I stumbled upon Alma’s work on Instagram and was immediately fascinated by it. It’s like little moments of life have been captured with all emotions, experiences, facets, conversations, etc. It sharpens your view on the little moments, the in-between moments, all conversations which don’t consist of words and nuances of feeling that life consists of.

For the following I asked Alma if she wants to do an interview with me:

Luna Maluna Gri: Tell me a bit about yourself and your work. How and why did you start creating art?

Alma Berrow: My journey into art began in my youth, fostered by supportive parents who encouraged my creative inclinations. After studying at Falmouth University, initially pursuing an Art and Design Foundation and a year of Fashion BA, I ventured into various professions, all of which had a creative component. It was during the lockdown period, while residing with my mother, a skilled ceramicist named Miranda Berrow, in Dorset, that I discovered ceramics in her studio, amid limited personal space.

LMG: What role does creating art play for you?

AB: Art creation is an intrinsic aspect of my being. From a young age, I found solace and expression in artistic endeavors. Drawing, in particular, has served as a medium for emotional release and introspection. Over time, I’ve come to view my artistic practice as a form of therapy, facilitating the exploration and processing of memories, emotions, and thoughts.

LMG: What does your creating process look like?

AB: My creative process is pretty loose. I usually start with a vague idea scribbled down and then dive into the clay. I don’t aim for hyper-realism; I’m more about capturing the essence or feeling of an object rather than its exact replica. Through this process I hope to capture people’s attention long enough to recognise the object while also noting the object is not in fact the object at all. It’s all about play for me—letting my imagination run wild.

LMG: What inspires you?

AB: I find inspiration in humanity itself, in our quirks and idiosyncrasies. I love freezing these little moments in time and immortalizing them in ceramic form.

LMG: What is your experience with the art world?

AB: I got a taste of the art world early on, thanks to my parents who were avid collectors. Growing up surrounded by art, going to exhibitions, and having deep chats about it was a real privilege. Every realm has its ups and downs, but I think it’s all about choosing which side you want to focus on each day.

LMG: Is there something you want to change about the art world? If yes, what and why?

AB: If given the opportunity, I would advocate for enhanced support systems for emerging artists, particularly the younger generation. The art industry can be daunting, with numerous complexities to navigate, such as gallery dynamics, commission percentages, expense coverage, and transparency regarding collectors. I believe there is a gap in openly disseminating this crucial information to artists embarking on their creative journey, and addressing this gap could empower emerging talents to navigate the art world more confidently.

LMG: What do you think is/are the role/-s of artists and art in our society?

AB: Artists and art play pivotal roles in our society. Art is storytelling. Works capture the essence of the artist’s time, reflecting not only their own experiences but also the broader cultural and social dynamics at play. In a world increasingly driven by technology, the importance of arts and crafts is so important, offering a tangible and immersive experience, taking us away from the screen. Art serves as a bridge between past, present, and future, preserving cultural heritage while inspiring innovation. It also fosters empathy, dialogue, and social change, reminding us of the intrinsic value of beauty, creativity, and individual expression in our lives.

LMG: What artist/artists would you like to meet (dead or alive) and if you had one question what would you ask them?

AB: If I could meet with any artist, it would definitely be Niki De Saint Phalle. I’ve grown to love her work because of my mom. One dream of mine is to visit the Tarot Gardens someday, and I’d love to chat with her about how she came up with those incredible creations. Although I saw Dalis Madonna in NY last year and would love to talk about this art work with him too…it blew me away.

LMG: Is there something you want to achieve in your art life? Dreams? Future plans? Or projects you would like to do?

AB: I’ve got a whole bunch of dreams and ambitions swirling around in my head when it comes to life, love, and of course, art. But lately, I’ve been trying to dial it back a bit and focus more on being present in the moment. It’s my little New Year’s resolution—to live more in the now instead of constantly scheming for the future.

LMG: Do you think there is something you can bring to this world through your work as an artist which you couldn’t in any other field of work?

AB: I hope so, creativity has always been an incredibly important tool for me. I have a degree in creative youth work. In the not too distant future I hope to be able to use this degree to help empower others to find expression and a voice through creativity.

