‘Virginian Woman’ Published at Visual Verse!
I am elated to share my poem, Virginian Woman, is published in Volume 9, Chapter 5 of Visual Verse’s monthly anthology!
This month’s image prompt (pictured above) is as simple as it is inspiring. I find the art style compelling and alive. I also absolutely love that one of the featured writers is a musician who, instead of writing a poem, recorded a beautiful song that is threaded with poignant ache and gorgeous emotion!
Listen to the song here or read the lyrics here.
How Ekphrastic Prompts Inspire me
I am in love with the rhythms and motion found in both the chaotic and still aspects of life. In exploring the image prompt, I discovered themes of the feminine intertwined with courage of self-declaration, bound together by the movement of the bird in relation to nature. Virginia is my home-state; its women of the past wove into my overall perception of the prompt and grounded my writing in soil.
When I write ekphrastic poetry, my first impulse is to reiterate what the image already states. I know this is not what I need to write. It has already been said. I look past my first impulse and instead focus on what the image evokes in me. I notice the emotions I feel and the past stories I suddenly remember.
The image becomes a gateway. In stepping past the threshold, I discover what I need to write.
The following is an excerpt of my poem, Virginian Woman, published at Visual Verse. I invite you to enter the writing and discover how wonderfully connected we all are!
I carry your song through
Dark winter night into March
Deceptive month!
Clouds stoke the sky
On the shores of Italy, the . . . please continue reading here and do share your beautiful thoughts!
Artwork by Susan Fenimore Cooper (1813-1894).
Erica/Erika
Hi Jaya, The image prompt immediately elicits wonderful feelings, surrounded by nature. We have many hummingbirds visit us year round. I like your words “…is as simple as it is inspiring.” Your words “…what the image evokes in me…” resonates with me. The last sentence of your poem is exceptionally beautiful.💕 Erica
Jaya Avendel
Love that you took the time to read the full poem, Erica! Thank you so much. 😊
da-AL
bravo & many congrats! If you think it might be fun or helpful to have my followers (who total about 10k across my social media) meet you, here’s the link for general guidelines: https://wp.me/p6OZAy-1eQ
Jaya Avendel
I will check it out! Thank you for sharing.
da-AL
wonderful 🙂
Shobana Gomes
So beautifully expressed, Jeya. Congratulations, you are so talented and gifted with words.
Aspen Hite
That Visual Verse is stunning. The poetry is art. Congratulations on your publication…much deserved!
aimsysantics
Congratulations on another published piece Jaya! Another beautiful poem!
Aimsy xoxo
Raji (@journeyintofantasy)
Congratulations on this poem being published Jaya! The term ekphrastic poetry was a new one to me so I had to look it up, but it was so interesting to learn a little about your approach to writing this type of poetry!
Obong eno
Beautiful art
D. Wallace Peach
A beautiful poem, Jaya. And I loved your description of your connection to the image as well how you approach ekphrastic poetry. Congrats on the publication. <3
KK
Congratulations! You deserve it. This is a beautiful piece 👌
I'm All Booked Up YA
Congratulations!! This is such a big accomplishment.
Caroline
Ah, amazing news!! Congratulations <3 I love your beautiful words x
Heidi Bruaw
Beautiful! I love how you explained how you came up with this poem and the process you went through. Congratulations on getting this poem published. 🙂
Harshi
Congratulations Jaya! Keep the ink flowing and creating wonderful images.
Harshi
Your poem cascades with beautiful thoughts!
Karalee
Congratulations on having your poem published! I loved reading your poem & the process of how you wrote it!
Also thank you for sharing the song one of the writers wrote!
thetravelvine
This is so great to hear that you’ve been published again 🙂 this is becoming a regular thing and I’m so happy for you. I learnt what ekphrastic poetry is today. It’s obvious to write about what you see, but as you say you look past the threshold.
Lindsay | The Travel Vine
Jaya Avendel
Love that you learned something new reading this, Lindsay!
schmitztimo
Congratulations, Jaya!
Sarah Collins
Congratulations Jaya, you’re a wonderful poet, so it isn’t a surprise your work is getting published. Great work
Kimberly@Hacketthillfarm
I always love reading your poems. I particularly love that this one is rooted in your heritage as a Virginia woman. I think that is so meaningful. Congratulations on being published! Always so excited for you!!
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Kimberly!
A Sustainably Simple Life
Congrats on being published!
