Category: Art

August 7th – Raining Cats and Dogs

It’s been raining all day. Oscillating between what I call Amsterdam rain, so fine you hardly notice it until you go out. More like mist than rain. To raining cats and dogs like it is now. Raining so hard there is no chance for the watersprouts and gutters to handle it. I got soaked just taking out the trash. There’s no real danger of flooding right now so I actually enjoy listening to the deluge. Snug in a warm room. Watching candle flames dance. Reading a bit and listening to music.

Curious as I am, I have wondered about where – raining cats and dogs – comes from. I found this article on the Library of Congress web page that details the history of it’s usage. And spent a fun moment reading through the list of expressions for heavy rain on Wikipedia. Containing two Swedish ones that are in my vocabulary. And one that isn’t.

Det regnar smådjävlar – ‘It is raining little devils’. This I’ve heard but never used.

Det regnar småspik – ‘It is raining small nails’. Has an equivalent in Spanish with a good explanation – not only is it raining a lot, but it’s so cold and windy that being hit by the drops hurts. That kind of rain is not unusual here when we’re getting close to winter and sub zero temperatures.

Regnet står som spön i backen – ‘The rain stands like canes hitting the ground’. This is when it’s raining so hard each drop makes a splash when landing on the already water covered ground.

After this I think I have just the rain song for tonight’s Saturday Song.

When the weather is

Raining cats, dogs and pitchforks

Humans must beware

©RedCat

Read other Haibun’s written for the monthly dVerse prompt by me here.

Read other Daily Haibun’s here.

Images from National Gallery of Art.

First image: George Cruikshank, 1820.
Very unpleasant weather, or the old saying verified “Raining cats, dogs, & pitchforks”!!!

Second image: Rembrandt van Rijn – The Mill, 1645/1648

Third image: Childe Hassam – Rainy Day, Boston, 1886

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New Growth – After “Roots” by Frida Kahlo

“Roots” 1943 by Frida Kahlo

A glimmer of hope and faith
Let’s seeds of hope germinate
Growing tender shoots
Sending out questing roots
Searching for purchase in the arid plain
Watered by tears of grief and pain


Growing stronger each day
As the soul realizes she may
Free the muses to let creativity flow
Allow faith in budding ability to grow
Trust in the Goddess boon
Receive nourishment from sun and moon


Evolve according to the season
Follow the heart’s bright beacon
Until passion sings in the blood
Flowing freely, transforming the lifeless mud
Into rich and fertile earth
Where a scarred soul might find rebirth

©RedCat

Inspired by “Roots” by Frida Kahlo and written for this week’s Sunday Muse.

I’m so happy to get a chance to write to an artist whose artwork and life story has always inspired me greatly.

Also shared with the Writers’ Pantry at Poets and Storytellers United, and Promote Yourself Monday at Go Dog Go Café.

Photo credits in descending order

Photo by Russ Ward on Unsplash

Photo by Christian Joudrey on Unsplash

9

All Earth’s Children

Full Of Children by Kerfe Roig

I have a dream
Of all earth’s children
Cherished and loved
Fed and clothed
Happy and safe
Free to fantasize and play
Allowed to dream
Educated to think for themselves
Regardless of gender, faith or colour
Free to choose whatever their hearts desire

Free to laugh
Free to love
Free to live

©RedCat

This year poetry month has an extra day. A May Day Special.

To read all poems inspired by Kerfe Roig’s artwork Full Of Children go to The Wombwell Rainbow.

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash
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Star Prayer – A Sonnet, April Ekphrastic Challenge

The Star by Kerfe Roig

Goddess of water and star filled heaven
Nurturer of the awakening soul
Guide me in my journey through the seven
Lead me towards wisdom to make me whole

Shower me in the water from your bowl
Cleanse me with every colour of starlight
Show me how to define a new life role
Grant me creative visions that shines bright

Let my passions soar the heavens in flight
Ignite and burn this nest of abuse thorns
Teach me to understand mystical sight
Help me to in hope and faith be reborn

Bless me as my inner fire flame and glow
As stars above reflects soul sparks below

©RedCat
Photo by Johannes Plenio from Pexels

Also shared to Open Link #296 – LIVE Edition.