Copyright to all photos and artworks: Alma Berrow

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/almaberrow/ 

Website: https://www.almaberrow.com

I met Magdalena’s art at this years PARALLEL Vienna and was immediately drawn in by it. The work is vulnerable in a way, deeply touching but at the same time holds a lot of strength and power. Which is further underlined by a use of of a mix of strong and shining and soft colours.

For the following I asked Magdalena if she wants to do an interview with me: 

Luna Maluna Gri: Tell me a bit about yourself and your work.

Magdalena Herzog: I’m Magdalena, I’m an artist from Austria and I’m currently based in Linz. Right now I’m studying at the University of Arts in Linz and before that I was doing a painting school in Graz and I also started studies of psychology and art history in Vienna. About my work; I’m a figurative painter, I love exploring vivid colour combinations, I mainly work with topics of intimacy and human relations, memories and moments of stillness. I guess, I’m inspired by my everyday life, by the people that surround me or what I see and what I pick up from my surroundings.

LMG: How and why did you start painting?

MH: I started as a kid. I always loved drawing and at some point I just never stopped. With time it just became more and more and I started to work with coloured pencils and then found my love for colours. I also had a teacher at school that saw my interest and tried to support me in what I’m doing. Then I started painting and I really love to work with colours and just the opportunity that it gives you. There is so much freedom in painting with oil and so much possibilities on how to create a work. 

LMG: What role does creating art play for you?

MH: I really love this process when an idea comes to life. Some thoughts you had on the inside gets transferred to the outside and you are now able to share it with others. A dream, a thought, an idea or something you had in your mind that was at first only visible for yourself to see, is then visible for others to see also, you are able to share it through your artwork. But also, I think it’s something you can’t quite control. You have an intention of what you want to tell the viewer, what story to create or what your thought behind something was but it’s not you communicating directly, it’s the artwork communicating with the viewer and I feel it’s a very tender form of communication because the person viewing it can still decide of how much they want to get involved in it. It’s not pushed upon them. They get to decide the level of involvement they want to have with the artwork, what thought they want to put into it when viewing it and what to receive from it, so that makes it somehow more subtle and tender than a direct communication. 

LMG: What does your creating process look like? 

MH: I work a lot with sketchbooks and drawing. I like to capture moments or colours or something that interests me in my surroundings. I usually have a lot of ideas gathered up and then I just need to figure out what the topic is or the idea that works for me right now to work on and then I just pick one. I draw a lot before I paint and I also think about the colour scheme that I would like or which would fit for these paintings. But usually that also changes a lot while starting a painting, it’s such a different thing, like having this idea of what it’s going to be like and then I start but then it’s completely different but that’s also fine, I think that’s a good quality to not be too stiff on the idea beforehand but give yourself this freedom that it transforms into something completely different while painting it because you can’t just transfer the idea in your head directly the way it is on the wall, that’s most of the times not how it works. Some things come up along working and you get other ideas and seeing okay, this actually doesn’t work, but something else might work something good comes out of that. 

LMG: What inspires you?

MH: I get inspiration from my surroundings and my everyday life. The relations I have with other people or that I observe. I also get inspiration from nature, different colours and from different light scenes and how the light interacts with the surface of the human body. But also from other artworks. Looking at art history and seeing painters that enjoy, asking myself why I do enjoy them and how they dealt with colour, with the brushstrokes, what topics did they deal with, how do they relate to me and what solutions did they find in terms of composition in their paintings. And it’s just a lot of trial and error, to see what works for yourself and what doesn’t work. 

LMG: What is your experience with the art world? 

MH: I feel like I don’t have that much experience with the art world yet, since I’m also still in this University context but what I can say about studying art is that for me it gave me an access to this art world. I feel like if you are not inside of this bubble it’s really hard to get a grip of the art world.

LMG: Is there something you want to change about the art world? If yes, what and why?

