Category Archives: Photography

Paper Poetry

I’m popping in for Poetry Friday to share something a little bit different this week; a book I reserved at my library purely for the title. How could I not be intrigued by ‘Paper Poetry’? It’s a book of creative papercutting, by Helene and Simone Bendix, with photography by Ben Nason. It’s a luscious coffee table book. And it very much brings the lovely Linda Mitchell to mind!

I love that this book is called ‘Paper Poetry’ – because poetry is the art of words, and this book celebrates that in exquisite, detailed brevity. There were times that I forgot that I didn’t really have the time or the steady hand to produce these intricate creations. I imagined that I could – and my heart felt lighter. (And actually, there are some there that I am quite eager to try.) I marvelled at the craftsmanship and drifted through the papercut words.The poet in me also appreciated this quote at the end of the book. “Our handmade goods are for courageous women who want to add an element of poetic luxury to their everyday life. In some ways we feel fashion has lost that touch of poetry and fun…” I am all for a touch of poetry and fun in life – and I frequently find that clothes with personality help spread joy.

The book was an unexpected treat – and I’m delighted to share it with you, too. Now – to pick up scalpel and create some paper poetry of my own! But first, I’m off to check out the Poetry Friday link-up, at Mary Lee’s blog.

Wonder (of wonders, I am here!)

I’m becoming reacquainted with my computer after a break through the Christmas/New Year period. There are so many things I could post – but I just can’t yet pull those thoughts together, so for today, I’m keeping it simple with a poem (right) inspired by a moment of wonder I experienced this week.

My last post mentioned snail eggs. Well – I have since hatched four clutches of snails! But the tiny snails that hatched this week were a complete surprise – and so small, they almost escaped notice! There aren’t many – but I spotted T2 busily laying more eggs today…

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There are more bubba snail pictures on my Instagram page – and lots of other things, too, actually. 🙂 (I’m still basking in the beauty of yesterday’s sunset.) Click the montage to go directly and you’ll see I didn’t completely fall off the face of the earth, even though my blog was quiet.

And there are more poems on the Poetry Friday round-up, which you’ll find (with a jewel of a pomegranate poem) at https://ayearofreading.org.

Thanks Mary Lee for hosting the Poetry Friday crew this week. I made it! (Just…)

Poetry Swap Gifts to Give

Yay for Tabatha Yeatts and Poetry Swaps. With the email option this year, I took part in all five poetry swaps and it has been joy, joy, joy! I do just love the excuse to be creative for a fun purpose – especially when life is busy, as it has been, and any creativity is a chance to breathe and uncoil stress! So thank-you again Tabatha. I appreciate your swaps every time I am involved!

Today I am sharing my collection of gifting.

Between the first and second swap, I took part in an evening online birdie watercolour course with lovely Jess Racklyeft, an Australian illustrator, not because I have any talent; purely as a pep up for me during this trying year. It has pepped me up more than I could have imagined – and it became a fun theme to incorporate watercolour into my poetry swaps.

 

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(The bee-eater was surprisingly difficult to capture! The bird in flight was my second attempt, but seemed to fall a bit flat, so then there was a third…  Lucky Jone scored 2&3 – twice!😹)

Of course, the double-bonus of the Poetry Swap is that you don’t just give, you receive, too. (That is always a delightful surprise, since I’m usually so caught up in the creating/giving!) Thank-you to the wonderful poetry friends who have brightened my days with their words throughout the past months. You can see them in my previous posts.

And because Christie missed out on a watercolour… and as a thank-you to Tabatha and all my gifters, here is a little piece of our farm in one more watercolour poem. The (unnamed) calf that posed for the pic is currently skipping around our house paddock, slurping mother’s milk, but the poem is inspired by memories of my bottle-fed babies, Cocoa and Amber and Dozer. Especially Amber, my beefy-red baby, with the prettiest eyes.

I’m about to head across to catch up with Molly at Nix the Comfort Zone , who has all the links to my lovely PoetryFriday peeps’ posts. See you on the Round-up!

More Poetry Pics

Hi all. I’m popping in to share the some more #PoeTryHope and #WaterPoemProject with you. Not such a busy week of poetry this week – but lots of other busy productivity instead.

Click pic to see originals in Instagram.

I started #PoeTryHope because I needed to remind myself to focus on joy – not fear. I can’t tell you how glad I was to have poetry to draw my mind away from the doom and gloom of recent events, and spark joyful creativity. Now that I have my mojo back, and so many other things needing my attention, I’ve set the daily challenge aside. Alas, I realised after I stopped that I was one poem short of a neat instagram row! Messing with my head! (Fortunately, I had the royal spoonbill from my #WaterPoemPrompt collection to fill the gap for this post! Though he’s not on my actual Insta page – just on Twitter.) To see larger versions of the poems, or to read the backstory, click on the picture and you’ll go direct to my Instagram page.

