The ruminations of an artist on art & life...art quilts, beading, knitting, drawing, painting, printmaking, bookmaking are all my passions, I love to explore creating....

Monday, March 10, 2008

Women's History Month : Authors and WIP


My friend Ms. Godsey at Bibliophile Bullpen has another great blog --- Literary Stamps, which is part of the inspiration for this post.

Poet Edna St Vincent Millay was born in Rockland, Maine in 1892. Millay's life always fascinated me---since she was an early "Bohemian"---and a women not afraid to go against the norms of what was expected of women of her time.

Nancy Mitford has written an excellent biography of Millay titled Savage Beauty



which I read and enjoyed immensely. Mitford captured her life and spirit, as well as the times she lived in ....

Souvenir
by Edna St. Vincent Millay
(from The Harp-Weaver and Other Poems, 1923 edition)
Just a rainy day or two
In a windy tower,
That was all I had of you----
Saving half an hour

Marred by greeting passing groups
In a cinder walk,
Near some naked blackberry hoops
Dim with purple chalk.

I remember three or four
Things you said in spite,
And an ugly coat you wore,
Plaided black and white.

Just a rainy day or two
And a bitter word.
Why do I remember you
as a singing bird?

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on another note---WIP: I am currently knitting squares for a healing blanket or small afghan for a friend who is quite ill--something cuddly for him to wrap himself in when he is sitting, or when is he is cold....several knitting friends are also contributing to this project.


so far, I have five 8" x 8" squares done and another one on the needles--I am having fun trying out new stitches for some squares...this is turning out to be a nice way to swatch and experiment with new stitch ideas, plus use up some miscellaneous wools I have in my stash.

3 comments:

Gretchen said...

I will have to check out that book.

Interested to see how the squares turn out and come together.

DAWN said...

I read that book when it first came out. I love her poetry and the book gave me new found respect for her writing.

Mary Timme said...

She was such a tortured soul, it has seemed to me. I'd like to read the book, I believe. I'm happy to see you are happily knitting on a good cause.