MH: I think it’s still very exclusive. Starting with art history. The main art history that is taught is still this art history based on white male western art and I feel like there still needs to be so much more done in terms of visibility of other artists, for women artists, for artists of colour or the whole LGBTQIA+ community. Also when it comes to who are the people that have access to art, there this whole art world, viewing art, buying art, seeing art or learning about it, it’s still something that is only available to this small, exclusive group of people. So, I wish the art world would be more inclusive and there would be an easier access for everyone.

LMG: What do you think is/are the role/-s of artists and art in our society? 

MH: I don’t know if there is one specific role that I would give to the artist but maybe it’s about keeping dreams alive. It’s a way of communication and a way of creating dreams, it’s about sharing your thoughts with other people, but I’m not sure that I would say that it has this one specific role in the world. 

LMG: What artist/artists would you like to meet (dead or alive) and if you had one question what would you ask them? 

MH: I would love to meet Paula Modersohn Becker, Suzanne Valadon, Mary Sassatt, Pierre Bonnard, Peter Doig andInès Longevial. I don’t have a specific question, I would just like to watch them paint for a while. 

LMG: Is there something you want to achieve in your art life? Dreams? Future plans? Or projects you would like to do?

MH: For now I just want to continue painting. Maybe at some point I also want to explore other mediums. For my near future I will do an exchange semester starting in February and I will go to Korea. I’m pretty excited to learn more about Korean art, Korean art history and meeting a lot of new inspiring people there. As for dreams or further away plans I generally enjoy residencies, so I’m hoping to have the chance to have more residencies in different countries and also to have more exhibitions. 

LMG: Do you think there is something you can bring to this world through your work as an artist which you couldn’t in any other field of work? 

MH: I’m not sure, I definitely hope for it. I chose to do it because I just love to paint and I love to create and I certainly hope that I can express myself through it in a way that I couldn’t in any other way. 

Copyright of the 3^rd and 4^th photos: Rudolf Strobl

Copyrights to all other photos and all artworks: Magdalena Herzog

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magdalena__herzog/

Website: https://magdalenaherzog.com

I came across Violetta’s artworks on Instagram and was immediately taken by them. The strong and powerful colours immerse you in them and although the canvas is not physically moving you can feel the movement which is ingrained in the works, how alive they are. It’s like they are taking you by their hand and dance with you, a dance of different emotions, going straight to the heart.

For the following I asked Violetta if she wants to do an interview with me: 

Luna Maluna Gri: Tell me a bit about yourself and your work. 

Violetta Ehnsperg: I’ve already lived a couple of very different lives and I continue to be amazed about how much fits into one human life. For the past decade I was a loving mom and I painted for my inner peace. I gave it both 100% so it was a beautiful 200% decade. 

LMG: How and why did you start creating art? 

VE: A friend painted and I got hooked. That’s the simple answer. Also when I get hooked on something I don’t let it go before I’ve put in my ten thousand hours to honour the craft. A decade later I still find painting to be a perfect method for me to connect to myself as well as express that self to others. 

LMG: What role does creating art play for you?


VE: Creating art actually feels like role play – honest, blue collar role play. I listen to my guts and put color to canvas accordingly. I don’t judge, I don’t explain, I don’t defend. I act out.




LMG: What does your creating process look like? 

VE: Start off with White, add some pink, light blue, some more pink, some black on the left. Some more pink. Like that. 

LMG: What inspires you? 

VE: Every single thing I see, touch or feel has the potential to inspire me – mostly though: my friends, my son, the sea, love. 

LMG: What is your experience with the art world? 


VE: My experience with the art World is the same as my experience with the rest of the world – deeply positive. For a playful character like myself the whole process from making art to selling it is a great ride – challenging of course – quite a trip. The two faces of the coin are: me producing art and me connecting to the world for others to experience my art. i made both roles my home. 

LMG: Is there something you want to change about the art world? If yes, what and why? 

VE: The two things I can change hands on is how I act and how I perceive the actions of others. I hence take myself seriously and I enjoy when others around me do the same. 

LMG: What do you think is/are the role/-s of artists and art in our society?

VE: The role of the artist is no different than the role of everyone else. Find their way., their peace, find what connects them to the eternal. for themselves. Then, if that’s what feels right: share it. 