For teachers looking for worthwhile ways to engage classes (across a range of grade levels!) I recommend Laura’s #WaterPoemProject – with wonderful daily prompts – for kids and adults. You can start at any time. The links are all on Laura’s blog.

Also, feel free to check out the resources on my blog, including this Didactic Cinquain activity, which is currently proving popular around the world. Plan is to add more resources to assist teachers (and parents) in providing independent writing activities.

Heads-up! There are new writing prompts on the blog.

Finally – I’ve just this moment realised that the Progressive Poem has kicked off for another year. (Phew! So glad I wasn’t in the first three days or I’d have missed my turn and muffed it for everyone!!😅) You can find the schedule in the side bar of Reflections on the Tech. Pop back here for my contribution on 13th April.

Heidi is hosting PoetryFriday this week at myjuicylittleuniverse, and her post is themed, Shelter in Poetry. I did. Hoping you find comfort there, too.

Continue to take care during these challenging times. I am especially mindful of my American friends and am praying for you all! Stay home and stay safe! xx

Poetry Pep-Ups

Oh my. What a busy week of poetry it has been! Though I’ve thought many nights that I don’t have the focus or the creativity for #PoeTryHope – somehow every night, some little moment of joy (or silliness) works its way into words. I’m posting them on Instagram – but here is a quick screengrab of where it’s at at this moment. There may have been a blooper this week – that my sister called me on.🤭

Also this week, the delightful Laura Shovan’s #WaterPoetryProject kicked off – across all platforms. So I’ve been writing a poem-a-day for this, too and sharing them on Twitter. Find them and more at #WaterPoemProject.

I’m pretty sure it’s the poetry – the poetry community – that has kept me grounded in this most unsettling time!

I’ve been adding new writing projects to my site for kids to access, either self-directed, or as school-based activities. The most recent addition is the ‘Progressive Stories‘ tab – from activities I’ve previously run online as a part of the Curtis Coast Literary Carnivale. You can find these in the drop down tab, under Kids’ Stuff. I’ve been delighted to see the increased traffic on my blog, indicating that schools around the world have been accessing activities over recent weeks. It makes if feel like I’ve contributing in a positive way. Guessing there’s lots here who know that feeling! I’m working on more activities to add over the coming week.

More information; https://www.dorothea.com.au

Speaking of kids and poetry… For the Aussies; the Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards is open. I’m thrilled to be judging this again. Kids, this is the perfect time to get your entries ready! You can enter as individuals, or as a part of your school – so if you have questions, ask your parents and/or your teachers. I am so looking forward to reading lots of thoughtful, joyous, wonderful words!

I’m sure my Poetry Friday friends will have lots of great posts for you to read – so click across to the lovely Tabatha’s blog where you will find the round-up. Spend some time with the PoetryFriday crew – maybe chime in with a comment or poem of your own. (Or not. Either is fine. 🙂 ) But please do take a breath, pause and let poetry take you places.

And stay home!

Poetry Friday Round-up, 24th January 2020

Welcome to Australia (twice in the one month!) for another round-up of Poetry Friday. Since Sally hosted, a lot of Australia has received rain, so dust has settled, and many fires have also been checked back. But what a horrifying month it has been! And it is not over. Even as I write this post (Thursday), the news comes through of the large air tanker crash, killing 3 US crew members. And we are once again reminded of the many different ways people risk their lives in our service. And how precious – and fragile – life is. Continue reading →

My Amber

My Amber

Imprinting your shape,
feel
and texture
into the palm of my heart;
muscle,
bone
knobby horns,
knees,
      rump,
           nose;
forehead whirl,
and floppy dewlap.

Hands smooth across
sleek red hide,
eyes clouded by tears.

I inhale.

Hold time.

Breathe in the scent of you.

Each pat

   a memory,
   a caress,
   a pause;


‘I love you.’
‘Thank-you.’
‘Goodbye.’

‘My beautiful girl.’

'I love you.'

© Kathryn Apel December 2019

Continue reading →

World Penguin Day Poem – Adélies

Technically yesterday was World Penguin Day – but since yesterday was ANZAC Day, deserving of its own reflective contemplation and gratitude, I’m running to American time and posting my penguin poem for Poetry Friday.

A number of years ago I was given Irene Latham’s name in Tabatha’s Yeatts’ Poetry Swap – which absolutely thrilled me, because not only is Irene such a beautiful person, but we also share a love of Antarctica – and we had in fact just done our own little book-swap earlier that year… with Irene sending me her picture/poetry book, ‘When the Sun Shines on Antarctica’. (I just hunted up the post I did at the time of receiving Irene’s book, and funnily enough, it was just-on two years ago.)

My favourite poem from the book was, ‘Adélie Seeking Adélie‘… so when I was given Irene’s name in the poetry swap, I knew what poem I was choosing for my mentor text. For whatever reason, I never did get to share it on my blog – so I’m sharing it here today.

Irene’s poem runs down the left. The photo is just one of my (many!) faves, taken from our time in Antarctica, earlier that same year. (You have no idea how much that holiday has influenced my writing – or how much I still yearn to go back… (It is like a physical tug inside me, I tell you!))

