 2012

"Mulberry Row" of Monticello

I hold Thomas Jefferson in great esteem.  I am fascinated with his writings, inventions and architectural genius and I believe he was a fine man.  We MUST understand him set within the confines of his society.  Monticello is an amazing place, but we also must remember it came in to existence largely in part of slavery.  

I believe slavery was an issue Thomas Jefferson struggled with his whole life, and I like to think if he had been a wealthy man he would have freed them all.  I believe he had a relationship with Sally Hemings, his slave, and fathered (a) child(ren) with her.  Two of Sally Hemming's sons ran away and Thomas Jefferson did not pursue them.  I also believe all her children were freed; these actions speak louder than words ever could.  

I will be pursuing this issue and others in my next few posts, gathering information as I read the books I bought from my visit to Monticello and from the tours I took as well as sharing my photography from the day my children and I spent enjoying this slice of American history.  I believe it was Jefferson's granddaughter who remembered him often "humming and singing low" in his rooms.  (She was directly above him in her room)  I love that bit of information!   I hope you enjoy it.

This will be linked with Friday Flash 55, a story in 55 words, no more or less.  I KNOW it is supposed to be a fiction story and I often write non-fiction poetry (not always) but the host, "G-Man" is very forgiving.  Try it yourself... it is FUN.  

Oh ... and the line "trees majestic" really DID work once.  Take a look at this tree (all 8 kids sitting on the stump with room to spare ... the two boys are lying down) ... it and a twin "sister tree" on the other side of the house where chopped down just a few years ago...

Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Home in Virginia

A true artist, Thomas Jefferson.  His Virginia plantation nestled within the Blue Ridge Parkway is full of beauty and ingenious design.  I learned so much about this man and walked the grounds on a perfect day when the tulips where in full bloom and everything was green and growing.   This photo is taken from within the sunken hallway beneath the home where the cellar, kitchen and other rooms are located.  Every few feet one gets a splendid peek of the expansive front yard.

Yes, he owned slaves, as did his grandfather and father.  It was a way of life he was never comfortable with... I will be highlighting this place over the next few weeks, sharing my thoughts on the tours we took, the scenery I photographed, and the two books I am reading right now.  (Can't seem to leave any historic setting without picking up more books...)