LMG: What artist/artists would you like to meet (dead or alive) and if you had one question what would you ask them? 

VE: Prince – “more wine?” 

LMG: Is there something you want to achieve in your art life? Dreams? Future plans? Or projects you would like to do?


VE: I want to continue to hold space and fill it. I want to continue to be open to collaborations. I want the fun to continue. 

LMG: Do you think there is something you can bring to this world through your work as an artist which you couldn’t in any other field of work?

VE: I believe that the best soil for honest expression is Freedom- I have tried a number of fields of work and I can clearly say that art is the most free. 

Copyright Portraits: © Nil Ehnsperg

All other photographs and artworks: © Violetta Ehnsperg

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/violetta_ehnsperg_/

Website: https://www.violettaehnsperg.com

Sometimes I close my eyes and I see a girl writing tirelessly on her notebook. Even though she’s writing nonstop, a stillness is emitting from every fiber of her being. Her energy is pulsating with every touch of the pen on paper, flowing from mind to paper and from paper to heart. The cycle of a healing process. Her world for as long as she is immersed in it, is the wooden chair, the wooden table, the white walls, and an open window to a detached world that is subtly making its presence aware as if not to interrupt her. A wave rippling in the distance, a peach falling from a nearby tree, the essence of dreams that may or may not remain unattainable.

Droplets of salty water are slowly dripping from her short hair, landing on her busy arm – each droplet leaving a tingling trace and vanishing before she lays her eyes on it. From time to time, she rests her writing hand for some moments, fingering a little dent on the far corner of the table, as if she’s digging for a reason to continue writing. Maybe it’s a reminder that even though some parts of her are overflowing with emotions, there are still little openings inside her that the water didn’t embrace with its purity. In those fragments of her consciousness, the water vanished before she finished writing the right words, her hand unable to match its speed. She cannot see it yet, but there is water dripping from her hands, the table and onto the floor, forming small pools around the table, the bedroom, the balcony, and the garden. Yet, this water is not evaporating or expanding, nor in size nor depth. Rather it ripples, barely noticeable to my eyes, in harmony with her pen strokes, as if life were to spurt out of it.

For the following I asked Marie if she wants to do an interview with me: 

Luna Maluna Gri: Tell me a bit about yourself and your work.

Marie – Therese Blecha: I’m Marie – Therese, I’m 23 and I live in Vienna. My driving teacher says I’m too carefree for the outside world, which probably explains why I don’t have a driving license yet, but lightheartedness, that will always be a part of me. My art on the other hand represents more of what I don’t show to the outside world, because I process more the subconscious and express visually what I hold back verbally. 

LMG: How and why did you start creating art?

MTB: I would say, because even as a child I was never that good at expressing verbally what was going on inside of me so I quickly found a way to translate my thoughts into visual language by drawing and painting, I was pretty young, and I was able to depict things on paper that were difficult to put into words and somehow it also had something therapeutic to it. So over the time it developed from an initial impulse to an inner urge to continue in this way. And my work now consists of fine art and conceptual work, so it’s more like either drawings and paintings or sometimes also interactive performances or conceptual work installations and I don’t like to limit myself to just one medium because for me it depends more on the topic than the medium. 

LMG: What role does creating art play for you?

MTB: For me, it’s the most honest and easiest way to process what’s going on inside me. Every person has their own way of doing it, for me it’s in the visual language.

LMG: What does your creating process look like?

MTB: There is two, it’s the impulsive or the deliberate way. The impulsive process is, I let my hand guide me and then after I confront myself with the topic. So it just happens impulsively, I don’t think much during. The deliberate process starts with an idea, I deal with a topic in advance, do research etc. and then I carefully take everything apart in the process until I put it all back together again. This is usually how my conceptual works happen.

LMG: What inspires you?

MTB: I like being around people, so I would say this inspires me the most. It can also be short encounters which leave some sort of a resonance or something, or interpersonal interactions that I observe pick up on later. Talking to people, being somewhere is always very inspiring to me. 

LMG: What is your experience with the art world?