I can’t believe how fast April has gone. Last year I struggled to write something every day. This year, with the ekphrastic challenge to guide me, the only struggle has been finding enough time to write as much as I’ve wanted. Some days I’ve even written and posted more than one poem. Will sit myself down to reflect and praise myself this weekend, and think about where to go from here. The praising part is one that I have real struggle with, normally I discredit my work and move on to the next thing. So will endeavour to change that this time.

The last ekphrastic poem became another Spenserian sonnet, with the linked rhyme scheme of ABAB BCBC CDCD EE. 

I had to laugh a bit when I wrote it. I’ve stayed away from trying the Spenserian one because I thought the Shakesperian ones were hard enough. But it turns out the linked rhyme scheme, reminiscent of Terza Rima suits me much better. 

Actually really pleased with this one. Feels like ending GloPoWriMo on  a strong note.

I have loads of books, some say too many, but in my opinion you can’t have too many. So when reading up on the symbolism of Tarot trump XVII – The Star, I went browsing my esoteric books and chose the following two as sources, both by the author Naomi Ozaniec.
The Aquarian Qabalah: A Contemporary Initiation Into A Secret Tradition
The Watkins Tarot Handbook: The Practical System of Self-Discovery

To see all art and read all poems for today go to The Wombwell Rainbow.

And just to let you know. There will also be a May Day Ekphrastic Special tomorrow.

Photo by Luck Galindo from Pexels
Kerfe Roig

A resident of New York City, Kerfe Roig enjoys transforming words and images into something new.  Her poetry and art have been featured online by Right Hand Pointing, Silver Birch Press, Yellow Chair Review, The song is…, Pure Haiku, Visual Verse, The Light Ekphrastic, Scribe Base, The Zen Space, and The Wild Word, and published in Ella@100, Incandescent Mind, Pea River Journal, Fiction International: Fool, Noctua Review, The Raw Art Review, and several Nature Inspired anthologies. Follow her explorations on her blogs, https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/  (which she does with her friend Nina), and https://kblog.blog/, and see more of her work on her website http://kerferoig.com/

April Ekphrastic Challenge – GloPoWriMo 2021

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Fire That Burns Away All Fears – A Sonnet

Concentrate On Hearing Voices by Kerfe Roig

When the world outside is quiet and calm
The choir of voices singing in my head
Fills my being with the singing of psalms
The echo sounds of dreams I long thought dead

Passions stubborn spirit refuse to shed
Visions burning clear in my thirds eye’s sight
My core even though abuse has me bled

My walls can no longer contain the light

The choice becomes, slowly die or shine bright
Trust there’s life time left for another choice
Spread my battered wings and let dreams take flight
Believe there’s stories to tell with my voice

Let truth be my shield and my words my spear
My pen the fire that burns away all fears

©RedCat
Photo by Igor Lepilin on Unsplash

This is my fourth Sonnet in April. And my first ever Spenserian sonnet, which has a linked rhyme scheme of ABAB BCBC CDCD EE. 

I still feel sonnet’s are harder than some other forms, or I’m more intimidated by them. Due to their Shakespearean connection. Meaning I feel like a novice poet like myself has less right to venture into such prominent territory. Such are the silly traps my mind makes for itself. I mean I have no problem venturing into other classical forms.

This is the first time the pentameter felt natural and not overly forced, although keeping all the feets iambic still eludes me. I also had an instructive fun time reading up on the Great Comets of 1811 and 1819. Especially the first of those, that was visible to the naked eye for 260 days must have been a real marvel. Leaving many impressions in culture, for example in William Blake’s miniature painting The Ghost of a Flea (below).

To see all art and read all poems for today go to The Wombwell Rainbow.

