Helen Hagemann

Friday, March 28, 2014

Poem for the Day: The Art of Restoration

The Art of Restoration

First be a magnificent artist and then you can do whatever, but the art must be
first. (Francisco de Goya)

I have three man-sheds of Beetle parts

to sell to strangers, or v-dub lovers.

There is a danger that I suspect will happen,

my customers will no longer need: a quarter window,

a vintage ashtray, a 70s lid or Porche wheels,

and I am left with what may befall me

- a load of junk.

Then something occurs in life, that you

do not expect. A young father buys a mudguard,

takes it home with two front lights. I pocket

the cash, reaching out to his fingers as if

we have like-minded hands. I had heard it all before,

I lived with one, men who radiate that glow

of restoration, but barely get things done.

How wrong I was, to think that this young

man, as artist, as influence to his son,

would not finish a project of a Beetle lamp.

So, there it sits in its separateness,

still, upright, neat in a corner window,

balanced on a block, polished, grinded,

painted somehow to look so perfect

in its skin, its dim lighting.

In the darkness of a room, he tells me,

the lamp shines low beam to high, and apart

from its other deft, intrinsic work, I imagine

that sometime late at night, when all is quiet,

it will rattle, growl, twist without inhibition,

purr - just a little - towards the brightness

of an open road.

Acknowledgement: It gives me great pleasure to write this poem (although, only a first draft). However, my congratulations go to Adam Harris, the artist, who has not only restored a Beetle fender into a lamp, but has restored my faith in people who get things done! He managed this in only a few weeks. Adam is also a prize winner and I wish him well if he enters his work in an award. Hopefully, and quite soon I will post a link to the West Australian Volkswagen Club's newsletter, as we are expecting to read an article about Adam's great piece of work.

Poem for the Day: Monarchs & Homeric Thought (from Miniscule) © now published!

Monarchs & Homeric Thought

There are Monarchs roaming the eastern-side of the Rockies. Some are about to land on milkweed in Texas, or rest on flower nectar in the fields of Oklahoma. Monarchs often pose their wings on vines, flapping out their canopy of orange, and black veins; their six legs clinging to the crown of prairie flowers. Monarchs are simply the supreme aviators of the Nymphalidae world, flying through rain, the deep canyons of Mexico.They adapt their technique of flight as mimicry, or dread, fearing a disappearance of milkweed as chain saws rip through the Amazon. And so aligning their paths with the earth's magnetic field, they rouse themselves to birth new Monarchs in Hawaii, Australia or New Zealand (where milkweed grows). One is in awe of this butterfly, the many naturalists, and all the universities who have brought you this as you make a note to self that forethought is the electricity of learning. One butterfly, especially named Danaus after the great-great-granddaughter of Zeus, flew to him as a shower of golden petals. Imagine the gorgeous trail of her bright orange gown, dusting him down with its edges of velvet and accent of pearls. Zeus more likely, at that very moment, and distracted by the calm landing of her appearance, possibly thought about the hopelessness of war, the calamity of another god's ruin, or his position on the throne, causing him sleepless nights. Vexation brought to a halt in the beautiful flutter of golden wings. And what of Homer? In The Odyssey he speaks of black wine, the sky as bronze, a wine-dark sea, and darkening Cyclops' purple sheep. And the most incredible thing that you could imagine is, that in 1100 BC, he saw the colours of fruits and berries in the palette of fields and trees, especially the colour of a bee's hard labour in a Monarch's wing.

Review of Published to Public - A Reading at the Subiaco Library

Review of Published to Public - Monday 10th March, 2014
About 70 people graced the ground floor of the Subiaco Library on Monday 10th March at 6pm. Subiaco residents and others were invited to the forum, being enticed with wine and pizza. The program, Published to Public was hosted by the library in an initiative to bring local writers to the fore in their Arts & Culture program. Eight writers including myself, Sarah Evans, Vivienne Glance, Marguerite Henshaw, Josette Van Der Burg, Peter Sellick, Danielle Weile, and Glennys Marsdon each showcased their work on eight separate tables where members of the public could initially mingle around and ask questions of the writers. What followed was then a presentation by each writer on how they got started with writing. I was able to read my two grandmother poems, explaining to the audience that my poetry was narrative poetry, and that I was an exponent of the accessible. All in all, the night was very successful and enjoyable, having sold three of my new collection "of Arc & Shadow". The report back from the library was that with excellent feedback they will host many more of these local authors' events.

A Reading of my Poetry at ECU in 2009

How fortunate I am to have kind friends, and poet, scriptwriter, and ex-ECU student, Frances Macauley Forde has taken the time to edit a video she took at Edith Cowan University in 2009 of my reading to students.

A Reading at the Subiaco Library

Published to Public @ The Subiaco Library

Reading soon on Monday 10th March at the Subiaco Library. I'm joined by Sarah Evans, Vivienne Glance, Marguerite Henshaw, Josette Van Der Burg, Peter Sellick, Danielle Weile, Glennys Marsdon, local WA authors. The best part of the evening is you get to talk to the residents of Subiaco who are invited for wine & nibbles. http://www.subiaco.wa.gov.au/Things-to-do-in-Subi/events/2014/March/Published-to-public

Poem for the Day: Birthday Card(s) - for Erika & Brian

Birthday Card(s)
For Erika & Brian

It's not hard to say, that when a birthday card
stands side by side with others on a shelf
in your daughter-in-law's home, that the one
chosen by her father for her fortieth
is by far the largest, and looms over the rest
like a prominent mountain range.

It's not hard also to say that wherever
it stands, brazened with the force of words
like 'Amazing Woman' and 'she's faster
than a speeding taxi!' that those involved
in the giving and receiving will look long
into that ecstatic thrust of celebration.

What of birthday cards from other years?
Are they now in the corridors of the past
muttering amongst themselves in drawers
of pens, photos, ribbons and paper?
Are they ready to face a new arrival;
that 'amazing' super-hero with the look
of a multi-tasker?

In case anyone wants to know, the card
symbolises the present as it arrives
slowly in the night. Each year a new task,
each year the folding of towels, tortillas
for the mother-in-law, and the mound of
paperwork that one has to bring back
home from work.

And on the shelf the other cards with
their well-wishes, family faces
peering into them, only have one job to do
and that is to stand behind 'wonder woman'
like the heads of customers in a sale
and push her further into the future of
a 40th birthday memory.

Perth Writers Festival Promotion - Helen Hagemann's "of Arc & Shadow" + "Evangelyne & other poems".

Fremantle Community writers from OOTA (Out of the Asylum Inc. ) will be at the Perth Writers Festival
on both days, Friday 21st February, and Saturday 22nd February. We will be in the REMIDA tent; and you will find it marked on the map that is a link below. The tent is adjacent to the entrance of the Romeo Tent on a triangular section of the lawn and sits beside the FIBRANT tent.

The Festival is also providing 20 chairs and 8 x trestle tables inside this venue for our use. So please come along, we would appreciate a quick hello or a spell for a quick break for lunch or bookshop buying.
Hope to see you there! Click on the link for the PWF Map HERE