You may know that in addition to my poetry I also do art, posted on my blog Claudia McGill and Her Art World. For the next several months I will be posting here a combined art/poetry project, Large Artist Sketchbook 2020.
I fill up sketchbooks with all kinds of art. Some contain images only and some of them I use the images as inspiration for poetry. In these books the image is on one page of the spread and the poetry on the other. This book is set up in this manner.
I’ll show you the image and then add the poem that goes with it. See what you think.
Stand Still
At the midpoint of full-noon
trees
who will never be anywhere else but here
crowd the middle of the field.
Shimmer sky hum insects
the crow calls out
with a caressing croak that cracks
just as it ends
Large Artist Sketchbook 2020 image 11
Claudia McGill Writes Poetry, Did You Know That? 
I love the contrast between all those tight little black lines in the background and the colour of the tree and plant forms. The words of the poem really convey the atmosphere of those summer days where everything just seems to throb from the heat.
I had such a great time making all those marks…
I love repetitive mark making. It’s very calming.
How gorgeous is that little bird in the middle!
Thank you. There was the empty spot and on impulse I added the bird. I figured that with collage, I could just paper over him if it didn’t work out. Luckily it was ok. By the way I am enjoying your turn into the collage path and look forward to seeing more!
He’s adorable!
And many thanks. M
Wonderful collage and poem – they connect well together!
Thank you!
So many fields like that I can remember from drives to the beach.
I just watched a textile video where the instructor did stitched backgrounds much like your drawn one here. I like it in both instances. (K)
There is something calming about the repetition. It hypnotizes me, somehow. To stop thinking and just be calm.
I agree.