I love hearing about your process with writing your poetry. I find it intriguing and enjoy learning from others’ experiences–like with pushing past our first impulses, which is great advice. The picture hits differently between the black and white and the colour version. I don’t know if it was intentional, but I like that the darker lines start here with the black and white and the colour image finishes with the first bunch of flowers 🙂
Jaya Avendel
I love seeing how the picture changes when I run the black and white filter over it! I only do that after writing my poem in response, so it is fun to see what fits more with the different-toned images. 🙂
Dominic Alapat
Marvellous poem! The beautiful lines, the imagery; and above all, the sense of flight makes me feel so free! Excellent writing!
Corinne
Congrats on your beautiful poem being published again!
Corinne x
https://skinnedcartree.com
Her Digital Coffee
Congratulations Jaya! What a beautiful image. I love Virginian Woman, it reminds me of spring. I especially enjoy the line “Her light magnetizes the sunshine” and “adobe lace and faded indigo.” Thank you for sharing!
Jaya Avendel
Thank you so much for such a lovely read!
Jeff Flesch
How gorgeous the language is you have created, Jaya. A mixture of temporalness and foreverness coupled with the “Deceptive month!” Indeed! Love this. 🤍 Congratulations!!
Jaya Avendel
Love the words you use to describe your reading experience, Jeff!
Jeff Flesch
I’m glad! Your work always provides wondrous reflections, Jaya!
Penny
Congratulations, Jaya! This is amazing!! I love it, such a lovely piece xx Penny / http://www.whatdidshetype.com
Eugenia
Absolutely gorgeous and congrats!
SelmaMartin
Another lovely win. How spectacular: your words, your achievements, your enthusiasm. Congratulations. 👏
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Selma!
paeansunplugged
I loved listening to the song you shared, Jaya! ” Adobe lace and faded indigo” the evocative image this creates is beyond comparison! Love it. ❤️
Jaya Avendel
Love that you share the line you connected with most, Punam! Thank you.
Lisa's Notebook
I’ve not heard the term “ekphrastic poetry” before and had to look it up. I love that you take an image as your prompt, but then view that image as a gateway to the world of your imagination, rather than the initial prompt.
Lucia’s Fiction
This is awesome, Jaya! You’re so inspiring x
the hot goddess
Congratulations, Jaya! Beautiful poem 💜
Andrew McDowell
Congrats!
Infinite Living
Reading about the inner workings of how your poetry comes to be, is a poetry in itself. “Looking past the first impulses, and discovering what to write” – I found this very beautiful!
Congratulations on this poem being published! Your poem felt very original for the picture – very very beautiful to read and have your words land in my heart.
Jaya Avendel
I love that you enjoyed reading about the story behind the poem! A poem is birthed from poetics akin to your lovely words here. 🌙
readandreviewit1
Ooh congratulations! I love your line about the shores of Italy and your description of how you respond to the prompt, it’s really interesting and insightful to read. Thank you so much for sharing x
Jacqui Murray
Congratulations on being published, Jaya! Woot! The poem is beautiful.
barbaraleaver
Congratulations. Lovely piece
Jodie | That Happy Reader
Congratulations on having this piece published Jaya! I can so relate to the deception of March. Thanks for sharing.
Stephanie
The title immediately stood out to me as someone who is from the state of Virginia haha! Any time I see “Virginia” I get excited! It’s awesome that you had another one of your pieces published. Such an incredible achievement! And it’s such stunning writing as always!
Jaya Avendel
I so feel ya on that immediate connection I feel to home. 🙂
Cindy Georgakas
wow, congratulations Jaya! I listened to the song and truly love your poem. Like a hummingbird you buzzed in at a perfect time with your beautiful lines. 💖🌻🙏
Jaya Avendel
Thank you, Cindy! So love that you listened to the song.
Cindy Georgakas
You’re so welcome.. Happy to hear that as it was beautiful! 💖🌻🙏
Ingrid
Congratulations Jaya: a beautiful piece! ❤️
Keep Calm & Drink Coffee
The shores of Italy! <3
Your wingbeats, the heartbeats you put in your poems, rise my happiness!
Thank You so much and also congratulatios!
Jaya Avendel
Ah, thank you so deeply, Claudia!
Daphny Aqua
Congratulations Jaya on you’re so many achievements and wishing you many more in days to come. I’ve always loved reading your words, they are simply amazing. ❣️✨
sherijkennedy
Especially loved these lines: Her light magnetizes the sunshine
Caught between your wingbeats.
Jaya Avendel
Thanks a million for sharing your favorite lines!