Also shared to Open Link Night at dVerse.

The Ghost of a Flea c.1819-20 William Blake 1757-1827 Bequeathed by W. Graham Robertson 1949 http://www.tate.org.uk/art/work/N05889
Kerfe Roig

A resident of New York City, Kerfe Roig enjoys transforming words and images into something new.  Her poetry and art have been featured online by Right Hand Pointing, Silver Birch Press, Yellow Chair Review, The song is…, Pure Haiku, Visual Verse, The Light Ekphrastic, Scribe Base, The Zen Space, and The Wild Word, and published in Ella@100, Incandescent Mind, Pea River Journal, Fiction International: Fool, Noctua Review, The Raw Art Review, and several Nature Inspired anthologies. Follow her explorations on her blogs, https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/  (which she does with her friend Nina), and https://kblog.blog/, and see more of her work on her website http://kerferoig.com/

April Ekphrastic Challenge – GloPoWriMo 2021

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash
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Sounds In The Wind – A Puente Poem

Tawny Owl At Coach And Horses by John Law

Somewhere in the golden dusk a tawny owl calls
From another direction wooden wind chimes makes a dull sound
Over at the pub there’s cherry voices
Comforting homely noises
I lean against the ancient stone wall
Exhaustion pulling me to the ground
I’m just gonna rest my eyes for a minute

~I’m awakened by a trumpet~

Over the hill comes the crest of a centurions helmet
The air fills with the sound of marching feet
The rattle and clang of weapons and armour
I scramble for my bow and arrows
They fill the air like a flock of sparrows
The romans have come to another tribe uprising meet
Certain their might will make them the victors

©RedCat
Roman Soldiers by Jane Cornwell

I learned the Puente form just yesterday, and as I so often do, had to write another one as soon as possible to get a feel for the form. 

It can be both rhymed and unrhymed, both mine and rhymed, but with different rhyme schemes. This one has the following rhyme scheme: abccabd d defggef.

Inspired by all three works of art for today. To read all poems go to The Wombwell Rainbow.

The Sky Is Filled With Voices by Kerfe Roig
Jane Cornwell


likes drawing and painting children, animals, landscapes and food. She specialises in watercolour, mixed media, coloured pencil, lino cut and print, textile design. Jane can help you out with adobe indesign for your layout needs, photoshop and adobe illustrator. She graduated with a ba(hons) design from Glasgow School of art, age 20.

She has exhibited with the rsw at the national gallery of Scotland, SSA, Knock Castle Gallery, Glasgow Group, Paisley Art Institute, MacMillan Exhibition at Bonhams, Edinburgh, The House For An Art Lover, Pittenweem Arts Festival, Compass Gallery, The Revive Show, East Linton Art Exhibition and Strathkelvin Annual Art Exhibition.

Her website is: https://www.janecornwell.co.uk/
John Law

“Am 68. Live in Mexborough. Retired teacher. Artist; musician; poet. Recently included in ‘Viral Verses’ poetry volume. Married. 2 kids; 3 grandkids.”
Kerfe Roig

A resident of New York City, Kerfe Roig enjoys transforming words and images into something new.  Her poetry and art have been featured online by Right Hand Pointing, Silver Birch Press, Yellow Chair Review, The song is…, Pure Haiku, Visual Verse, The Light Ekphrastic, Scribe Base, The Zen Space, and The Wild Word, and published in Ella@100, Incandescent Mind, Pea River Journal, Fiction International: Fool, Noctua Review, The Raw Art Review, and several Nature Inspired anthologies. Follow her explorations on her blogs, https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/  (which she does with her friend Nina), and https://kblog.blog/, and see more of her work on her website http://kerferoig.com/

April Ekphrastic Challenge – GloPoWriMo 2021

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Weaving Web – April Ekphrastic Challenge

Reticulation by Kerfe Roig

Web of history and fate
Lines of mystery and weight

Web of lines and knots
Weave of shine and moonshots

Web of weave and thread
Pattern of belief and dread

Web of pattern and flow
Chance to learn and grow

Web of chance and create
Rhythm to dance and elate

Web of rhythm and beat
Sound of drum and feet

Web of sound and light
Connection to ground and flight

Web of illusion
History and vision

©RedCat
Photo by Gordon Beagley on Unsplash

I’m very pleased with finally finding a subject that led to me being able to repeat the form I invented for the poem Moonsea from the first ekphrastic challenge I participated in. 