MTB: I’m not the biggest fan of the art world, or art bubble I would say. I mean, there are many, many events and exhibitions in Vienna that I always enjoy visiting. You can network there, you can get to know new impressions, etc. but this elitism of the art world bothers me, so I wouldn’t necessarily want to be associated exclusively with it. I like to make my art, I like to bring it to the outside world, I like to go to exhibitions and everything but, for example, I don’t care if somebody studies at a famous art university or something, that doesn’t matter and it shouldn’t be as important as it is. 

LMG: Is there something you want to change about the art world? If yes, what and why?

MTB: It’s so exclusive, I don’t like that. I also find it too artificial that many people want to appear elitist. I’d like it if the art world would also be accessible to people who are not in the art scene but are interested. This elbow society has no place there.

LMG: Yeah, I often feel like people are a bit deterred to really get in contact, which is sad because this exchange would be so enriching. 

MTB: Yes definitely, I agree.

LMG: What do you think is / are the role / -s of art and art and artists in our society?

MTB: Artists are witnesses of their time. And every artist communicates differently. That’s what makes it so diverse and also unique. Every artist has their own way of expressing themselves, their own experiences, observations that they share. And what stays with the observer, what makes them think, makes them feel emotions, inspires them, is unique and irreplaceable.

LMG: What artist /-s would you like to meet (alive or dead) and if you had one question what would you ask them?

MTB: I wouldn’t have a specific question in mind but I would love to spend a day with Sophie Calle and stalk other people (laughs). That would be funny! I guess that’s what comes to my mind. 

LMG: Is there something you want to achieve in your art life? Dreams? Future plans? Or projects you would like to do?

MTB: Having fun at work is extremely important to me and I really want to keep it that way. In the future I also would like to have a co-working space because, I love working alone on my art and switching off, being by myself, kind of like in a therapeutic way but sometimes an exchange is also good. Kind of like musicians, the are always jamming together and I think it would be cool to find or create something like that in an art context. To have a place where people from all kind of artistic disciplines meet and work there together. I think that would be my plan for the future, to do something like this, but that’s in the future so we’ll see. 

LMG: Do you think there is something you can bring to this world through your work as an artist which you couldn’t in any other field of work?

MTB: In my opinion you make art first and foremost for yourself. If you do it for others I feel like it’s not good. You can see it like a diary entry because you don’t care wether your own personal diary entry is well or badly received. A diary entry for example is my personal processing of things, my worries, my needs, my observations which in this case are shared with the world and when you do that you make it accessible to the audience. To the audience that can resonate with it in some way. Either it triggers an emotion or provokes discussion or whatever, and that is what makes it so unique and real because I couldn’t find this in another field or in any other work. For example I’m also a graphic designer and I love that but still design in general serves as a function, it has to have like a purpose, it has to appeal to the outside, it has to functionality to itself and art doesn’t. Art is not about pleasing others in my opinion, it’s more about sharing my own authentic voice and this is what I love about it so much. 

Copyright Portraits: © Jonas Subotic

All other photos and artworks: © Marie – Therese Blecha

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mariexxtherese/

Website: https://mariethereseblecha.myportfolio.com

Longing– December 2023

This month’s theme is inspired by the yearning to memories, humans and places which we experience emotionally and struggle perhaps expression them.

Longing– December 2023

This month’s theme is inspired by the yearning to memories, humans and places which we experience emotionally and struggle perhaps expression them.

Shamik Banerjee is a poet and poetry reviewer from the North-Eastern belt of India. He loves taking long strolls and spending time with his family. His deep affection with Solitude and Poetry provides him happiness. 

I hope there you have cushions to make jumps;
long, tensioned draperies to clutch with paw;
for gamboling, soft, formable clay-lumps
and leathern slipshoes to busily gnaw.
Do you often look at Mother and me
and bethink how you wheedled her for fish;
how in her absence entered furtively
and overturned the cover of the dish?
The Sun, perhaps there, is more shimmery;
come iridescent patchworks after rain;
and woodlets mirandous and timbery;
no bliss to chase; no warfare against pain.
When you were here, you had a houseful of toys;
you'd tousle every spoon, bowl and platter;
but that for us was sweet musical noise;
and now the silence maddens like a clatter.
Happy I am- from earth's durance you're freed;
no longer for manumission you'll crave;
Man wants for himself grace but sows his greed
and bewails thereafter till calls his grave.
To stay there, I know your ambitionis,
for none would want the world's fugacious worth.
Could you plea Heaven's potentate for me
so he takes me too and keeps us in mirth?