Carol Varsalona is hosting Poetry Friday at Beyond Literacy Link. I’m sure she will have a whole bunch of poetry treasures for us. And don’t forget to get up-to-date on the Progressive Poem, with Linda @Write Time. Not many days left, now!

In the meantime, scroll through some penguin hashtags and enjoy these shuffling, sliding, soaring, sleek little characters. Like these two!🐧🐧 (I would include the original @AusAntarctic post, if I could find it, but alas…)

Wrapping Up #MoPoetry2019

For #PoetryFriday I offer you the final week of #MoPoetry2019 Insta-poems. You can read the full collection to-date on my Insta page, @Kat.Apel.

Day 25:

Day 26:

(The second pic with the final stanza from ‘My Country’ – including strike line.)

Day 27:

Day 28:

Day 29:

Day 30:

Day 31:

View this post on Instagram

Ending #MoPoetry2019 with a #haibun for my girl; Amber. Twenty-two years of loving and I can still see that little poddy and the longing in those eyes – though her steps are much more laboured now and there’s no tail-wagging, frisking with delight. —– I’ve not done a Month of Poetry quite like this, pairing pictures and poetry each day. It’s been fun and I've loved the deeper level of creative play it has inspired! Thank-you to all those who played along, either sharing your own poems💕, comments or likes. It's been interesting/encouraging hearing your responses, and seeing which insta-poems resonated with you. Maybe I’ll scatter some more Insta-poems on my page throughout the year… #MoPoetry2019 #haibun #InstaPoetry #poemaday #authorsofinstagram #poetryofinstagram #poetrygram #poetry #thankyou #myworkisdone #scaredofcows #notscaredofAmber #ruralQLD #coungrygirl #farmersdaughter #grazierswife #beefcow #droughtmaster #grazier #ruralQldphotographer

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In a nutshell, a Month of Poetry looks like this…

Thank-you for letting me share each week retrospectively through the PoetryFriday posts. It’s been so much fun reading your comments – and knowing what you’ve enjoyed, and why. It’s also been lovely sharing snippets of my daily life with you. Special thank-you to those who have taken part at different stages – either using the #MoPoetry2019 hashtag on instagram, or by messaging their poems to me. Sharing is fun!

This week we’re The Opposite of Indifference – in fact we are (as always) in LOVE … with poetry.😍 You too can share the love, with more great #PoetryFriday posts on Tabatha’s blog.

Even More #MoPoetry

I do love diarising January in poetry – and have been especially enjoying the dual creativity of picture and poetry. (And the process of combining the two! Such fun.)

Here is this past week’s #MoPoetry2019 for your perusual of the week-that-was. Ending rather excitingly, too, I must say!

Day 18:

Day 19:

Which sparked this little conversation with @annashop_cronulla;

Day 20:

View this post on Instagram

The worst thing about writing a poem-a-day (and sharing them each day!!) is that sometimes, you’re posting a poem that doesn’t feel finished. This is one of those times… (Yes, there have been others.) FORM: Golden Shovel HOW TO: Find a strike line (and attribute it) then put each word from that line at the end of your poem… Fill in the gaps with your own words. In truth, I adore Golden Shovels. But I think I will make a rule to avoid lines with ‘you’ in them – because I should have learnt by now, ‘you’ always complicates a poem! #vulnerable #notreadyyet #bloom #whereyoureplanted #beyourself #motivation #inspiration #waterlily #flowersofinstagram #mybackyard #GoldenShovel #MoPoetry2019 #InstaPoetry #poemaday #authorsofinstagram #poetryofinstagram #poetrygram #poetry

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Day 21: If I thought it was bad posting a poem that doesn’t feel finished, it is worse to look back on a poem you’ve posted and find a BLATANT MISTAKE!!! Urgh! This is what happens when you become too obsessed with design and layout. (Though this is the least creative of all my Insta-Poems – but I was playing with two pictures, so… #stilltooktoolong)

I have inserted an edited version into this post – because it’s bad enough looking at the mistake every time I open my insta-page. (I decided to leave it as it was there (with a blushing comment!)… because of course I didn’t notice it until late in the day…🙄 #nobodyisperfect #iaintnobody…🙃)

I was asked if I wrote limericks. Not many – but here’s one, for a bit of fun. I don’t follow cricket – so if there is a Matt or a Gina playing, this is not about either of them! #justforfun #playingwithwords#betterthanplayingcricket😉#watchinggrassgrow #cricket#backyardcricket #summerfun#MoPoetry2019 #InstaPoetry #poemaday#authorsofinstagram #poetryofinstagram#poetrygram #poetry #rhyme #wordplay

Day 22:

Day 23:

Day 24: (Why, hello Good News!)

This week we’re going to Walden with Tara Smith, so join the #PoetryFriday excursion for more great posts. And pop back here next week for the final instalment of #MoPoetry2019! Looking forward to seeing what the week produces. Have a great one.