Edit September 2nd

As I sit struggling with finding the right form for one of my writing assignments in class I decided to share this to remind myself that not only can I find the right form, I can invent one if no other seems suitable.

To see all art and read all poems for today go to The Wombwell Rainbow.

Also shared to Open Link Night at dVerse.

Photo by Peter dos Santos on Unsplash
Kerfe Roig

A resident of New York City, Kerfe Roig enjoys transforming words and images into something new.  Her poetry and art have been featured online by Right Hand Pointing, Silver Birch Press, Yellow Chair Review, The song is…, Pure Haiku, Visual Verse, The Light Ekphrastic, Scribe Base, The Zen Space, and The Wild Word, and published in Ella@100, Incandescent Mind, Pea River Journal, Fiction International: Fool, Noctua Review, The Raw Art Review, and several Nature Inspired anthologies. Follow her explorations on her blogs, https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/  (which she does with her friend Nina), and https://kblog.blog/, and see more of her work on her website http://kerferoig.com/

April Ekphrastic Challenge – GloPoWriMo 2021

25

Through Hell – April Ekphrastic Challenge

Nine of Wands – Kerfe Roig

You’ve been through hell
But outwardly nobody can tell
You look confident and strong
But in your heart you just want to belong
Your mind keeps saying they are all reading you wrong

You’ve picked yourself up more times than you care to count
You’ve survived more that most will ever have to surmount
Yet you see yourself as flawed and weak
As someone who have no right to love and support seek
Instead of seeing how your experiences have made you unique

I know you are ready to give up
That you’ve started to fear each sunup
But I’m here to let you know
You can this darkness to outgrow
That your indomitable spirit shines with a blinding glow

Yourself is the only one you need to forgive
Not anyone who’s been abusive
You’ve been taught to see yourself as wrong
But you are brave and bold and strong
You are worthy of love and to belong

But you have to let your walls down just a little bit
You have to acknowledge how badly you’ve been hurt and hit
You have to let trustworthy people in
Needing others is human, not a sin
Then your new life can truly begin

©RedCat

Inspired by the symbology of the Nine of Wands. Written as a letter to another me who really would have needed this. And to anyone else out there who needs to to hear that being abused is never the victim’s fault. 

To forgive yourself for something not your fault might seem odd. But I know that most abuse survivors struggle with just that. Holding themselves responsible for what happened. In parts I still do. And that putting the blame where it actually belongs, be it an abusive parent or partner, is both very hard and one of the things that sets you free.

To see all art and read all poetry for today go to The Wombwell Rainbow.

Photo by Jen Theodore on Unsplash
Photo by Ehimetalor Akhere Unuabona on Unsplash
Kerfe Roig

A resident of New York City, Kerfe Roig enjoys transforming words and images into something new.  Her poetry and art have been featured online by Right Hand Pointing, Silver Birch Press, Yellow Chair Review, The song is…, Pure Haiku, Visual Verse, The Light Ekphrastic, Scribe Base, The Zen Space, and The Wild Word, and published in Ella@100, Incandescent Mind, Pea River Journal, Fiction International: Fool, Noctua Review, The Raw Art Review, and several Nature Inspired anthologies. Follow her explorations on her blogs, https://methodtwomadness.wordpress.com/  (which she does with her friend Nina), and https://kblog.blog/, and see more of her work on her website http://kerferoig.com/

April Ekphrastic Challenge – GloPoWriMo 2021

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