Piano Keys

O' ask not, for whom the Piano keys,
will play in weakness of your vacuity.
Ask not if decent airs from migrant seas,
would yearn for a new estuary.

Ask not of roads, if bright sunlight will quail;
ask not if grass 'round the paling, will live for years;
ask not if weary nights will peace avail
after I have battled Love's erumpent tears.

I will not tread upon a luring mont,
though motley petals, it'll towards me throw.
I will not fill my chalice from a font
despite its sparkle, promises to grow.

But in the long-haul, if my Piano's notes,
entunes a little and to your heart does play;
then ask its composition, long ago for you I wrote-
Despite the grief, how did the spirit stay?

Dirge in the Seasons 

The Eolian wind comes and showers,
upon my home's trees and flowers;
from beds of the sea and blows of the cay,
when the Sun in June is stinging deep,
and local meres, retain to keep,
to my dismay.

When freshet of the Monsoon time,
usurps the pleasant mood of clime,
and seeing so, unsprightly lie,
the byways and the twitchels clogged,
and roots of Joy in me are flogged;
you come from Sky.

And when in frost, the air of chill,
patrolling o'er the upland hill,
does bring me fever's drabby thorn,
and doddering I, within its flu,
whilst sighing you to my rescue,
I see you in the morn.

It's only in the bloom of spring,
the parklands wear the Tulips' ring,
and o'er its field, the plovers glide,
but still, no merry, does come near,
for you, my heart, keeps lying here-
unoccupied.

Birthday Wishes

Heart's pulse- agog, will wait from yesterday morning—
'old friends will clap, meep-horns will flap'
then shades of aglow red above the corn
will turn to eve and nighttide will be born.

At Eleven, the ticking hands will say—
'old friends will clap; meep-horns will flap'
candles afire will brighten the way
and leaves will embellish the door's display.

When Twelve is seen, but heard is not a sound—
'old friends didn't clap; meep-horns didn't flap';
all visions expected are not around
but few empty tumblers and an open ground.

A Letter

A letter in my bag from my childhood years;
a letter I received a long time ago;
does bring into the eye old thoughts and tears
and of this certain truth to show:

That love of youth is the strongest be
and brightest like the Summer skies;
purest as Zion's sanctity,
spectrums of utopian dyes.

No segregator can part
like a soul from itself disjoins not;
whose strength, a man, carries in his heart
and in silence, he's with old love's thoughts.

Then Present seems vapid, heart seeks the past:
first years of love; first lovely years;
but a letter to me is all at last,
with her image and the words and full of tears.

In Dream’s Kingdom 

With ease, the heart would simply say
of you who's absent from my sight,
gone to a staith, so far away,
to visit in my dreams tonight.

Then that shall mend my lost love's pain
where once, new life had awoken,
and fill my park with flowers again,
rebuild the walls now broken.

But in Dream's kingdom, I cannot
like Wake's, my desires exercise,
they come not as when willed or sought
nor are in the power of my eyes.

My Door

My Door is strong. I know him-
fly from him no sare flakes;
decay could never low him;
Yet why does my dear Door ache?
It aches for the spent foretime:
My Lucia, when she,
to his doorcase chime
would come and peer for me.

Old time, ah! merry; old time, ah! sweet—
joydom was in the knocks,
when from the stairs he heard her feet--
would stunt all hearts and clocks;
would agog muchly be my eyes,
for full a-greeting that she came;
I opened the Door-- a great surprise!
near his bright doorframe.

My Door's still strong. I trust him-
though now he greets not her light heels;
sorrow and pain now rust him,
fly all the flakes with brazen squeals.
With each footstep now ascents fast,
my Door frenzies, a-baiting me;
but that is someone else who passed;
not Lucia, awaiting me.

