Elizabeth is also an artist, and you will find some beautiful mandalas featured on her mandala gallery pages. Here is a striking example:
This poem caught my attention recently at Verse First :
Am wishing for a hard rain,
pounding against concrete patio,
darkling sky sounding a hint of disaster.
pounding against concrete patio,
darkling sky sounding a hint of disaster.
Not soft swishing whisper, which fails
to be heard without studied concentration,
or light dance steps come and gone in a flash.
to be heard without studied concentration,
or light dance steps come and gone in a flash.
No momentary glitter in a pot that never fills.
Small puddles swiftly growing stagnant. Thickening
crust becoming just more detritus.
Small puddles swiftly growing stagnant. Thickening
crust becoming just more detritus.
Am longing for a really harsh rain
that will ruthlessly scrub away, methodically destroy,
remains of unforgiven stains from all those other yesterdays.
that will ruthlessly scrub away, methodically destroy,
remains of unforgiven stains from all those other yesterdays.
Elizabeth Crawford 8/14/13
Elizabeth-at-sea
How welcome the rain at the end of summer! And another:
Music and the smell of beer,
cigarette smoke and laughter,
threading way to pool table in back
with a friend who didn’t always
defeat me, would let me win on occasion.
cigarette smoke and laughter,
threading way to pool table in back
with a friend who didn’t always
defeat me, would let me win on occasion.
Driving into the state of Montana
for the first time. Incredible mixture of anticipation
built over years of dreaming, and deep fear
that I might miss something.
for the first time. Incredible mixture of anticipation
built over years of dreaming, and deep fear
that I might miss something.
Sitting crossed legged on bed, window open
to cool evening breeze. Plucking strings of guitar
and singing Amazing Grace softly, only to have
all four of my children appear, each from a different direction,
to join me by the second chorus. We sounded really good.
to cool evening breeze. Plucking strings of guitar
and singing Amazing Grace softly, only to have
all four of my children appear, each from a different direction,
to join me by the second chorus. We sounded really good.
A non-traditional college student,
a middle-aged road tripper,
and a newly divorced single parent, scared
but grateful for choices made, and knowledge
that we just might make it.
a middle-aged road tripper,
and a newly divorced single parent, scared
but grateful for choices made, and knowledge
that we just might make it.
We did.
Elizabeth Crawford 8/7/13
I love the image of the children all coming to join in the song. You will find much to savor, ponder and tumble around in your mind, when you read Elizabeth's work, which runs rich and deep. Thank you, Elizabeth for being a valued member of our community.
I sure enjoyed reading these two poems. They're full of hope and a positive vision. I'll visit Elizabeth.
ReplyDeleteYou picked a good poet Sherry. As always.
Lovely, especially that first poem. I will definitely visit Elizabeth again.
ReplyDeleteNo, strangely enough I had not discovered Elizabeth yet. Thank you for helping me do so, Sherry! These poems are very engaging and I'll certainly be reading more now.
ReplyDeleteSherry, thank you for choosing my blog this week. It was a wonderful surprise and I certainly enjoyed it. I am not as prolific as I once was, but poetry still remains my preferred form of writing. And this community has a great deal to do with that, and I thank all of you for keeping that creative fire burning.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth
My pleasure, kiddo. Thanks for sticking with PU since the beginning!! We appreciate you!
DeleteElizabeth, I have long been a follower of your poetry & an admirer of your talent. Sherry has chosen some beautiful poems representative of your work. You are one very talented woman!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful poems!
ReplyDeleteExcellent choice this week!
ReplyDeleteIt makes me happy to see Elizabeth featured! She has a gifted voice and I love reading her poetry~
ReplyDeleteShe always makes me see something, feel something. Thank you, Elizabeth and Poets United for showcasing her~
Thanks you so much! Elizabeth is an honor to read, a wise woman, choosing words carefully, takes us to places familiar and yet unknown!
ReplyDeleteLovely!
ReplyDeleteI love the world of poetry it is one place we can let our hair down and express ourselves. Though we think the relevance may be lost in the translation it is not and the words speak to the reader with its own clarity and meaning. enjoyed reading Elizabeth's work
ReplyDeleteLove this prompt. Made me recall all the wonders of these two places.
ReplyDeletehttp://purplepeninportland.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/odes-horatian/
Elizabeth, I have followed your art and poetry for a while now, and you are nothing less than outstanding in each. I enjoyed writing from some of your images. Thanks, Sherry!
ReplyDelete