amo

It’s taking me some time to evaluate my prior work and decide what to include on my redbubble site, and I’m also taking some fresh pictures of some of my paintings in order to produce the best prints possible.

I am not yet finished. However, today I have added several new photographs, including some from near me in Georgia, some from one memorable sunset over the Pacific Ocean in California, and of course the bluejays(!), and one painting, Boat, the original of which is not for sale.

If you haven’t stopped by, why not take a look? I’d welcome any comments or suggestions on how to improve.

. . .and I almost forgot! If you take a look at the top right corner of this page, there’s a little slide show of the works I have available for sale on RedBubble. Changes I make will be reflected there more quickly than I can post them. Enjoy!

So it is that poetry always seems about to burst into song, to break into dance, but the secret of the poet’s mastery is that he refrains from crossing over–the words stay words, they remain language.

Above all, poetry is intended for the ear. It must be felt to be understood, and before it can be felt it must be heard. Poets listen for their poems, and we, as readers, must listen in turn. If we listen hard enough, who knows?–we too may break into dance, perhaps for grief, perhaps for joy.

Stanley Kunitz (1905-2006)

From Poetspeak, Paul B. Janeczko, ed.

I am very excited to announce that, as of today, prints of my artwork are available at redbubble! I plan to add more work almost immediately, but right now “Daffodils” is available for purchase in notecard and various print forms, including a print on canvas. Prices start at just $3.42 (plus S&H, an unavoidable nuisance), so if any of you have ever wanted to own a bit of my work, now it won’t cost you very much.

The picture above is of a framed print, which is $91.20.

Stay tuned to the blog for updates as I add more work.

Update: I’ve added “Earthlodge Interior” (not previously posted on this blog or elsewhere), so hop on over and take a look!

Update #2: Right after I signed up, redbubble made an improvement that I really like. I now have my own personal gallery over there. I changed the link above to reflect this, but I’ll stick it here, too.

Update #3: I’ve uploaded all of what I had planned to now, and there’s plenty there to look at

The Doubter’s Prayer

Eternal Power, of earth and air!
Unseen, yet seen in all around,
Remote, but dwelling everywhere,
Though silent, heard in every sound;

If e’er thine ear in mercy bent,
When wretched mortals cried to Thee,
And if, indeed, Thy Son was sent,
To save lost sinners such as me:

Then hear me now, while kneeling here,
I lift to thee my heart and eye,
And all my soul ascends in prayer,
OH, GIVE ME—GIVE ME FAITH! I cry.

Without some glimmering in my heart,
I could not raise this fervent prayer;
But, oh! a stronger light impart,
And in Thy mercy fix it there.

While Faith is with me, I am blest;
It turns my darkest night to day;
But while I clasp it to my breast,
I often feel it slide away.

Then, cold and dark, my spirit sinks,
To see my light of life depart;
And every fiend of Hell, methinks,
Enjoys the anguish of my heart.

What shall I do, if all my love,
My hopes, my toil, are cast away,
And if there be no God above,
To hear and bless me when I pray?

If this be vain delusion all,
If death be an eternal sleep,
And none can hear my secret call,
Or see the silent tears I weep!

Oh, help me, God! For thou alone
Canst my distracted soul relieve;
Forsake it not: it is thine own,
Though weak, yet longing to believe.

Oh, drive these cruel doubts away;
And make me know, that Thou art God!
A faith, that shines by night and day,
Will lighten every earthly load.

If I believe that Jesus died,
And waking, rose to reign above;
Then surely Sorrow, Sin, and Pride,
Must yield to Peace, and Hope, and Love.

And all the blessed words He said
Will strength and holy joy impart:
A shield of safety o’er my head,
A spring of comfort in my heart.

–Ellis Bell (Emily Bronte)
from Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell (Charlotte, Emily, and Anne Bronte), read via Project Gutenberg.

Video: The Best Cigarette by Billy Collins, 1:42

I’ve been smoke free for 2 years. I lost my quit counter when my computer died, but, doubling last year’s numbers, 26,280 cigarettes were not smoked by me in the last 2 years. Sometimes I want one, but the other 26,279 keep me from having it. I couldn’t have done it without God and Jefferson. Thank you both.

(Ivan Sings/Andantino by Khachaturian, one of my favorite piano pieces, 1:51)
(To avoid any confusion, I should note that I’m not the one playing on this video.)

Nick and Lark
A.M. Otwell, 2008
Acrylic on canvas
14 x 11 inches

A Quiet Neighborhood, Metamora
John Ottis Adams (1851-1927)

Well, I wish the images were bigger here, but click the eyes on the top right to click through to Lookybook to see the book better. Once there, click on the book to turn the pages. It’s a children’s book (or at least it’s marketed that way) that’s at LOT of fun.

Percy’s Paws
A.M. Otwell, 2008
12 x 36 inches
Acrylic on Canvas