Ink, Paint, and Cloth

An art show by

Jill Skeie

I will be having an art show displaying my watercolor and acrylic paintings, my hooked rugs,

and some of my poems thrown in just for fun.

Would love to have you come!

South Perry Pizza

 1101 south Perry

 Artist reception Thursday, from 5-8

The show will be there until July 20th,

Good morning. I just realized there are no rugs on my blog. Now what is a blog without rugs I ask? Nothing but cold feet.  So here are a couple hooked rugs that I had a great time making.

When I Grow up

I have been graciously invited to a dinner put on by the Big Table people tomorrow night. While I was sitting on the little deck this morning having my coffee, out popped a poem for them.  here goes...

When I grow up
I will be a guest,
fun shoes and a hat,
creatively dressed.

I won't wear an apron,
or non-skid black shoes,
but will pick a silk dress,
in my fa-vo-rite blues.

Won't carry four dinners,
up over my head,
feel that everyday ache,
when I hit the bed.

I'll walk in and say
"Yes, a table for four,
over there by the window,
not near the front door"

"May I have a lemon
for my water please?
And an appie of rosemary
crackers with cheese?"

"Oh yes, take my plate
and refill my glass."
Oh here she comes now,
with my lemon sea bass.

And when it's all done,
and the evening is through,
I'll tell you what this
gray old lady will do.

They'll wheel me and lift me,
back onto the bus,
to the brick nursing home.
I won't make a fuss.

To my spot in the hall
with a smile on my face,
I'll be so very glad,
to be done with this race.

So that's how I see it,
some day when I'm old.
But that's not today,
I have napkins to fold.

Two Me's

Have you ever been a waitress? Well that is what I do, at a fantastic, fantastic place. This little poem is what happened to me yesterday. I was serving a baby shower on one side of a wall with very happy people celebrating the new little life. On the other side of the wall, I was serving very sad people from a funeral that should not have happened.  Here's what came out...

Serving two sides
of a wall made of brick
being two Me's
will be quite a trick.

One side of pink
of giggles and glee,
wondering what this
new life will be.

One side of gray,
of black, and of brown.
Of faces too sad,
too sad for a frown.

How do I approach,
both sides of the wall?
Cheerful and bubbles,
invisible and small.

I'll offer dessert,
It is worth a shot.
Don't know about them
It helps me a lot.

Not one bite of a treat,
they're too sad to taste,
Oh, if I could help,
not a minute I'd waste.

What will pop through?

What's up? What's new?
What will pop through?
The ground will show
me life to view.

Will it be red,
white, pink, or blue,
or just a leaf,
with pale green hue?

The spring is what,
 the yard is for.
Winter will soon knock
back on the door.

So enjoy each sprout,
that pops it's head.
Last week the ground,
was all but dead.

Get out, enjoy,
this is your chance,
you have three weeks,
 a short spring dance!

(funny what pops in my mind while I am washing my hair)  :-)

One Legged Seagull

So I was on a little picnic at my Manito pond, and this little one legged seagull just stood close by me and just waited for me to write her a poem.  Here it is..

My dear one legged seagull,
just standing next to me,
get up and flap your wings,
and fly-you will be free.

Oh I know you have but one good leg,
you have convinced me it is true
but if you flap those silly wings,
your joy, it will be new.

You'll fly over my Manito,
and see amazing things.
Stop looking at your one lone foot,
and flap your big white wings.

Over the old men on the bench,
chatting up about the day.
Over the boys, run-ning along,
with fishing net they play.

You'll fly over all the houses,
with people in the yard.
Enjoy your flight, one legged friend,
though flapping might be hard.

Oh yes you'll see gulls trot about,
on nice webbed feet of two,
but fly my friend, enjoy the day,
Your wings were made for you!

The Back of Mona Lisa

The Back of Mona Lisa

I unscrew the glass, when the tourists had past.

and the guard was asleep in the hall.

Then lift it off gingerly, making no sound,

off that wonderful world famous wall.

Just a moment I seek, to take a quick peek,

to see if the rumors are true,

that Da Vinci was just a regular guy

just exactly like me and like you!

So I pull off the backing, not making a sound,

so anxiously waiting my treat-

when I heard the drea sound, just like an old hound

of the thump of the wakened guards feet.

Quicken my pace to reveal, so quickly to peel,

the backing off that famous face.

Must be gentle I say, or I'll have to pay,

in jail for this curious race.

Just a glance at the back, of Lisa's great face.

told me it was worth it all,

for there I did see, a bugar so old,

hidden right there on that famous wall.

He wiped it in haste, while working one day,

on the right hand of Mona Lisa.

His model was hungry, and so they did stop

for a sip, and a bite of cheese pizza.

So because of the hunger of look alike Lisa,

we get just a bit of a view,

of Leonardo the great, painter of late,

who's so much like me and like you.

by Jill Skeie