Poetry Illustrated; Take a Gander at a Visual Thinker's Mind

The aim of this project is to give an insight into a visual thinker's natural tendency to associate words, concepts with vivid visuals. By writing original, personal poems and painting their visual counterparts, this project additionally serves as an opportunity for artistic practice and expression.

[poemsillustrated]

Take a Gander at the Mind of a Visual Thinker

Poetry Illustrated; Take a Gander at the Mind of a Visual Thinker is my personal blog project that showcases personal and cultural artistic expression in the form of original poems and their illustrated visual versions and aims to portray how I, a visual thinker, processes, interprets and communicates ideas and thoughts. 

Through this project, I aimed to learn how to translate one art form (original poetry) into another (visual representation of poems) in a way that it is tangible, aesthetically pleasing and easy for foreign, non-visual thinkers to understand. 

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poemsillustrated: https://www.instagram.com/poemsillustrated/ 

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To read the poems, click  “Keep Reading” under the title of each post

To navigate:

To ask a question, click the three horizontal lines at the top right, then click “Ask me anything” to enter a question. This can be done anonymously as well

To search for a post, click the three horizontal lines at the top right, then “Search” to enter a keyword unique to the post

To contact me through email, scroll to the bottom of the blog and click the grey email icon

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This content (poems and paintings) may not be reposted, distributed or used without the permission of the creator. 

[poemsillustrated]

“Trepidation”

whetted knives

strung and flung over shoulders

perfect posture and mighty glaives

phlegm,

mint composure

perpetual sangfroid

brimming yet a void remained

they told you

stoic meant heroic

you're the man.

Description: A watercolor illustration of a man in a sharp, black suit with a briefcase in hand walking on a flowing body of water which is surrounded by barren plains and reflects the sunset orange on its path, creating shadows in front of the man. On the orange horizon, there are two dark hills.

[poemsillustrated]

“Jaded Marigolds”

venal and wicked, out of the shadows

haunting and chilling, crept into the meadows - of paradisiacal feature and prismatic hollows

overt expression,

spoken of depression

devoured the plains

and engulfed the dame

and although maimed,

she continued to claim what was her's

and it all remained the same

Description: A watercolor illustration of a closeup of a dead marigold flower on the left side and behind it, a field of bright marigolds that border great green trees.

[poemsillustrated]

“The Life of Joy”

curiosity makes tourists

animosity is held by the poorest

toward the purest

spills of

joie de vivre

they know the stark reality,

skidmarks you call anything but a malady

you're conflicted, you have empathy!

but you can't help but breed jealousy

their vacant stares, brimming

this is not a fight you're winning

Description: A watercolor illustration of a lovely turkish breakfast spread comprising of shaksuka, coffee, turkish tea, meat slices, cheese platter, variations of bread, honey, two types of jam, cherries, cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and green leaves bordering the upper left edge. A fork and knife in the lower middle part. 

[poemsillustrated]

“Verklempt”

marshes ragingly tranquil

and buzzcut plains

in thin, tall shackle

saints in green hung by threads unseen dangle

staring off into space

i don't know why

im in this maze

so i submerge myself

and meet knuckles with rock

'what do you hold, i wonder.'

have you told why you are all but hollow?

or why you lay under?'

i will huff and puff till the morrow

and surely wallow

for i rose, washed (and clothed) in melancholy

its time to dilly-dally

till the next morning finds me

pity me.

Description: A watercolor illustration of a marshland with dark trees in the horizon reflecting on the body of water

[poemsillustrated]

“Raggedy Love”

a blush of an apricot, velveteen

laden with outstretched cotton-clad armors, I gleam

the wind's bellows emitting from the pit of its stomach echoed wildly

graceless, I must be aware of the poison ivy!

reminder be that we share a sun

not a heaven is greater undone

so love what you hear

and what you see

for who else would be

with such zeal

if not we?

Description: A watercolor illustration of soft, coral-colored apricots resting on a tree branch, hugged by leaves 

[poemsillustrated]

“Vermin”

and on Mount Rushmore, you peaked

on those praying rocks, you heaped

your weights

of steep guise

did you grip the bulwark? eyed the skies of pied reprise?

the heights

had a religion

but in you, no trail of god was found

unseen sights

were your greatest fiction

not a border could bound

your burden

-sincerely to the vermin in search of guerdon

Description: A watercolor illustration of a view from on deck on the front of a 15th century ship sailing in the dark ocean’s waters which reflect melodious northern lights

[poemsillustrated]

“Aleviola”

indie teens with perfect acne

Description: A watercolor illustration of a defined, warm-toned nose fading into a cooler toned face that is flushed beautifully by a bleeding pink soft patch of acne. There is only one eye, the left eye which is cool toned and grey, contrasting the rest of the face and conveying depth.  

[poemsillustrated]

“Maestro of Morbidity”

In a hessian shroud,

the violins bend and the sirens blare in their head

never would they spout aloud

that indeed perfunctory was the mourning of the dead

Description: A watercolor illustration of a musical theatre from the point of view of a maestro standing behind his music rack and overlooking the ruby seats 

[poemsillustrated]

“A Nictate of Vulpine Eyes”

and today

it trickled down my face

with a firm promise to glaze

everything it could taste

Description: A watercolor illustration of piercing brown eyes of a pale, olive colored fox

[poemsillustrated]

“Epistle; an ode to Esperance”

Epistle; an ode to Esperance

it's one that makes the ink dance

away from the paper as if its wax-bound

and not of thoughts sound

it clings and pulls, the gravity of it strong

but resistance is a shield, athrong

to safeguard oneself from illusions

that have commitment issues

such turbulent identity only a fool would put promise onto

oh, have you no clue

as to what gambles you take?

either side of the spectrum leaves potency in its wake

understandable

its the thrill until

you think in shrills

pray for you, i will do

that you won't be with rue,

forever blue

Description: A watercolor illustration of a handmade cracked pot of clay that holds three incense sticks and from them emit clouds of gray, aromatic smoke

[poemsillustrated]

“Chin Up!”

unapologetic accessories resting on their chignons as they graze surfaces with the tails of their gowns

Description: A watercolor illustration of a bright, wooden ballroom. A shut door on the far right, with a tall curtain-clothed glass wall. There is a window on the far left and an airy interior archway right next to it. In the middle of the room, an ebony table that holds a vase and decorative piece right below a variation of paintings hung above and around it. An elegant chandelier dangles near. 

[poemsillustrated]

“Calluses”

Its praying rocks and two duffels worth of snow

restricting the valley to your breath

you're foolish and feeble

insatiable and grinning like a cheshire cat,

tobacco-stained tooth unique

by god, you never crack

Description: A watercolor illustration of an older man swimming under the sun in nothing but his tanned flap cap

[poemsillustrated]

“Oil Stains On Backspace”

Oil Stains On Backspace 

Description: A watercolor illustration of a hand laying dorsal-first on the edge of a typewriter.The backspace key is higlighted with a muddy yellow stain. On the side, a string tied to a pin, flowing loose