An Introspection 

When ere with the dawning morn,
Suf's bridal service will be held,
then why shall I keep a downcast heart
while she would so happily part?

Then happiest I ought to be,
for Suf, to in bride's vestment see;
for, does sooth love not reflect the lover
and in all occasions, parallel her?

Then why shall I invite the sword
to stab me and have love implored?
And why shall I depression heed
though her parting will my bosom bleed?

Longing– December 2023

This month’s theme is inspired by the yearning to memories, humans and places which we experience emotionally and struggle perhaps expression them.

R.S. is a denizen of India who writes Poetry to find harmony in life. She graduated with Honours in English and loves to read and write poetry. She rises early to feel inspired with the morning star and create new rhymes.

What care I of the maples or
The evergreen cedar,
For I know thy heart, which will
(as the wind that can never stand still)
Wander off to lands afar?

For who could bind the ocean wave
Amidst that many a fable drown
And nature, alas! without a frown,
Spectator be of the lovers' grave?

Thou may'st keep me in thy heart
But will thy remembering me for years,
Lighten my heart and purge my tears
And make my sorrow thus depart?

Doubt I, not your love to be true
And live I may when thou art gone
But dost thou think a leaf forlorn
Weathering the storm could ever renew?

Echoes of Departure

The swallows fly south when harsh winds blow
But I stay here, with nowhere to go;
Wish I could also wind borne be,
Or like driftwood floating towards the sea.


The vacant boughs of willows mourn
How brief was love your sojourn;
The sun leaps and drowns in the west
While this sorrow lingers in my chest.

Like wisps of smoke, my days dissipate
As on winter's harp notes lie in wait
For spring to melt the frosted strings
So the strains may soar upon love's wings.

As the lights flicker in the darkening sky
I pine and ponder, heave a sigh,
Why is parting long and love so brief,
Dwelling forever in skyscrapers of grief?

A Solitary Spring’s Melody

The Tulip tree has grown new leaves,
Springtime has kissed its boughs;
Snow has forfeited the slumbering lakes
As rift in clouds gold ray allows.

The moon as a pendant now resplendent,
The winds murmur and saunter by;
The misty nights hasten and flee
As tiny boats on the ocean ply.

All of nature sprightly and joyous,
Birdsongs reverb of the thrush and lark;
Spring has adorned each nook and crevice
Except my heart is vacant and stark.

Too Late! (After Richard Harris Barham’s poem)

Too late! though flowerets around me grow,
And the wind whistles thru' yew and pine;
All the hills are smeared white with snow,
But thy hand is not pressed in mine.

Too late! The clouds their trumpets blow
And the yonder hills turn green;
The merry lambs frolic to and fro,
But thou art no longer seen.

Sky-pressed the fabled north star gleams,
While my weary heart doth wait;
But from a bough afar the lone Robin screams
'Too late! Too late! Too late!'

Longing– December 2023

This month’s theme is inspired by the yearning to memories, humans and places which we experience emotionally and struggle perhaps expression them.

Dear August,

I am writing this letter to you in the hope of reliving my past. It is the warmest of summer days when my nostalgia ripples and crashes in song intervals; me, indulging song after song, chasing after a different emotion. I am sitting by the ocean so as one of its swells washes away my blue – ink –. Blueness mixed with the water’s depth, slowly swallowing my existence in its cold embrace, and I suddenly feel alive with each drop of the wave.

I am writing this letter because home is a fragment in time. A flashing moment when the vastness of the world didn’t scare you, the endless possibilities were wrapped around your fingertips, and you were their puppeteer. It is all the smiles you gave and received, the brush of another person’s cloth on your thigh, the fragrance of jasmine filling your lungs, the run through the night to catch the last bus, the heartful laugh of your friends, moments so tender, a blurry line between dream and real life.

Belonging is when you give your everything to make these fragments last longer. Longing is what I am doing now, standing in front of my past moments undressed, vulnerable, shimmering in the water.

I am writing this letter to climb at the top of the wave. Then wait for the drop.

Longing– December 2023

This month’s theme is inspired by the yearning to memories, humans and places which we experience emotionally and struggle perhaps expression them.